Add multi configuration section support (hyperparams and configurations)

Support setting offline mode API version using TRAINS_OFFLINE_MODE env var

trains/backend_api/session/datamodel.py

@@ -64,7 +64,11 @@ class DataModel(object):
 
     @classmethod
     def _to_base_type(cls, value):
-        if isinstance(value, DataModel):
+        if isinstance(value, dict):
+            # Note: this should come before DataModel to handle data models that are simply a dict
+            # (and thus are not expected to have additional named properties)
+            return {k: cls._to_base_type(v) for k, v in value.items()}
+        elif isinstance(value, DataModel):
             return value.to_dict()
         elif isinstance(value, enum.Enum):
             return value.value

trains/backend_api/session/session.py

@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class Session(TokenManager):
     default_files = "https://demofiles.trains.allegro.ai"
     default_key = "EGRTCO8JMSIGI6S39GTP43NFWXDQOW"
     default_secret = "x!XTov_G-#vspE*Y(h$Anm&DIc5Ou-F)jsl$PdOyj5wG1&E!Z8"
+    force_max_api_version = None
 
     # TODO: add requests.codes.gateway_timeout once we support async commits
     _retry_codes = [
@@ -182,6 +183,9 @@ class Session(TokenManager):
 
         self.__class__._sessions_created += 1
 
+        if self.force_max_api_version and self.check_min_api_version(self.force_max_api_version):
+            Session.api_version = str(self.force_max_api_version)
+
     def _send_request(
         self,
         service,
@@ -539,6 +543,16 @@ class Session(TokenManager):
         # If no session was created, create a default one, in order to get the backend api version.
         if cls._sessions_created <= 0:
             if cls._offline_mode:
+                # allow to change the offline mode version by setting ENV_OFFLINE_MODE to the required API version
+                if cls.api_version != cls._offline_default_version:
+                    offline_api = ENV_OFFLINE_MODE.get(converter=lambda x: x)
+                    if offline_api:
+                        try:
+                            # check cast to float, but leave original str if we pass it.
+                            float(offline_api)
+                            cls._offline_default_version = str(offline_api)
+                        except ValueError:
+                            pass
                     cls.api_version = cls._offline_default_version
             else:
                 # noinspection PyBroadException

trains/backend_interface/task/args.py

@@ -10,32 +10,35 @@ from ...utilities.args import call_original_argparser
 class _Arguments(object):
     _prefix_sep = '/'
     # TODO: separate dict and argparse after we add UI support
-    _prefix_dict = 'dict' + _prefix_sep
+    _prefix_args = 'Args' + _prefix_sep
-    _prefix_args = 'argparse' + _prefix_sep
     _prefix_tf_defines = 'TF_DEFINE' + _prefix_sep
 
     class _ProxyDictWrite(dict):
         """ Dictionary wrapper that updates an arguments instance on any item set in the dictionary """
 
-        def __init__(self, arguments, *args, **kwargs):
+        def __init__(self, __arguments, __section_name, *args, **kwargs):
             super(_Arguments._ProxyDictWrite, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-            self._arguments = arguments
+            self._arguments = __arguments
+            self._section_name = (__section_name.strip(_Arguments._prefix_sep) + _Arguments._prefix_sep) \
+                if __section_name else None
 
         def __setitem__(self, key, value):
             super(_Arguments._ProxyDictWrite, self).__setitem__(key, value)
             if self._arguments:
-                self._arguments.copy_from_dict(self)
+                self._arguments.copy_from_dict(self, prefix=self._section_name)
 
     class _ProxyDictReadOnly(dict):
         """ Dictionary wrapper that prevents modifications to the dictionary """
 
-        def __init__(self, arguments, *args, **kwargs):
+        def __init__(self, __arguments, __section_name, *args, **kwargs):
             super(_Arguments._ProxyDictReadOnly, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-            self._arguments = arguments
+            self._arguments = __arguments
+            self._section_name = (__section_name.strip(_Arguments._prefix_sep) + _Arguments._prefix_sep) \
+                if __section_name else None
 
         def __setitem__(self, key, value):
             if self._arguments:
-                param_dict = self._arguments.copy_to_dict({key: value})
+                param_dict = self._arguments.copy_to_dict({key: value}, prefix=self._section_name)
                 value = param_dict.get(key, value)
             super(_Arguments._ProxyDictReadOnly, self).__setitem__(key, value)
 
