feat: handle PrefillComplete in the Dynamo EPP Scorer Plugin [DEP-728] (#5592)

Signed-off-by: Anna Tchernych <atchernych@nvidia.com>

deploy/helm/charts/platform/components/operator/templates/deployment.yaml

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ spec:
         {{- end }}
         {{- if .Values.etcdAddr }}
           - --etcdAddr={{ .Values.etcdAddr }}
-        {{- else }}
+        {{- else if and .Values.etcd .Values.etcd.enabled }}
           - --etcdAddr={{ .Release.Name }}-etcd.{{ .Release.Namespace }}.svc.cluster.local:2379
         {{- end }}
         {{- if and .Values.dynamo.istio.enabled .Values.dynamo.istio.gateway }}

deploy/inference-gateway/README.md

@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@ Currently, these setups are only supported with the kGateway based Inference Gat
   - [7. Usage](#7-usage)
   - [8. Deleting the installation](#8-deleting-the-installation)
 - [Gateway API Inference Extension Details](#gateway-api-inference-extension-integration)
-  - [v1.2.1 API Changes](#v121-api-changes)
-  - [Building for v1.2.1](#building-for-v121)
-  - [Header-Only Routing for v1.2.1](#header-only-routing-for-v121)
+  - [Router bookkeeping operations](#router-bookkeeping-operations)
+  - [Header Routing Hints](#header-routing-hints)
 
 
 ## Prerequisites
@@ -68,6 +67,14 @@ kubectl get gateway inference-gateway
 ### 3. Deploy Your Model ###
 
 Follow the steps in [model deployment](../../examples/backends/vllm/deploy/README.md) to deploy `Qwen/Qwen3-0.6B` model in aggregate mode using [agg.yaml](../../examples/backends/vllm/deploy/agg.yaml) in `my-model` kubernetes namespace.
+Make sure to enable kv-routing by adding the env var in the FrontEnd.
+```bash
+    mainContainer:
+      image: ...
+      env:
+        - name: DYN_ROUTER_MODE
+          value: "kv"
+```
 
 Sample commands to deploy model:
 
