How to setup learning environment for Udacity Deep Learning class with TensorFlow (Windows)

Question

I believe many of those interested in studying DL heard of this course:

https://www.udacity.com/course/deep-learning--ud730

I am taking the course now and would like to share step-by-step instruction on how to setup learning environment on Windows from scratch.

• The first answer named SETTING UP THE ENVIRONMENT is about setting up the learning environment. You run it only once.

• The second answer named AFTER LOCAL MACHINE REBOOT is about how to start the environment over after you reboot your computer.

• See the third answer named HOW IT ALL WORKS to learn how all that stuff works (or you can follow the first answer blindly and check it out later).

Answer 1

SETTING UP THE ENVIRONMENT (run it only once!)

N.B. To start ready environment after computer reboot, use AFTER LOCAL MACHINE REBOOT instruction in the second answer.

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Steps:

1. Download and setup Docker Toolbox:

https://www.docker.com/products/docker-toolbox

Docker is a tool to deploy preconfigured virtual learning environment on your machine. It will be running inside a virtual machine and will not mess with your computer anyhow.

2. (optional step) Docker will put it's files on system disk (C:) and you might want to change that if using SSD. You can do it that way:

mklink /J "C:\Users\USER\.docker" "D:\Docker"

• substitute USER with your username
• substitute "D:\Docker" with a path on other drive where you would like to store Docker files

More at: Change .docker directory on Windows

3. Open Windows CMD. Go to folder where Docker is installed. Create a new docker machine:

docker-machine create vdocker -d virtualbox

4. (magic step) Just run it!

FOR /f "tokens=*" %i IN ('docker-machine env --shell cmd vdocker') DO %i

More at: How do I start tensorflow docker jupyter notebook

5. Download and install preconfigured assignment docker image:

docker run -it -p 8888:8888 -p 6006:6006 --name tensorflow-udacity -it b.gcr.io/tensorflow-udacity/assignments:0.5.0

6. (important step!) Configure port forwarding:
   • Run Oracle VM VirtualBox link (should be created when installing Docker):

• Go to Settings... of vdocker machine:

• Add port forwarding (it will forward 8888 port in virtual environment to 8810 port on your local machine):

P.S. Using :8810 port in case you already have IPython notebook installed on your local machine.

7. In the Settings... menu (from the previous step) allow virtual machine more memory:

N.B. The VirtualBox has to be shut down before you can make any changes to system settings. (by jlarsch)

Use the following command to stop the VM:

docker-machine stop vdocker

(optional) You can also allow it to use more cores in order to run faster:

8. Profit!