@@ -45,24 +48,32 @@ class _Arguments(object):
         self._exclude_parser_args = {}
 
     def exclude_parser_args(self, excluded_args):
+        """
+        You can use a dictionary for fined grained control of connected
+        arguments. The dictionary keys are argparse variable names and the values are booleans.
+        The ``False`` value excludes the specified argument from the Task's parameter section.
+        Keys missing from the dictionary default to ``True``, and an empty dictionary defaults to ``False``.
+
+        :param excluded_args: dict
+        """
         self._exclude_parser_args = excluded_args or {}
 
     def set_defaults(self, *dicts, **kwargs):
-        self._task.set_parameters(*dicts, **kwargs)
+        # noinspection PyProtectedMember
+        self._task._set_parameters(*dicts, __parameters_prefix=self._prefix_args, **kwargs)
 
     def add_argument(self, option_strings, type=None, default=None, help=None):
         if not option_strings:
             raise Exception('Expected at least one argument name (option string)')
         name = option_strings[0].strip('- \t') if isinstance(option_strings, list) else option_strings.strip('- \t')
-        # TODO: add argparse prefix
+        name = self._prefix_args + name
-        # name = self._prefix_args + name
         self._task.set_parameter(name=name, value=default, description=help)
 
     def connect(self, parser):
         self._task.connect_argparse(parser)
 
     @classmethod
-    def _add_to_defaults(cls, a_parser, defaults, a_args=None, a_namespace=None, a_parsed_args=None):
+    def _add_to_defaults(cls, a_parser, defaults, descriptions, a_args=None, a_namespace=None, a_parsed_args=None):
         actions = [
             a for a in a_parser._actions
             if isinstance(a, _StoreAction) or isinstance(a, _StoreConstAction)
@@ -87,6 +98,9 @@ class _Arguments(object):
                 for a in actions
             }
 
+        desc_ = {a.dest: a.help for a in actions}
+        descriptions.update(desc_)
+
         full_args_dict = copy(defaults)
         full_args_dict.update(args_dict)
         defaults.update(defaults_)
@@ -101,17 +115,19 @@ class _Arguments(object):
                 defaults[sub_parser.dest] = full_args_dict.get(sub_parser.dest) or ''
             for choice in sub_parser.choices.values():
                 # recursively parse
-                defaults = cls._add_to_defaults(
+                defaults, descriptions = cls._add_to_defaults(
                     a_parser=choice,
                     defaults=defaults,
+                    descriptions=descriptions,
                     a_parsed_args=a_parsed_args or full_args_dict
                 )
 
-        return defaults
+        return defaults, descriptions
 
     def copy_defaults_from_argparse(self, parser, args=None, namespace=None, parsed_args=None):
         task_defaults = {}
-        self._add_to_defaults(parser, task_defaults, args, namespace, parsed_args)
+        task_defaults_descriptions = {}
+        self._add_to_defaults(parser, task_defaults, task_defaults_descriptions, args, namespace, parsed_args)
 
         # Make sure we didn't miss anything
         if parsed_args:
@@ -133,12 +149,13 @@ class _Arguments(object):
             except Exception:
                 del task_defaults[k]
 
-        # Skip excluded arguments, Add prefix, TODO: add argparse prefix
+        # Skip excluded arguments, Add prefix.
-        # task_defaults = dict([(self._prefix_args + k, v) for k, v in task_defaults.items()
+        task_defaults = dict([(self._prefix_args + k, v) for k, v in task_defaults.items()
-        #                       if k not in self._exclude_parser_args])
+                              if self._exclude_parser_args.get(k, True)])
-        task_defaults = dict([(k, v) for k, v in task_defaults.items() if self._exclude_parser_args.get(k, True)])
+        task_defaults_descriptions = dict([(self._prefix_args + k, v) for k, v in task_defaults_descriptions.items()
+                                           if self._exclude_parser_args.get(k, True)])
         # Store to task
-        self._task.update_parameters(task_defaults)
+        self._task.update_parameters(task_defaults, __parameters_descriptions=task_defaults_descriptions)
 
