topic Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML in SAS/IML Software and Matrix Computations

Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

anthonywang — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 01:43:03 GMT

Hi:

I have a file of code that works fine when I run it on my desktop.

But this kind of "Unknown error" occurs when I run it on my laptop which is Windows 10.

I am kinda sure this is not caused by my code, but I don't know how to deal with it.

I tried to re-install the SAS, but it still occurs.

The return code is rc=6, which stands for "SAS internal error". Does this mean this is really caused by SAS software?

Could anyone help me with any advise or solution, please?

The code is long but I will post it if it is necessary.

Thank ahead!

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

SASKiwi — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 04:04:35 GMT

Serious errors like this are best progressed by SAS Tech Support. Please raise a track if you haven't done so already.

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

Reeza — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 04:28:54 GMT

Any code that works in one system but not another and isn't related to file paths should likely be reported to SAS Tech Support.

It's possible you have different versions and one is catching a newer error, but your best bet is to check with SAS directly.

There's definitely nothing we can do without the code as well.

@anthonywang wrote:

Hi:

I have a file of code that works fine when I run it on my desktop.

But this kind of "Unknown error" occurs when I run it on my laptop which is Windows 10.

I am kinda sure this is not caused by my code, but I don't know how to deal with it.

I tried to re-install the SAS, but it still occurs.

The return code is rc=6, which stands for "SAS internal error". Does this mean this is really caused by SAS software?

Could anyone help me with any advise or solution, please?

The code is long but I will post it if it is necessary.

Thank ahead!

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

anthonywang — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 05:57:07 GMT

Thank you for your response, I will reporting my problem to SAS.

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

anthonywang — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 05:58:16 GMT

Thanks a lot, I will submit the problem to SAS.

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

Rick_SAS — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 10:00:01 GMT

This is a known problem in some versions of the Intel Math Kernel Library (MKL), which SAS/IML uses to accelerate certain computations. I think it was first noticed in SAS/IML 14.3 and 15.1. It seems to be data dependent and occurs with large matrices when the KML tries to multithread certain computations. Sometimes changing the order of operations (by using temporary variables and rearranging the computation) can make the problem go away, but I don't have any general advice that can make the problem go away all the time.

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

Rick_SAS — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 13:07:00 GMT

Actually, I might have some general advice. Because this is a problem with multithreading large computations, you can turn off the multithreading by using

options NOTHREADS;

proc iml;

quit;

options THREADS;

Unfortunately, this will result in a loss of performance. How much performance is lost depending on how many threads are being used and the kinds of computations in the program. For straight matrix multiplication, the program might take 2-4 times longer.

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

anthonywang — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 17:34:46 GMT

Hi Rick, it is data dependent. I will try to turn off the multi threading.

Thank you for your help!

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

stevehillis — Sat, 02 May 2020 14:11:36 GMT

Hi Rick,

I had the same problem and your solution did work, but it definitely was a lot slower! Pehaps there will be a better fix in the future? But at least for right now, I'm glad to know how to fix it and that it wasn't my error.

Thanks.

Steve

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

Rick_SAS — Sat, 02 May 2020 14:43:24 GMT

Thanks for writing. SAS has updated the version of the MKL in SAS 9.4M7 (due out in late 2020) and the problem does not occur on the test cases that we know about. Also, SAS customers who use SAS Viya do not have this problem, since Viya uses a newer version of the MKL.

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

stevehillis — Sat, 02 May 2020 15:29:14 GMT

Great -- thanks for doing that and letting me know so quickly!!
-Steve

Re: Unknown error occurs when running SAS IML

Rick_SAS — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 19:39:19 GMT

If the problem is solved, could you mark one of the answers and close the thread? Thanks.