Query VLM with Offline Engine#
This tutorial demonstrates how to use SGLang’s offline Engine API to query VLMs. We will demonstrate usage with Qwen2.5-VL and Llama 4. This section demonstrates three different calling approaches:
Basic Call: Directly pass images and text.
Processor Output: Use HuggingFace processor for data preprocessing.
Precomputed Embeddings: Pre-calculate image features to improve inference efficiency.
Understanding the Three Input Formats#
SGLang supports three ways to pass visual data, each optimized for different scenarios:
1. Raw Images - Simplest approach#
Pass PIL Images, file paths, URLs, or base64 strings directly
SGLang handles all preprocessing automatically
Best for: Quick prototyping, simple applications
2. Processor Output - For custom preprocessing#
Pre-process images with HuggingFace processor
Pass the complete processor output dict with
format: "processor_output"Best for: Custom image transformations, integration with existing pipelines
Requirement: Must use
input_idsinstead of text prompt
3. Precomputed Embeddings - For maximum performance#
Pre-calculate visual embeddings using the vision encoder
Pass embeddings with
format: "precomputed_embedding"Best for: Repeated queries on same images, caching, high-throughput serving
Performance gain: Avoids redundant vision encoder computation (30-50% speedup)
Key Rule: Within a single request, use only one format for all images. Don’t mix formats.
The examples below demonstrate all three approaches with both Qwen2.5-VL and Llama 4 models.
Querying Qwen2.5-VL Model#
[1]:
import nest_asyncio
nest_asyncio.apply()
import sglang.test.doc_patch # noqa: F401
model_path = "Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-3B-Instruct"
chat_template = "qwen2-vl"
example_image_url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sgl-project/sglang/main/examples/assets/example_image.png"
[2026-03-14 15:43:04] INFO utils.py:148: Note: detected 192 virtual cores but NumExpr set to maximum of 64, check "NUMEXPR_MAX_THREADS" environment variable.
[2026-03-14 15:43:04] INFO utils.py:151: Note: NumExpr detected 192 cores but "NUMEXPR_MAX_THREADS" not set, so enforcing safe limit of 16.
[2026-03-14 15:43:04] INFO utils.py:164: NumExpr defaulting to 16 threads.
[2]:
from io import BytesIO
import requests
from PIL import Image
from sglang.srt.parser.conversation import chat_templates
image = Image.open(BytesIO(requests.get(example_image_url).content))
conv = chat_templates[chat_template].copy()
conv.append_message(conv.roles[0], f"What's shown here: {conv.image_token}?")
conv.append_message(conv.roles[1], "")
conv.image_data = [image]
print("Generated prompt text:")
print(conv.get_prompt())
print(f"\nImage size: {image.size}")
image
Generated prompt text:
<|im_start|>system
You are a helpful assistant.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
What's shown here: <|vision_start|><|image_pad|><|vision_end|>?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Image size: (570, 380)
[2]:
Basic Offline Engine API Call#
[3]:
from sglang import Engine
llm = Engine(model_path=model_path, chat_template=chat_template, log_level="warning")
[2026-03-14 15:43:07] INFO server_args.py:2146: Attention backend not specified. Use fa3 backend by default.