     @classmethod
     def _find_parser_action(cls, a_parser, name):
@@ -158,11 +175,10 @@ class _Arguments(object):
         return _actions
 
     def copy_to_parser(self, parser, parsed_args):
-        # todo: change to argparse prefix only
+        # Change to argparse prefix only
-        # task_arguments = dict([(k[len(self._prefix_args):], v) for k, v in self._task.get_parameters().items()
+        task_arguments = dict([(k[len(self._prefix_args):], v) for k, v in self._task.get_parameters().items()
-        #                        if k.startswith(self._prefix_args)])
+                               if k.startswith(self._prefix_args) and
-        task_arguments = dict([(k, v) for k, v in self._task.get_parameters().items()
+                               self._exclude_parser_args.get(k[len(self._prefix_args):], True)])
-                               if not k.startswith(self._prefix_tf_defines) and self._exclude_parser_args.get(k, True)])
         arg_parser_argeuments = {}
         for k, v in task_arguments.items():
             # python2 unicode support
@@ -304,25 +320,24 @@ class _Arguments(object):
         parser.set_defaults(**arg_parser_argeuments)
 
     def copy_from_dict(self, dictionary, prefix=None):
-        # TODO: add dict prefix
+        # add dict prefix
-        prefix = prefix or ''  # self._prefix_dict
+        prefix = prefix  # or self._prefix_dict
         if prefix:
-            with self._task._edit_lock:
+            prefix = prefix.strip(self._prefix_sep) + self._prefix_sep
-                prefix_dictionary = dict([(prefix + k, v) for k, v in dictionary.items()])
+            # this will only set the specific section
-                cur_params = dict([(k, v) for k, v in self._task.get_parameters().items() if not k.startswith(prefix)])
+            self._task.set_parameters(dictionary, __parameters_prefix=prefix)
-                cur_params.update(prefix_dictionary)
-                self._task.set_parameters(cur_params)
         else:
             self._task.update_parameters(dictionary)
         if not isinstance(dictionary, self._ProxyDictWrite):
-            return self._ProxyDictWrite(self, **dictionary)
+            return self._ProxyDictWrite(self, prefix, **dictionary)
         return dictionary
 
     def copy_to_dict(self, dictionary, prefix=None):
         # iterate over keys and merge values according to parameter type in dictionary
-        # TODO: add dict prefix
+        # add dict prefix
-        prefix = prefix or ''  # self._prefix_dict
+        prefix = prefix  # or self._prefix_dict
         if prefix:
+            prefix = prefix.strip(self._prefix_sep) + self._prefix_sep
             parameters = dict([(k[len(prefix):], v) for k, v in self._task.get_parameters().items()
                                if k.startswith(prefix)])
         else:
@@ -396,5 +411,5 @@ class _Arguments(object):
         #         dictionary[k] = v
 
         if not isinstance(dictionary, self._ProxyDictReadOnly):
-            return self._ProxyDictReadOnly(self, **dictionary)
+            return self._ProxyDictReadOnly(self, prefix, **dictionary)
         return dictionary

trains/backend_interface/task/task.py

@@ -30,13 +30,15 @@ from ...backend_api import Session
 from ...backend_api.services import tasks, models, events, projects
 from ...backend_api.session.defs import ENV_OFFLINE_MODE
 from ...utilities.pyhocon import ConfigTree, ConfigFactory
+from ...utilities.config import config_dict_to_text, text_to_config_dict
 
 from ..base import IdObjectBase, InterfaceBase
 from ..metrics import Metrics, Reporter
 from ..model import Model
 from ..setupuploadmixin import SetupUploadMixin
-from ..util import make_message, get_or_create_project, get_single_result, \
+from ..util import (
-    exact_match_regex
+    make_message, get_or_create_project, get_single_result,
+    exact_match_regex, mutually_exclusive, )
 from ...config import (
     get_config_for_bucket, get_remote_task_id, TASK_ID_ENV_VAR, get_log_to_backend,
     running_remotely, get_cache_dir, DOCKER_IMAGE_ENV_VAR, get_offline_dir)
@@ -768,12 +770,52 @@ class Task(IdObjectBase, AccessMixin, SetupUploadMixin):
 
             self._edit(execution=self.data.execution)
 
