---
title: Machine Learning
description: Eland allows transforming some trained models from scikit-learn, XGBoost, and LightGBM libraries to be serialized and used as an inference model in Elasticsearch...
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3028/reference/elasticsearch/clients/eland/machine-learning
products:
  - Eland
  - Elasticsearch Client
---

# Machine Learning
## Trained models

Eland allows transforming *some*
[trained models](https://eland.readthedocs.io/en/latest/reference/api/eland.ml.MLModel.import_model.html#parameters) from scikit-learn, XGBoost,
and LightGBM libraries to be serialized and used as an inference model in Elasticsearch.
```python
>>> from xgboost import XGBClassifier
>>> from eland.ml import MLModel

# Train and exercise an XGBoost ML model locally
>>> xgb_model = XGBClassifier(booster="gbtree")
>>> xgb_model.fit(training_data[0], training_data[1])

>>> xgb_model.predict(training_data[0])
[0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0]

# Import the model into Elasticsearch
>>> es_model = MLModel.import_model(
    es_client="http://localhost:9200",
    model_id="xgb-classifier",
    model=xgb_model,
    feature_names=["f0", "f1", "f2", "f3", "f4"],
)

# Exercise the ML model in Elasticsearch with the training data
>>> es_model.predict(training_data[0])
[0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0]
```


## Natural language processing (NLP) with PyTorch

<important>
  You need to install the appropriate version of PyTorch to import an NLP model. Run `python -m pip install 'eland[pytorch]'` to install that version.
</important>

For NLP tasks, Eland enables you to import PyTorch models into Elasticsearch. Use the `eland_import_hub_model` script to download and install supported [transformer models](https://huggingface.co/transformers) from the [Hugging Face model hub](https://huggingface.co/models). For example:
```bash
eland_import_hub_model <authentication> \ 
  --url http://localhost:9200/ \ 
  --hub-model-id elastic/distilbert-base-cased-finetuned-conll03-english \ 
  --task-type ner \ 
  --start
```

For more information about the available options, run `eland_import_hub_model` with the `--help` option.
```bash
eland_import_hub_model --help
```


### Import model with Docker

<warning>
  PyTorch models can execute code on your Elasticsearch server, exposing your cluster to potential security vulnerabilities.**Only use models from trusted sources and never use models from unverified or unknown providers.**
</warning>

If you want to use Eland without installing it, you can use the Docker image:
You can use the container interactively:
```bash
docker run -it --rm --network host docker.elastic.co/eland/eland
```

Running installed scripts is also possible without an interactive shell, for example:
```bash
docker run -it --rm docker.elastic.co/eland/eland \
    eland_import_hub_model \
      --url $ELASTICSEARCH_URL \
      --hub-model-id elastic/distilbert-base-uncased-finetuned-conll03-english \
      --start
```

Replace the `$ELASTICSEARCH_URL` with the URL for your Elasticsearch cluster. For authentication purposes, include an administrator username and password in the URL in the following format: `https://username:password@host:port`.

### Install models in an air-gapped environment

You can install models in a restricted or closed network by pointing the `eland_import_hub_model` script to local files.
For an offline install of a Hugging Face model, the model first needs to be cloned locally, Git and [Git Large File Storage](https://git-lfs.com/) are required to be installed in your system.
1. Select a model you want to use from Hugging Face. Refer to the [compatible third party model](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3028/explore-analyze/machine-learning/nlp/ml-nlp-model-ref) list for more information on the supported architectures.
2. Clone the selected model from Hugging Face by using the model URL. For example:
   ```bash
   git clone https://huggingface.co/dslim/bert-base-NER
   ```
   This command results in a local copy of of the model in the directory `bert-base-NER`.
3. Use the `eland_import_hub_model` script with the `--hub-model-id` set to the directory of the cloned model to install it:
   ```bash
   eland_import_hub_model \
         --url 'XXXX' \
         --hub-model-id /PATH/TO/MODEL \
         --task-type ner \
         --es-username elastic --es-password XXX \
         --es-model-id bert-base-ner
   ```
   If you use the Docker image to run `eland_import_hub_model` you must bind mount the model directory, so the container can read the files:
   ```bash
   docker run --mount type=bind,source=/PATH/TO/MODEL,destination=/model,readonly -it --rm docker.elastic.co/eland/eland \
       eland_import_hub_model \
         --url 'XXXX' \
         --hub-model-id /model \
         --task-type ner \
         --es-username elastic --es-password XXX \
         --es-model-id bert-base-ner
   ```
   Once it’s uploaded to Elasticsearch, the model will have the ID specified by `--es-model-id`. If it is not set, the model ID is derived from `--hub-model-id`; spaces and path delimiters are converted to double underscores `__`.


### Connect to Elasticsearch through a proxy

Behind the scenes, Eland uses the `requests` Python library, which [allows configuring proxies through an environment variable](https://requests.readthedocs.io/en/latest/user/advanced/#proxies). For example, to use an HTTP proxy to connect to an HTTPS Elasticsearch cluster, you need to set the `HTTPS_PROXY` environment variable when invoking Eland:
```bash
HTTPS_PROXY=http://proxy-host:proxy-port eland_import_hub_model ...
```

If you disabled security on your Elasticsearch cluster, you should use `HTTP_PROXY` instead.

### Authentication methods

The following authentication options are available when using the import script:
- Elasticsearch username and password authentication (specified with the `-u` and `-p` options):
  ```bash
  eland_import_hub_model -u <username> -p <password> --cloud-id <cloud-id> ...
  ```
  These `-u` and `-p` options also work when you use `--url`.
- Elasticsearch username and password authentication (embedded in the URL):
  ```bash
  eland_import_hub_model --url https://<user>:<password>@<hostname>:<port> ...
  ```
- Elasticsearch API key authentication:
  ```bash
  eland_import_hub_model --es-api-key <api-key> --url https://<hostname>:<port> ...
  ```
- HuggingFace Hub access token (for private models):
  ```bash
  eland_import_hub_model --hub-access-token <access-token> ...
  ```


### TLS/SSL

The following TLS/SSL options for Elasticsearch are available when using the import script:
- Specify alternate CA bundle to verify the cluster certificate:
  ```bash
  eland_import_hub_model --ca-certs CA_CERTS ...
  ```
- Disable TLS/SSL verification altogether (strongly discouraged):
  ```bash
  eland_import_hub_model --insecure ...
  ```