[2026-03-14 15:43:07] INFO server_args.py:3287: Set soft_watchdog_timeout since in CI
[2026-03-14 15:43:07] INFO engine.py:177: server_args=ServerArgs(model_path='Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-3B-Instruct', tokenizer_path='Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-3B-Instruct', tokenizer_mode='auto', tokenizer_worker_num=1, skip_tokenizer_init=False, load_format='auto', model_loader_extra_config='{}', trust_remote_code=False, context_length=None, is_embedding=False, enable_multimodal=None, revision=None, model_impl='auto', host='127.0.0.1', port=30000, fastapi_root_path='', grpc_mode=False, skip_server_warmup=False, warmups=None, nccl_port=None, checkpoint_engine_wait_weights_before_ready=False, ssl_keyfile=None, ssl_certfile=None, ssl_ca_certs=None, ssl_keyfile_password=None, enable_ssl_refresh=False, dtype='auto', quantization=None, quantization_param_path=None, kv_cache_dtype='auto', enable_fp32_lm_head=False, modelopt_quant=None, modelopt_checkpoint_restore_path=None, modelopt_checkpoint_save_path=None, modelopt_export_path=None, quantize_and_serve=False, rl_quant_profile=None, mem_fraction_static=0.8131821874999999, max_running_requests=128, max_queued_requests=None, max_total_tokens=20480, chunked_prefill_size=8192, enable_dynamic_chunking=False, max_prefill_tokens=16384, prefill_max_requests=None, schedule_policy='fcfs', enable_priority_scheduling=False, disable_priority_preemption=False, default_priority_value=None, abort_on_priority_when_disabled=False, schedule_low_priority_values_first=False, priority_scheduling_preemption_threshold=10, schedule_conservativeness=1.0, page_size=1, swa_full_tokens_ratio=0.8, disable_hybrid_swa_memory=False, radix_eviction_policy='lru', enable_prefill_delayer=False, prefill_delayer_max_delay_passes=30, prefill_delayer_token_usage_low_watermark=None, prefill_delayer_forward_passes_buckets=None, prefill_delayer_wait_seconds_buckets=None, device='cuda', tp_size=1, pp_size=1, pp_max_micro_batch_size=None, pp_async_batch_depth=0, stream_interval=1, stream_output=False, enable_streaming_session=False, random_seed=1017643189, constrained_json_whitespace_pattern=None, constrained_json_disable_any_whitespace=False, watchdog_timeout=300, soft_watchdog_timeout=300, dist_timeout=None, download_dir=None, model_checksum=None, base_gpu_id=0, gpu_id_step=1, sleep_on_idle=False, use_ray=False, custom_sigquit_handler=None, log_level='warning', log_level_http=None, log_requests=False, log_requests_level=2, log_requests_format='text', log_requests_target=None, uvicorn_access_log_exclude_prefixes=[], crash_dump_folder=None, show_time_cost=False, enable_metrics=False, enable_metrics_for_all_schedulers=False, tokenizer_metrics_custom_labels_header='x-custom-labels', tokenizer_metrics_allowed_custom_labels=None, extra_metric_labels=None, bucket_time_to_first_token=None, bucket_inter_token_latency=None, bucket_e2e_request_latency=None, collect_tokens_histogram=False, prompt_tokens_buckets=None, generation_tokens_buckets=None, gc_warning_threshold_secs=0.0, decode_log_interval=40, enable_request_time_stats_logging=False, kv_events_config=None, enable_trace=False, otlp_traces_endpoint='localhost:4317', export_metrics_to_file=False, export_metrics_to_file_dir=None, api_key=None, admin_api_key=None, served_model_name='Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-3B-Instruct', weight_version='default', chat_template='qwen2-vl', hf_chat_template_name=None, completion_template=None, file_storage_path='sglang_storage', enable_cache_report=False, reasoning_parser=None, tool_call_parser=None, tool_server=None, sampling_defaults='model', dp_size=1, load_balance_method='round_robin', attn_cp_size=1, moe_dp_size=1, dist_init_addr=None, nnodes=1, node_rank=0, json_model_override_args='{}', preferred_sampling_params=None, enable_lora=None, enable_lora_overlap_loading=None, max_lora_rank=None, lora_target_modules=None, lora_paths=None, max_loaded_loras=None, max_loras_per_batch=8, lora_eviction_policy='lru', lora_backend='csgmv', max_lora_chunk_size=16, attention_backend='fa3', decode_attention_backend=None, prefill_attention_backend=None, sampling_backend='flashinfer', grammar_backend='xgrammar', mm_attention_backend=None, fp8_gemm_runner_backend='auto', fp4_gemm_runner_backend='auto', nsa_prefill_backend=None, nsa_decode_backend=None, disable_flashinfer_autotune=False, mamba_backend='triton', speculative_algorithm=None, speculative_draft_model_path=None, speculative_draft_model_revision=None, speculative_draft_load_format=None, speculative_num_steps=None, speculative_eagle_topk=None, speculative_num_draft_tokens=None, speculative_accept_threshold_single=1.0, speculative_accept_threshold_acc=1.0, speculative_token_map=None, speculative_attention_mode='prefill', speculative_draft_attention_backend=None, speculative_moe_runner_backend='auto', speculative_moe_a2a_backend=None, speculative_draft_model_quantization=None, speculative_ngram_min_match_window_size=1, speculative_ngram_max_match_window_size=12, speculative_ngram_min_bfs_breadth=1, speculative_ngram_max_bfs_breadth=10, speculative_ngram_match_type='BFS', speculative_ngram_branch_length=18, speculative_ngram_capacity=10000000, enable_multi_layer_eagle=False, ep_size=1, moe_a2a_backend='none', moe_runner_backend='auto', flashinfer_mxfp4_moe_precision='default', enable_flashinfer_allreduce_fusion=False, enable_aiter_allreduce_fusion=False, deepep_mode='auto', ep_num_redundant_experts=0, ep_dispatch_algorithm=None, init_expert_location='trivial', enable_eplb=False, eplb_algorithm='auto', eplb_rebalance_num_iterations=1000, eplb_rebalance_layers_per_chunk=None, eplb_min_rebalancing_utilization_threshold=1.0, expert_distribution_recorder_mode=None, expert_distribution_recorder_buffer_size=1000, enable_expert_distribution_metrics=False, deepep_config=None, moe_dense_tp_size=None, elastic_ep_backend=None, enable_elastic_expert_backup=False, mooncake_ib_device=None, max_mamba_cache_size=None, mamba_ssm_dtype=None, mamba_full_memory_ratio=0.9, mamba_scheduler_strategy='no_buffer', mamba_track_interval=256, linear_attn_backend='triton', linear_attn_decode_backend=None, linear_attn_prefill_backend=None, enable_hierarchical_cache=False, hicache_ratio=2.0, hicache_size=0, hicache_write_policy='write_through', hicache_io_backend='kernel', hicache_mem_layout='layer_first', disable_hicache_numa_detect=False, hicache_storage_backend=None, hicache_storage_prefetch_policy='best_effort', hicache_storage_backend_extra_config=None, hierarchical_sparse_attention_extra_config=None, enable_lmcache=False, kt_weight_path=None, kt_method=None, kt_cpuinfer=None, kt_threadpool_count=None, kt_num_gpu_experts=None, kt_max_deferred_experts_per_token=None, dllm_algorithm=None, dllm_algorithm_config=None, enable_double_sparsity=False, ds_channel_config_path=None, ds_heavy_channel_num=32, ds_heavy_token_num=256, ds_heavy_channel_type='qk', ds_sparse_decode_threshold=4096, cpu_offload_gb=0, offload_group_size=-1, offload_num_in_group=1, offload_prefetch_step=1, offload_mode='cpu', multi_item_scoring_delimiter=None, disable_radix_cache=False, cuda_graph_max_bs=4, cuda_graph_bs=[1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128, 136, 144, 152, 160, 168, 176, 184, 192, 200, 208, 216, 224, 232, 240, 248, 256], disable_cuda_graph=True, disable_cuda_graph_padding=False, enable_profile_cuda_graph=False, enable_cudagraph_gc=False, enable_layerwise_nvtx_marker=False, enable_nccl_nvls=False, enable_symm_mem=False, disable_flashinfer_cutlass_moe_fp4_allgather=False, enable_tokenizer_batch_encode=False, disable_tokenizer_batch_decode=False, disable_outlines_disk_cache=False, disable_custom_all_reduce=False, enable_mscclpp=False, enable_torch_symm_mem=False, disable_overlap_schedule=False, enable_mixed_chunk=False, enable_dp_attention=False, enable_dp_lm_head=False, enable_two_batch_overlap=False, enable_single_batch_overlap=False, tbo_token_distribution_threshold=0.48, enable_torch_compile=False, disable_piecewise_cuda_graph=True, enforce_piecewise_cuda_graph=False, enable_torch_compile_debug_mode=False, torch_compile_max_bs=32, piecewise_cuda_graph_max_tokens=8192, piecewise_cuda_graph_tokens=[4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160, 176, 192, 208, 224, 240, 256, 288, 320, 352, 384, 416, 448, 480, 512, 576, 640, 704, 768, 832, 896, 960, 1024, 1280, 1536, 1792, 2048, 2304, 2560, 2816, 3072, 3328, 3584, 3840, 4096, 4608, 5120, 5632, 6144, 6656, 7168, 7680, 