+    def get_parameters(self, backwards_compatibility=True):
+        # type: (bool) -> (Optional[dict])
+        """
+        Get the parameters for a Task. This method returns a complete group of key-value parameter pairs, but does not
+        support parameter descriptions (the result is a dictionary of key-value pairs).
+        :param backwards_compatibility: If True (default) parameters without section name
+            (API version < 2.9, trains-server < 0.16) will be at dict root level.
+            If False, parameters without section name, will be nested under "general/" key.
+        :return: dict of the task parameters, all flattened to key/value.
+            Different sections with key prefix "section/"
+        """
+        if not Session.check_min_api_version('2.9'):
+            return self._get_task_property('execution.parameters')
+
+        # API will makes sure we get old parameters under _legacy
+        parameters = dict()
+        hyperparams = self._get_task_property('hyperparams', default=dict())
+        if len(hyperparams) == 1 and '_legacy' in hyperparams and backwards_compatibility:
+            for section in ('_legacy', ):
+                for key, section_param in hyperparams[section].items():
+                    parameters['{}'.format(key)] = section_param.value
+        else:
+            for section in hyperparams:
+                for key, section_param in hyperparams[section].items():
+                    parameters['{}/{}'.format(section, key)] = section_param.value
+
+        return parameters
+
     def set_parameters(self, *args, **kwargs):
         # type: (*dict, **Any) -> ()
         """
         Set the parameters for a Task. This method sets a complete group of key-value parameter pairs, but does not
         support parameter descriptions (the input is a dictionary of key-value pairs).
 
+        :param args: Positional arguments, which are one or more dictionary or (key, value) iterable. They are
+            merged into a single key-value pair dictionary.
+        :param kwargs: Key-value pairs, merged into the parameters dictionary created from ``args``.
+        """
+        return self._set_parameters(*args, __update=False, **kwargs)
+
+    def _set_parameters(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        # type: (*dict, **Any) -> ()
+        """
+        Set the parameters for a Task. This method sets a complete group of key-value parameter pairs, but does not
+        support parameter descriptions (the input is a dictionary of key-value pairs).
+
         :param args: Positional arguments, which are one or more dictionary or (key, value) iterable. They are
             merged into a single key-value pair dictionary.
         :param kwargs: Key-value pairs, merged into the parameters dictionary created from ``args``.
@@ -781,20 +823,22 @@ class Task(IdObjectBase, AccessMixin, SetupUploadMixin):
         if not all(isinstance(x, (dict, Iterable)) for x in args):
             raise ValueError('only dict or iterable are supported as positional arguments')
 
+        prefix = kwargs.pop('__parameters_prefix', None)
+        descriptions = kwargs.pop('__parameters_descriptions', None) or dict()
+        params_types = kwargs.pop('__parameters_types', None) or dict()
         update = kwargs.pop('__update', False)
 
-        with self._edit_lock:
+        # new parameters dict
-            self.reload()
+        new_parameters = dict(itertools.chain.from_iterable(x.items() if isinstance(x, dict) else x for x in args))
-            if update:
+        new_parameters.update(kwargs)
-                parameters = self.get_parameters()
+        if prefix:
-            else:
+            prefix = prefix.strip('/')
-                parameters = dict()
+            new_parameters = dict(('{}/{}'.format(prefix, k), v) for k, v in new_parameters.items())
-            parameters.update(itertools.chain.from_iterable(x.items() if isinstance(x, dict) else x for x in args))
-            parameters.update(kwargs)
 
+        # verify parameters type:
         not_allowed = {
             k: type(v).__name__
-                for k, v in parameters.items()
+            for k, v in new_parameters.items()
             if not isinstance(v, self._parameters_allowed_types)
         }
         if not_allowed:
@@ -804,9 +848,59 @@ class Task(IdObjectBase, AccessMixin, SetupUploadMixin):
                     ', '.join('%s=>%s' % p for p in not_allowed.items())),
             )
 
+        use_hyperparams = Session.check_min_api_version('2.9')
+
+        with self._edit_lock:
+            self.reload()
+            # if we have a specific prefix and we use hyperparameters, and we use set.
+            # overwrite only the prefix, leave the rest as is.
+            if not update and prefix:
+                parameters = dict(**(self.get_parameters() or {}))
+                parameters = dict((k, v) for k, v in parameters.items() if not k.startswith(prefix+'/'))
+            elif update:
+                parameters = dict(**(self.get_parameters() or {}))
+            else:
+                parameters = dict()
+
+            parameters.update(new_parameters)
+
             # force cast all variables to strings (so that we can later edit them in UI)
             parameters = {k: str(v) if v is not None else "" for k, v in parameters.items()}
 
