Before You Begin Using Intel MKL

Target platform	Identify the architecture of your target machine: IA-32 or compatible Intel® 64 or compatible Reason: Because Intel MKL libraries are located in directories corresponding to your particular architecture (see Architecture Support), you should provide proper paths on your link lines (see Linking Examples). To configure your development environment for the use with Intel MKL, set your environment variables using the script corresponding to your architecture (see Setting Environment Variables for details).
Mathematical problem	Identify all Intel MKL function domains that you require: BLAS Sparse BLAS LAPACK PBLAS ScaLAPACK Sparse Solver routines Vector Mathematical Library functions (VML) Vector Statistical Library functions Fourier Transform functions (FFT) Cluster FFT Trigonometric Transform routines Poisson, Laplace, and Helmholtz Solver routines Optimization (Trust-Region) Solver routines GMP* arithmetic functions. Deprecated and will be removed in a future release Reason: The function domain you intend to use narrows the search in the Reference Manual for specific routines you need. Additionally, if you are using the Intel MKL cluster software, your link line is function-domain specific (see Working with the Cluster Software). Coding tips may also depend on the function domain (see Tips and Techniques to Improve Performance).
Programming language	Intel MKL provides support for both Fortran and C/C++ programming. Identify the language interfaces that your function domains support (see Intel® Math Kernel Library Language Interfaces Support). Reason: Intel MKL provides language-specific include files for each function domain to simplify program development (see Language Interfaces Support, by Function Domain). For a list of language-specific interface libraries and modules and an example how to generate them, see also Using Language-Specific Interfaces with Intel® Math Kernel Library.
Range of integer data	If your system is based on the Intel 64 architecture, identify whether your application performs calculations with large data arrays (of more than 2³¹-1 elements). Reason: To operate on large data arrays, you need to select the ILP64 interface, where integers are 64-bit; otherwise, use the default, LP64, interface, where integers are 32-bit (see Using the ILP64 Interface vs. LP64 Interface).
Threading model	Identify whether and how your application is threaded: Threaded with the Intel compiler Threaded with a third-party compiler Not threaded Reason: The compiler you use to thread your application determines which threading library you should link with your application. For applications threaded with a third-party compiler you may need to use Intel MKL in the sequential mode (for more information, see Sequential Mode of the Library and Linking with Threading Libraries).
Number of threads	Determine the number of threads you want Intel MKL to use. Reason: Intel MKL is based on the OpenMP* threading. By default, the OpenMP* software sets the number of threads that Intel MKL uses. If you need a different number, you have to set it yourself using one of the available mechanisms. For more information, see Using Parallelism of the Intel® Math Kernel Library.
Linking model	Decide which linking model is appropriate for linking your application with Intel MKL libraries: Static Dynamic Reason: The link line syntax and libraries for static and dynamic linking are different. For the list of link libraries for static and dynamic models, linking examples, and other relevant topics, like how to save disk space by creating a custom dynamic library, see Linking Your Application with the Intel® Math Kernel Library.
MPI used	Decide what MPI you will use with the Intel MKL cluster software. You are strongly encouraged to use Intel® MPI 3.2 or later. MPI used Reason: To link your application with ScaLAPACK and/or Cluster FFT, the libraries corresponding to your particular MPI should be listed on the link line (see Working with the Cluster Software).

Optimization Notice
Intel® compilers, associated libraries and associated development tools may include or utilize options that optimize for instruction sets that are available in both Intel® and non-Intel microprocessors (for example SIMD instruction sets), but do not optimize equally for non-Intel microprocessors. In addition, certain compiler options for Intel compilers, including some that are not specific to Intel micro-architecture, are reserved for Intel microprocessors. For a detailed description of Intel compiler options, including the instruction sets and specific microprocessors they implicate, please refer to the "Intel® Compiler User and Reference Guides" under "Compiler Options". Many library routines that are part of Intel® compiler products are more highly optimized for Intel microprocessors than for other microprocessors. While the compilers and libraries in Intel® compiler products offer optimizations for both Intel and Intel-compatible microprocessors, depending on the options you select, your code and other factors, you likely will get extra performance on Intel microprocessors. Intel® compilers, associated libraries and associated development tools may or may not optimize to the same degree for non-Intel microprocessors for optimizations that are not unique to Intel microprocessors. These optimizations include Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (Intel® SSE2), Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (Intel® SSE3), and Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (Intel® SSSE3) instruction sets and other optimizations. Intel does not guarantee the availability, functionality, or effectiveness of any optimization on microprocessors not manufactured by Intel. Microprocessor-dependent optimizations in this product are intended for use with Intel microprocessors. While Intel believes our compilers and libraries are excellent choices to assist in obtaining the best performance on Intel® and non-Intel microprocessors, Intel recommends that you evaluate other compilers and libraries to determine which best meet your requirements. We hope to win your business by striving to offer the best performance of any compiler or library; please let us know if you find we do not. Notice revision #20110307

Optimization Notice

Intel® compilers, associated libraries and associated development tools may include or utilize options that optimize for instruction sets that are available in both Intel® and non-Intel microprocessors (for example SIMD instruction sets), but do not optimize equally for non-Intel microprocessors. In addition, certain compiler options for Intel compilers, including some that are not specific to Intel micro-architecture, are reserved for Intel microprocessors. For a detailed description of Intel compiler options, including the instruction sets and specific microprocessors they implicate, please refer to the "Intel® Compiler User and Reference Guides" under "Compiler Options". Many library routines that are part of Intel® compiler products are more highly optimized for Intel microprocessors than for other microprocessors. While the compilers and libraries in Intel® compiler products offer optimizations for both Intel and Intel-compatible microprocessors, depending on the options you select, your code and other factors, you likely will get extra performance on Intel microprocessors.

Intel® compilers, associated libraries and associated development tools may or may not optimize to the same degree for non-Intel microprocessors for optimizations that are not unique to Intel microprocessors. These optimizations include Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (Intel® SSE2), Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (Intel® SSE3), and Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (Intel® SSSE3) instruction sets and other optimizations. Intel does not guarantee the availability, functionality, or effectiveness of any optimization on microprocessors not manufactured by Intel. Microprocessor-dependent optimizations in this product are intended for use with Intel microprocessors.

While Intel believes our compilers and libraries are excellent choices to assist in obtaining the best performance on Intel® and non-Intel microprocessors, Intel recommends that you evaluate other compilers and libraries to determine which best meet your requirements. We hope to win your business by striving to offer the best performance of any compiler or library; please let us know if you find we do not.

Notice revision #20110307

What You Need to Know Before You Begin Using the Intel® Math Kernel Library