8192], piecewise_cuda_graph_compiler='eager', torchao_config='', enable_nan_detection=False, enable_p2p_check=False, triton_attention_reduce_in_fp32=False, triton_attention_num_kv_splits=8, triton_attention_split_tile_size=None, num_continuous_decode_steps=1, delete_ckpt_after_loading=False, enable_memory_saver=False, enable_weights_cpu_backup=False, enable_draft_weights_cpu_backup=False, allow_auto_truncate=False, enable_custom_logit_processor=False, flashinfer_mla_disable_ragged=False, disable_shared_experts_fusion=False, disable_chunked_prefix_cache=False, disable_fast_image_processor=False, keep_mm_feature_on_device=False, enable_return_hidden_states=False, enable_return_routed_experts=False, scheduler_recv_interval=1, numa_node=None, enable_deterministic_inference=False, rl_on_policy_target=None, enable_attn_tp_input_scattered=False, enable_nsa_prefill_context_parallel=False, nsa_prefill_cp_mode='round-robin-split', enable_fused_qk_norm_rope=False, enable_precise_embedding_interpolation=False, enable_fused_moe_sum_all_reduce=False, enable_dynamic_batch_tokenizer=False, dynamic_batch_tokenizer_batch_size=32, dynamic_batch_tokenizer_batch_timeout=0.002, debug_tensor_dump_output_folder=None, debug_tensor_dump_layers=None, debug_tensor_dump_input_file=None, debug_tensor_dump_inject=False, disaggregation_mode='null', disaggregation_transfer_backend='mooncake', disaggregation_bootstrap_port=8998, disaggregation_ib_device=None, disaggregation_decode_enable_offload_kvcache=False, num_reserved_decode_tokens=512, disaggregation_decode_polling_interval=1, encoder_only=False, language_only=False, encoder_transfer_backend='zmq_to_scheduler', encoder_urls=[], enable_adaptive_dispatch_to_encoder=False, custom_weight_loader=[], weight_loader_disable_mmap=False, remote_instance_weight_loader_seed_instance_ip=None, remote_instance_weight_loader_seed_instance_service_port=None, remote_instance_weight_loader_send_weights_group_ports=None, remote_instance_weight_loader_backend='nccl', remote_instance_weight_loader_start_seed_via_transfer_engine=False, enable_pdmux=False, pdmux_config_path=None, sm_group_num=8, mm_max_concurrent_calls=32, mm_per_request_timeout=10.0, enable_broadcast_mm_inputs_process=False, enable_prefix_mm_cache=False, mm_enable_dp_encoder=False, mm_process_config={}, limit_mm_data_per_request=None, enable_mm_global_cache=False, decrypted_config_file=None, decrypted_draft_config_file=None, forward_hooks=None)
[2026-03-14 15:43:10] Ignore import error when loading sglang.srt.multimodal.processors.glmasr: cannot import name 'GlmAsrConfig' from 'transformers' (/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/transformers/__init__.py)
[Gloo] Rank 0 is connected to 0 peer ranks. Expected number of connected peer ranks is : 0
[Gloo] Rank 0 is connected to 0 peer ranks. Expected number of connected peer ranks is : 0
[Gloo] Rank 0 is connected to 0 peer ranks. Expected number of connected peer ranks is : 0
[2026-03-14 15:43:18] Ignore import error when loading sglang.srt.models.glm_ocr: No module named 'transformers.models.glm_ocr'
[2026-03-14 15:43:18] Ignore import error when loading sglang.srt.models.glm_ocr_nextn: No module named 'transformers.models.glm_ocr'
[2026-03-14 15:43:18] Ignore import error when loading sglang.srt.models.glmasr: cannot import name 'GlmAsrConfig' from 'transformers' (/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/transformers/__init__.py)
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[4]:
out = llm.generate(prompt=conv.get_prompt(), image_data=[image])
print("Model response:")
print(out["text"])
Model response:
The image shows a city street scene with a individual hanging laundry on a clothesline attached to the back of a yellow and white taxi. This is an unconventional and humorous sight, combining everyday activities with the typical setting of a bustling urban area. The large yellow and white taxi cab is parked on the street, and the individual is doing something that might not normally be expected next to a vehicle, making it an interesting visual contrast.
Call with Processor Output#
Using a HuggingFace processor to preprocess text and images, and passing the processor_output directly into Engine.generate.
[5]:
from transformers import AutoProcessor
processor = AutoProcessor.from_pretrained(model_path, use_fast=True)
processor_output = processor(
images=[image], text=conv.get_prompt(), return_tensors="pt"
)
out = llm.generate(
input_ids=processor_output["input_ids"][0].detach().cpu().tolist(),
image_data=[dict(processor_output, format="processor_output")],
)
print("Response using processor output:")
print(out["text"])
Response using processor output:
It looks like you're referring to a demonstration by caffeine enthusiasts in New York City. The image shows a pick-up truck filled with cups or containers containing something that might be related to the theme of caffeine. The person on the stand appears to be wearing a coffee-related pun "coffee-telegram." The slogan "Yes We'reés Up" is visible, which is a play on the phrase "yes we'reッド up."