+            if use_hyperparams:
+                # build nested dict from flat parameters dict:
+                org_hyperparams = self.data.hyperparams or {}
+                hyperparams = dict()
+
+                # if the task is a legacy task, we should put everything back under _legacy
+                if self.data.hyperparams and '_legacy' in self.data.hyperparams:
+                    for k, v in parameters.items():
+                        section_name, key = '_legacy', k
+                        section = hyperparams.get(section_name, dict())
+                        description = \
+                            descriptions.get(k) or \
+                            org_hyperparams.get(section_name, dict()).get(key, tasks.ParamsItem()).description
+                        param_type = \
+                            params_types.get(k) or \
+                            org_hyperparams.get(section_name, dict()).get(key, tasks.ParamsItem()).type
+                        section[key] = tasks.ParamsItem(
+                            section=section_name, name=key, value=v, description=description, type=str(param_type))
+                        hyperparams[section_name] = section
+                else:
+                    for k, v in parameters.items():
+                        org_k = k
+                        if '/' not in k:
+                            k = 'General/{}'.format(k)
+                        section_name, key = k.split('/', 1)
+                        section = hyperparams.get(section_name, dict())
+                        description = \
+                            descriptions.get(org_k) or \
+                            org_hyperparams.get(section_name, dict()).get(key, tasks.ParamsItem()).description
+                        section[key] = tasks.ParamsItem\
+                            (section=section_name, name=key, value=v, description=description)
+                        hyperparams[section_name] = section
+                self._edit(hyperparams=hyperparams)
+            else:
                 execution = self.data.execution
                 if execution is None:
                     execution = tasks.Execution(
@@ -816,23 +910,26 @@ class Task(IdObjectBase, AccessMixin, SetupUploadMixin):
                     execution.parameters = parameters
                 self._edit(execution=execution)
 
-    def set_parameter(self, name, value, description=None):
+    def set_parameter(self, name, value, description=None, value_type=None):
-        # type: (str, str, Optional[str]) -> ()
+        # type: (str, str, Optional[str], Optional[Any]) -> ()
         """
         Set a single Task parameter. This overrides any previous value for this parameter.
 
         :param name: The parameter name.
         :param value: The parameter value.
         :param description: The parameter description.
-
+        :param value_type: The type of the parameters (cast to string and store)
-            .. note::
-               The ``description`` is not yet in use.
         """
+        if not Session.check_min_api_version('2.9'):
             # not supported yet
-        if description:
-            # noinspection PyUnusedLocal
             description = None
-        self.set_parameters({name: value}, __update=True)
+            value_type = None
+
+        self._set_parameters(
+            {name: value}, __update=True,
+            __parameters_descriptions={name: description},
+            __parameters_types={name: value_type}
+        )
 
     def get_parameter(self, name, default=None):
         # type: (str, Any) -> Any
@@ -856,7 +953,7 @@ class Task(IdObjectBase, AccessMixin, SetupUploadMixin):
             merged into a single key-value pair dictionary.
         :param kwargs: Key-value pairs, merged into the parameters dictionary created from ``args``.
         """
-        self.set_parameters(__update=True, *args, **kwargs)
+        self._set_parameters(*args, __update=True, **kwargs)
 
     def set_model_label_enumeration(self, enumeration=None):
         # type: (Mapping[str, int]) -> ()
@@ -1316,7 +1413,12 @@ class Task(IdObjectBase, AccessMixin, SetupUploadMixin):
 
         self._update_requirements('')
 
-        if Session.check_min_api_version('2.3'):
+        if Session.check_min_api_version('2.9'):
+            self._set_task_property("system_tags", system_tags)
+            self._edit(system_tags=self._data.system_tags, comment=self._data.comment,
+                       script=self._data.script, execution=self._data.execution, output_dest='',
+                       hyperparams=dict(), configuration=dict())
+        elif Session.check_min_api_version('2.3'):
             self._set_task_property("system_tags", system_tags)
             self._edit(system_tags=self._data.system_tags, comment=self._data.comment,
                        script=self._data.script, execution=self._data.execution, output_dest='')
@@ -1386,6 +1488,67 @@ class Task(IdObjectBase, AccessMixin, SetupUploadMixin):
             self.data.script = script
             self._edit(script=script)
 
