To create the mnist's lmdb database using python

1. use the digits's data example

run digits/tools/download_data/main.py mnist ~/mnist to download the mnist dataset https://github.com/NVIDIA/DIGITS/blob/master/docs/GettingStarted.md

2. mnist will be download to ~/mnist and generate the train.txt and label.txt file dynamicly, the filepath is corresponding to your download location.

Notice that the data sequence is corresponding to the storage sequence in train-labels-idx1-ubyte.gz>train-labels.bin For example, in train-labels.bin, labels are storaged like 5,0,4... So if you don't shuffle the data and labels, it doesn't make much difference.

3. put create_lmdb-train.py to the folder of ~/mnist/train, then python create_lmdb-train.py to run it.

Remember to setting caffe python interface path in create_lmdb-train.py to make it run correctly. create_lmdb-train.py will read the train.txt and read the filenames and labels to create two lmdb files.

4. create a train-lenet.prototxt to specify the input data layer and input label layer, use lmdb as their data input.

Beware of the transform_param { scale: 0.00390625 } it is use for turn the image intensity scope from [0,255] to [0,1], shoud not be used for labels.

Notice that at the end of the network definition file, there is no softmax layer, only a softmax loss layer instead to generate output in terminal logs. layer { name: "loss" type: "SoftmaxWithLoss" bottom: "ip2" bottom: "label" top: "loss" } This layer means to use the ip2 as input, and softmax it to compare with label to get the cross-entropy loss.

5. create a train-solver.prototxt to sepcify the parameters used for training.

6. create a bash script to avoid type too many command in terminal. ^ ^