Call with Precomputed Embeddings#
You can pre-calculate image features to avoid repeated visual encoding processes.
[6]:
from transformers import AutoProcessor
from transformers import Qwen2_5_VLForConditionalGeneration
processor = AutoProcessor.from_pretrained(model_path, use_fast=True)
vision = (
Qwen2_5_VLForConditionalGeneration.from_pretrained(model_path).eval().visual.cuda()
)
[7]:
processor_output = processor(
images=[image], text=conv.get_prompt(), return_tensors="pt"
)
input_ids = processor_output["input_ids"][0].detach().cpu().tolist()
precomputed_embeddings = vision(
processor_output["pixel_values"].cuda(), processor_output["image_grid_thw"].cuda()
)
multi_modal_item = dict(
processor_output,
format="precomputed_embedding",
feature=precomputed_embeddings,
)
out = llm.generate(input_ids=input_ids, image_data=[multi_modal_item])
print("Response using precomputed embeddings:")
print(out["text"])
llm.shutdown()
Response using precomputed embeddings:
The image appears to show a person straddling the tailgate of a parked yellow taxi. It looks unusual and is probably staged for a humorous or dramatic effect.
Querying Llama 4 Vision Model#
model_path = "meta-llama/Llama-4-Scout-17B-16E-Instruct"
chat_template = "llama-4"
from io import BytesIO
import requests
from PIL import Image
from sglang.srt.parser.conversation import chat_templates
# Download the same example image
image = Image.open(BytesIO(requests.get(example_image_url).content))
conv = chat_templates[chat_template].copy()
conv.append_message(conv.roles[0], f"What's shown here: {conv.image_token}?")
conv.append_message(conv.roles[1], "")
conv.image_data = [image]
print("Llama 4 generated prompt text:")
print(conv.get_prompt())
print(f"Image size: {image.size}")
image
Llama 4 Basic Call#
Llama 4 requires more computational resources, so it’s configured with multi-GPU parallelism (tp_size=4) and larger context length.
llm = Engine(
model_path=model_path,
enable_multimodal=True,
attention_backend="fa3",
tp_size=4,
context_length=65536,
)
out = llm.generate(prompt=conv.get_prompt(), image_data=[image])
print("Llama 4 response:")
print(out["text"])
Call with Processor Output#
Using HuggingFace processor to preprocess data can reduce computational overhead during inference.
from transformers import AutoProcessor
processor = AutoProcessor.from_pretrained(model_path, use_fast=True)
processor_output = processor(
images=[image], text=conv.get_prompt(), return_tensors="pt"
)
out = llm.generate(
input_ids=processor_output["input_ids"][0].detach().cpu().tolist(),
image_data=[dict(processor_output, format="processor_output")],
)
print("Response using processor output:")
print(out)
Call with Precomputed Embeddings#
from transformers import AutoProcessor
from transformers import Llama4ForConditionalGeneration
processor = AutoProcessor.from_pretrained(model_path, use_fast=True)
model = Llama4ForConditionalGeneration.from_pretrained(
model_path, torch_dtype="auto"
).eval()
vision = model.vision_model.cuda()
multi_modal_projector = model.multi_modal_projector.cuda()
print(f'Image pixel values shape: {processor_output["pixel_values"].shape}')
input_ids = processor_output["input_ids"][0].detach().cpu().tolist()
# Process image through vision encoder
image_outputs = vision(
processor_output["pixel_values"].to("cuda"),
aspect_ratio_ids=processor_output["aspect_ratio_ids"].to("cuda"),
aspect_ratio_mask=processor_output["aspect_ratio_mask"].to("cuda"),
output_hidden_states=False
)
image_features = image_outputs.last_hidden_state
# Flatten image features and pass through multimodal projector
vision_flat = image_features.view(-1, image_features.size(-1))
precomputed_embeddings = multi_modal_projector(vision_flat)
# Build precomputed embedding data item
mm_item = dict(
processor_output,
format="precomputed_embedding",
feature=precomputed_embeddings
)
# Use precomputed embeddings for efficient inference
out = llm.generate(input_ids=input_ids, image_data=[mm_item])
print("Llama 4 precomputed embedding response:")
print(out["text"])