+    def _set_configuration(self, name, description=None, config_type=None, config_text=None, config_dict=None):
+        # type: (str, Optional[str], Optional[str], Optional[str], Optional[Mapping]) -> None
+        """
+        Set Task configuration text/dict. Multiple configurations are supported.
+
+        :param str name: Configuration name.
+        :param str description: Configuration section description.
+        :param config_text: model configuration (unconstrained text string). usually the content
+            of a configuration file. If `config_text` is not None, `config_dict` must not be provided.
+        :param config_dict: model configuration parameters dictionary.
+            If `config_dict` is not None, `config_text` must not be provided.
+        """
+        # make sure we have wither dict or text
+        mutually_exclusive(config_dict=config_dict, config_text=config_text)
+
+        if not Session.check_min_api_version('2.9'):
+            raise ValueError("Multiple configurations are not supported with the current 'trains-server', "
+                             "please upgrade to the latest version")
+
+        if description:
+            description = str(description)
+        config = config_dict_to_text(config_text or config_dict)
+        with self._edit_lock:
+            self.reload()
+            configuration = self.data.configuration or {}
+            configuration[name] = tasks.ConfigurationItem(
+                name=name, value=config, description=description or None, type=config_type or None)
+            self._edit(configuration=configuration)
+
+    def _get_configuration_text(self, name):
+        # type: (str) -> Optional[str]
+        """
+        Get Task configuration section as text
+
+        :param str name: Configuration name.
+        :return: The Task configuration as text (unconstrained text string).
+            return None if configuration name is not valid.
+        """
+        if not Session.check_min_api_version('2.9'):
+            raise ValueError("Multiple configurations are not supported with the current 'trains-server', "
+                             "please upgrade to the latest version")
+
+        configuration = self.data.configuration or {}
+        if not configuration.get(name):
+            return None
+        return configuration[name].value
+
+    def _get_configuration_dict(self, name):
+        # type: (str) -> Optional[dict]
+        """
+        Get Task configuration section as dictionary
+
+        :param str name: Configuration name.
+        :return: The Task configuration as dictionary.
+            return None if configuration name is not valid.
+        """
+        config_text = self._get_configuration_text(name)
+        if not config_text:
+            return None
+        return text_to_config_dict(config_text)
+
     def get_offline_mode_folder(self):
         # type: () -> (Optional[Path])
         """

trains/model.py

@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ class BaseModel(object):
     def _config_dict_to_text(config):
         if not isinstance(config, six.string_types) and not isinstance(config, dict):
             raise ValueError("Model configuration only supports dictionary or string objects")
-        return config_dict_to_text
+        return config_dict_to_text(config)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _text_to_config_dict(text):

trains/task.py

@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ class Task(_Task):
     __task_id_reuse_time_window_in_hours = float(config.get('development.task_reuse_time_window_in_hours', 24.0))
     __detect_repo_async = config.get('development.vcs_repo_detect_async', False)
     __default_output_uri = config.get('development.default_output_uri', None)
+    __default_configuration_name = 'General'
 
     class _ConnectedParametersType(object):
         argparse = "argument_parser"
@@ -904,8 +905,8 @@ class Task(_Task):
             self.data.tags.extend(tags)
             self._edit(tags=list(set(self.data.tags)))
 
-    def connect(self, mutable):
+    def connect(self, mutable, name=None):
-        # type: (Any) -> Any
+        # type: (Any, Optional[str]) -> Any
         """
         Connect an object to a Task object. This connects an experiment component (part of an experiment) to the
         experiment. For example, connect hyperparameters or models.
@@ -918,6 +919,12 @@ class Task(_Task):
             - TaskParameters - A TaskParameters object.
             - model - A model object for initial model warmup, or for model update/snapshot uploading.
 
+        :param str name: A section name associated with the connected object. Default: 'General'
+            Currently only supported for `dict` / `TaskParameter` objects
+            Examples:
+                name='General' will put the connected dictionary under the General section in the hyper-parameters
+                name='Train' will put the connected dictionary under the Train section in the hyper-parameters
+
         :return: The result returned when connecting the object, if supported.
 
