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Asked: 2024-09-25T13:28:29+05:30 In:

What is the reason the installation of Intel MKL from the Intel repository does not include MKL in the system’s library path on Ubuntu?

I’ve been diving into some numerical computing on Ubuntu and decided to install Intel MKL from their repository. It seemed like a straightforward process, but once I ran the installation, I couldn’t help but notice that MKL wasn’t showing up in my system’s library path. At first, I thought I might’ve missed a step or something, but the more I looked into it, the more confused I got.

Is it supposed to be like that? I mean, I expected that after installing Intel MKL, it would automatically integrate into the system library paths so I could easily access all the functions it provides. But after checking, it seems like I need to set things up manually to get it to work.

This has made me wonder—what’s the rationale behind Intel not including MKL in the default system library path during installation? Is it a common practice for libraries like this, or did I just end up on the unluckiest side of the installation process?

Also, if anyone has some tips on how to properly add MKL to my library path without too much hassle, I’d appreciate it! I just want to make sure that my application can find and utilize it without me having to deal with a mountain of manual configurations every time I start working on my project.

I’m also curious if there’s any impact this might have on performance or compatibility with other libraries. I’ve heard mixed opinions from users about the convenience of having such libraries auto-configured versus having control over the installation path, so I’d love to hear what you all think.

Anyway, I just want to understand the thought process behind this setup. If anyone’s experienced this or has insights into how Intel makes these decisions, I’d be all ears! Looking forward to hearing your experiences and any solutions you’ve come up with.

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    2 Answers


    1. It looks like you’re running into a pretty common situation with library installations on Linux, especially with something as specialized as Intel MKL. A lot of libraries, including MKL, don’t automatically add themselves to your system’s library path for a few reasons:

      • Control Over Path: By not adding themselves automatically, it gives you more control. You can choose where the library is located, which can be important if you have multiple versions of a library installed or certain projects that need specific setups.
      • Environment Specificity: Different projects might require different configurations based on their environments. Automatically changing system paths could lead to conflicts or issues.
      • Permissions: Changing system-wide settings often requires admin permissions, and not everyone has that. This keeps things smoother for installations that might be run without sudo.

      As for adding MKL to your library path, you typically have to add it manually. Here’s a quick way to do it:

      1. Find the location where MKL was installed. This is typically in a directory like /opt/intel/mkl.
      2. Edit your ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile file to include MKL in your library path. You can do this by adding something like:
        3. export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/intel/mkl/lib/intel64:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
      3. After saving the file, run source ~/.bashrc (or the file you edited) to update your session.

      Regarding performance and compatibility, it’s kind of a mixed bag. Some users prefer having libraries configured automatically for ease of use, while others (like you!) want to handle it manually so they can prevent any potential conflicts. The choice really depends on your development style and the projects you’re working on.

      Overall, it’s not just you—lots of people find themselves in the same boat with library installations! Just stick with it, and soon you’ll get the hang of managing these setups.



    2. When you install Intel MKL (Math Kernel Library) on Ubuntu, it may not automatically integrate into the system library paths due to the nature of how libraries and dependencies are managed in Linux environments. The rationale behind this is largely centered around flexibility and control. By not automatically configuring the library paths, Intel allows developers to have the option to manage which libraries are included in their projects explicitly. This practice helps to avoid potential conflicts with other installed libraries or system dependencies, ensuring that users can customize their environment according to their specific needs. Therefore, although it may seem inconvenient initially, this method is designed to give users more control over their development environments.

      To properly add MKL to your library path without excessive hassle, you can set the environment variables in your shell profile (e.g., ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile). Add the following lines, adjusting for the actual installation path: export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/path/to/mkl/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH. After editing your profile, remember to run source ~/.bashrc for the changes to take effect. Additionally, Intel’s MKL documentation often contains guidance for setting this up efficiently. Regarding performance and compatibility, managing paths manually can sometimes lead to a more optimized configuration as it avoids library version conflicts, which can improve both performance and stability. That said, it does require a bit more diligence on the developer’s part to ensure everything is correctly configured for their specific projects.


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