         :raise: Raise an exception on unsupported objects.
@@ -931,14 +938,22 @@ class Task(_Task):
             (TaskParameters, self._connect_task_parameters),
         )
 
+        multi_config_support = Session.check_min_api_version('2.9')
+        if multi_config_support and not name:
+            name = self.__default_configuration_name
+
+        if not multi_config_support and name and name != self.__default_configuration_name:
+            raise ValueError("Multiple configurations are not supported with the current 'trains-server', "
+                             "please upgrade to the latest version")
+
         for mutable_type, method in dispatch:
             if isinstance(mutable, mutable_type):
-                return method(mutable)
+                return method(mutable, name=name)
 
         raise Exception('Unsupported mutable type %s: no connect function found' % type(mutable).__name__)
 
-    def connect_configuration(self, configuration):
+    def connect_configuration(self, configuration, name=None, description=None):
-        # type: (Union[Mapping, Path, str]) -> Union[Mapping, Path, str]
+        # type: (Union[Mapping, Path, str], Optional[str], Optional[str]) -> Union[Mapping, Path, str]
         """
         Connect a configuration dictionary or configuration file (pathlib.Path / str) to a Task object.
         This method should be called before reading the configuration file.
@@ -968,25 +983,54 @@ class Task(_Task):
               A local path must be relative path. When executing a Task remotely in a worker, the contents brought
               from the **Trains Server** (backend) overwrites the contents of the file.
 
+        :param str name: Configuration section name. default: 'General'
+            Allowing users to store multiple configuration dicts/files
+
+        :param str description: Configuration section description (text). default: None
+
         :return: If a dictionary is specified, then a dictionary is returned. If pathlib2.Path / string is
             specified, then a path to a local configuration file is returned. Configuration object.
         """
+        pathlib_Path = None
         if not isinstance(configuration, (dict, Path, six.string_types)):
+            try:
+                from pathlib import Path as pathlib_Path
+            except ImportError:
+                pass
+            if not pathlib_Path or not isinstance(configuration, pathlib_Path):
                 raise ValueError("connect_configuration supports `dict`, `str` and 'Path' types, "
                                  "{} is not supported".format(type(configuration)))
 
+        multi_config_support = Session.check_min_api_version('2.9')
+        if multi_config_support and not name:
+            name = self.__default_configuration_name
+
+        if not multi_config_support and name and name != self.__default_configuration_name:
+            raise ValueError("Multiple configurations are not supported with the current 'trains-server', "
+                             "please upgrade to the latest version")
+
         # parameter dictionary
         if isinstance(configuration, dict):
             def _update_config_dict(task, config_dict):
+                if multi_config_support:
+                    # noinspection PyProtectedMember
+                    task._set_configuration(
+                        name=name, description=description, config_type='dictionary', config_dict=config_dict)
+                else:
                     # noinspection PyProtectedMember
                     task._set_model_config(config_dict=config_dict)
 
             if not running_remotely() or not self.is_main_task():
+                if multi_config_support:
+                    self._set_configuration(
+                        name=name, description=description, config_type='dictionary', config_dict=configuration)
+                else:
                     self._set_model_config(config_dict=configuration)
                 configuration = ProxyDictPostWrite(self, _update_config_dict, **configuration)
             else:
                 configuration.clear()
-                configuration.update(self._get_model_config_dict())
+                configuration.update(self._get_configuration_dict(name=name) if multi_config_support
+                                     else self._get_model_config_dict())
                 configuration = ProxyDictPreWrite(False, False, **configuration)
             return configuration
 
@@ -1002,16 +1046,26 @@ class Task(_Task):
             except Exception:
                 raise ValueError("Could not connect configuration file {}, file could not be read".format(
                     configuration_path.as_posix()))
+            if multi_config_support:
+                self._set_configuration(
+                    name=name, description=description,
+                    config_type=configuration_path.suffixes[-1].lstrip('.')
+                    if configuration_path.suffixes and configuration_path.suffixes[-1] else 'file',
+                    config_text=configuration_text)
+            else:
                 self._set_model_config(config_text=configuration_text)
             return configuration
         else:
-            configuration_text = self._get_model_config_text()
+            configuration_text = self._get_configuration_text(name=name) if multi_config_support \
+                else self._get_model_config_text()
             configuration_path = Path(configuration)
             fd, local_filename = mkstemp(prefix='trains_task_config_',
                                          suffix=configuration_path.suffixes[-1] if
                                          configuration_path.suffixes else '.txt')
             os.write(fd, configuration_text.encode('utf-8'))
             os.close(fd)
+            if pathlib_Path:
+                return pathlib_Path(local_filename)
             return Path(local_filename) if isinstance(configuration, Path) else local_filename
 
     def connect_label_enumeration(self, enumeration):
@@ -1651,6 +1705,7 @@ class Task(_Task):
             # noinspection PyProtectedMember
             offline_folder = os.path.join(export_data.get('offline_folder', ''), 'data/')
 
+            # noinspection PyProtectedMember
             remote_url = task._get_default_report_storage_uri()
             if remote_url and remote_url.endswith('/'):
                 remote_url = remote_url[:-1]
@@ -1977,7 +2032,7 @@ class Task(_Task):
 
         return self._logger
 
-    def _connect_output_model(self, model):
+    def _connect_output_model(self, model, name=None):
         assert isinstance(model, OutputModel)
         model.connect(self)
         return model
@@ -2001,7 +2056,7 @@ class Task(_Task):
         if self._connected_output_model:
             self.connect(self._connected_output_model)
 
-    def _connect_input_model(self, model):
+    def _connect_input_model(self, model, name=None):
         assert isinstance(model, InputModel)
         # we only allow for an input model to be connected once
         # at least until we support multiple input models
@@ -2039,7 +2094,7 @@ class Task(_Task):
         # added support for multiple type connections through _Arguments
         return option
 
-    def _connect_argparse(self, parser, args=None, namespace=None, parsed_args=None):
+    def _connect_argparse(self, parser, args=None, namespace=None, parsed_args=None, name=None):
         # do not allow argparser to connect to jupyter notebook
         # noinspection PyBroadException
         try:
@@ -2079,15 +2134,15 @@ class Task(_Task):
                 parser, args=args, namespace=namespace, parsed_args=parsed_args)
         return parser
 
-    def _connect_dictionary(self, dictionary):
+    def _connect_dictionary(self, dictionary, name=None):
         def _update_args_dict(task, config_dict):
             # noinspection PyProtectedMember
-            task._arguments.copy_from_dict(flatten_dictionary(config_dict))
+            task._arguments.copy_from_dict(flatten_dictionary(config_dict), prefix=name)
 
         def _refresh_args_dict(task, config_dict):
             # reread from task including newly added keys
             # noinspection PyProtectedMember
-            a_flat_dict = task._arguments.copy_to_dict(flatten_dictionary(config_dict))
+            a_flat_dict = task._arguments.copy_to_dict(flatten_dictionary(config_dict), prefix=name)
             # noinspection PyProtectedMember
             nested_dict = config_dict._to_dict()
             config_dict.clear()
@@ -2096,23 +2151,28 @@ class Task(_Task):
         self._try_set_connected_parameter_type(self._ConnectedParametersType.dictionary)
 
         if not running_remotely() or not self.is_main_task():
-            self._arguments.copy_from_dict(flatten_dictionary(dictionary))
+            self._arguments.copy_from_dict(flatten_dictionary(dictionary), prefix=name)
             dictionary = ProxyDictPostWrite(self, _update_args_dict, **dictionary)
         else:
             flat_dict = flatten_dictionary(dictionary)
-            flat_dict = self._arguments.copy_to_dict(flat_dict)
+            flat_dict = self._arguments.copy_to_dict(flat_dict, prefix=name)
             dictionary = nested_from_flat_dictionary(dictionary, flat_dict)
             dictionary = ProxyDictPostWrite(self, _refresh_args_dict, **dictionary)
 
         return dictionary
 
-    def _connect_task_parameters(self, attr_class):
+    def _connect_task_parameters(self, attr_class, name=None):
         self._try_set_connected_parameter_type(self._ConnectedParametersType.task_parameters)
 
         if running_remotely() and self.is_main_task():
-            attr_class.update_from_dict(self.get_parameters())
+            parameters = self.get_parameters()
+            if not name:
+                attr_class.update_from_dict(parameters)
             else:
-            self.set_parameters(attr_class.to_dict())
+                attr_class.update_from_dict(
+                    dict((k[len(name)+1:], v) for k, v in parameters.items() if k.startswith('{}/'.format(name))))
+        else:
+            self.set_parameters(attr_class.to_dict(), __parameters_prefix=name)
         return attr_class
 
     def _validate(self, check_output_dest_credentials=False):