@@ -228,7 +235,7 @@ a. User minikube tunnel to expose the gateway to the host
 ```bash
 # in first terminal
 ps aux | grep "minikube tunnel" | grep -v grep # make sure minikube tunnel is not already running.
-minikube tunnel & # start the tunnel
+minikube tunnel # start the tunnel
 
 # in second terminal where you want to send inference requests
 GATEWAY_URL=$(kubectl get svc inference-gateway -n my-model -o jsonpath='{.spec.clusterIP}')
@@ -359,18 +366,14 @@ kubectl delete -f https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/gateway-api/releases/downlo
 
 This section documents the updated plugin implementation for Gateway API Inference Extension **v1.2.1**.
 
-### v1.2.1 API Changes
-
-
-### Building for v1.2.1
+### Router bookkeeping operations
 
-The plugin code for v1.2.1 is in:
-- `pkg/plugins/dynamo_kv_scorer/plugin.go`
+EPP performs Dynamo router book keeping operations so the FrontEnd's Router does not have to sync its state.
 
 
-### Header-Only Routing for v1.2.1
+### Header Routing Hints
 
-In v1.2.1, the EPP uses a **header-only approach** for communicating routing decisions.
+Since v1.2.1, the EPP uses a **header-only approach** for communicating routing decisions.
 The plugins set HTTP headers that are forwarded to the backend workers.
 
 #### Headers Set by Dynamo Plugins

deploy/inference-gateway/epp/cmd/epp/main.go

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ import (
 
 func main() {
 	// Register Dynamo custom plugins:
-	// - kv-aware-scorer: Implements Scorer, PreRequest, and ResponseComplete interfaces
+	// - kv-aware-scorer: Implements Scorer, PreRequest, and ResponseStreaming interfaces
 	//   - Score: Calls Dynamo router to select workers based on KV cache, sets routing headers
 	//   - PreRequest: Registers request with router bookkeeping after scheduling is finalized
 	//   - ResponseComplete: Cleans up router bookkeeping when response completes

deploy/inference-gateway/epp/pkg/plugins/dynamo_kv_scorer/plugin.go

@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ const (
 	WorkerIDHeader        = "x-worker-instance-id"
 	PrefillWorkerIDHeader = "x-prefill-instance-id"
 	RoutingModeHeader     = "x-dynamo-routing-mode"
+	// EnableLocalUpdatesHeader controls router bookkeeping in the Dynamo frontend.
+	// Set to "false" for GAIE Stage 2 so the EPP handles bookkeeping via C FFI.
+	EnableLocalUpdatesHeader = "x-enable-local-updates"
 
 	// stateKey is the key used to store routing state in PluginState
 	stateKey = "dynamo-routing-state"
@@ -163,11 +166,13 @@ func (s *DynamoRoutingState) Clone() plugins.StateData {
 type KVAwareScorer struct {
 	typedName      plugins.TypedName
 	pluginState    *plugins.PluginState
+	firstTokenSeen sync.Map // map[requestID]bool - tracks which requests have received first token
 }
 
 var _ plugins.Plugin = (*KVAwareScorer)(nil)
 var _ framework.Scorer = (*KVAwareScorer)(nil)
 var _ rc.PreRequest = (*KVAwareScorer)(nil)
+var _ rc.ResponseStreaming = (*KVAwareScorer)(nil)
 var _ rc.ResponseComplete = (*KVAwareScorer)(nil)
 
 func NewKVAwareScorer(ctx context.Context) *KVAwareScorer {
@@ -324,7 +329,7 @@ func initFFI() error {
 			C.double(ffiOverlapScoreWeight),
 			C.double(ffiRouterTemperature),
 			C.bool(getEnvBoolOrDefault("DYNAMO_USE_KV_EVENTS", true)),
-			C.bool(getEnvBoolOrDefault("DYNAMO_ROUTER_REPLICA_SYNC", true)),
+			C.bool(getEnvBoolOrDefault("DYNAMO_ROUTER_REPLICA_SYNC", false)), // no need as long as we call the Router Book keeping operations from the EPP.
 			C.bool(ffiEnforceDisagg),
 			&pipeline,
 		)
@@ -363,6 +368,10 @@ func (k *KVAwareScorer) Score(
 		}
 		req.Headers[WorkerIDHeader] = workerID
 
+		// Disable local updates in the Dynamo frontend router.
+		// EPP handles bookkeeping via C FFI (add_request, mark_prefill_complete, free_request).
+		req.Headers[EnableLocalUpdatesHeader] = "false"
+
 		// Set routing mode and prefill worker ID based on disaggregated vs aggregated
 		if prefillWorkerID != "" && prefillWorkerID != workerID {
 			// Disaggregated mode: separate prefill and decode workers
@@ -438,6 +447,33 @@ func (k *KVAwareScorer) PreRequest(
 	)
 }
 
+// ResponseStreaming is called for each chunk of a streaming response.
+// On the first token, it marks prefill as complete in the Dynamo router's bookkeeping.
+func (k *KVAwareScorer) ResponseStreaming(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	request *schedtypes.LLMRequest,
+	response *rc.Response,
+	targetPod *backend.Pod,
+) {
+	if request == nil || request.RequestId == "" {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Check if we've already seen the first token for this request
+	// LoadOrStore returns (value, loaded) - if loaded is false, this is the first time
+	if _, alreadySeen := k.firstTokenSeen.LoadOrStore(request.RequestId, true); !alreadySeen {
+		// This is the first token - mark prefill as complete
+		logger := log.FromContext(ctx)
+		if err := CallMarkPrefillComplete(request.RequestId); err != nil {
+			logger.V(logutil.DEFAULT).Error(err, "ResponseStreaming: failed to mark prefill complete",
+				"requestID", request.RequestId)
+			return
+		}
+		logger.V(logutil.VERBOSE).Info("ResponseStreaming: marked prefill complete (first token received)",
+			"requestID", request.RequestId)
+	}
+}
+
 // ResponseComplete is called after the complete response is sent to the client.
 // It cleans up the router bookkeeping state for the completed request by calling
 // dynamo_router_free_request to release resources associated with the request.
@@ -460,6 +496,9 @@ func (k *KVAwareScorer) ResponseComplete(
 		return
 	}
 
+	// Clean up the first token tracking map
+	k.firstTokenSeen.Delete(requestID)
+
 	// Call the dynamo router to free the request bookkeeping
 	if err := callFreeRequestInternal(requestID); err != nil {
 		logger.V(logutil.DEFAULT).Error(err, "ResponseComplete: failed to free request",

deploy/inference-gateway/helm/dynamo-gaie/epp-config-dynamo.yaml

@@ -14,12 +14,6 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 # Dynamo EPP Configuration
-#
-# The KV scorer sets routing headers that the Lua filter at the gateway
-# reads to inject nvext into the request body:
-#   - x-worker-instance-id: Selected worker ID
-#   - x-prefiller-host-port: Prefill worker (disaggregated mode)
-#   - x-dynamo-routing-mode: "aggregated" or "disaggregated"
 
 apiVersion: inference.networking.x-k8s.io/v1alpha1
 kind: EndpointPickerConfig

deploy/inference-gateway/helm/dynamo-gaie/templates/cluster-role.yaml

@@ -17,10 +17,11 @@ apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
 metadata:
   name: pod-read
 rules:
-# Gateway API inference resources
+# Gateway API inference resources (experimental API)
 - apiGroups: ["inference.networking.x-k8s.io"]
   resources: ["inferencepools", "inferenceobjectives", "inferencemodelrewrites"]
   verbs: ["get", "watch", "list"]
+# Gateway API inference resources (stable API)
 - apiGroups: ["inference.networking.k8s.io"]
   resources: ["inferencepools"]
   verbs: ["get", "watch", "list"]

deploy/inference-gateway/helm/dynamo-gaie/templates/dynamo-epp.yaml

@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ spec:
           - -pool-namespace
           - "{{ .Release.Namespace }}"
           - -pool-group
-          - "inference.networking.x-k8s.io"
+          - "inference.networking.k8s.io"
           - -v
           - "4"
           - --zap-encoder
@@ -118,8 +118,6 @@ spec:
             value: "{{ $ns }}"
           - name: DYNAMO_KV_BLOCK_SIZE
             value: "{{ $kv }}"
-          - name: DYNAMO_ROUTER_REPLICA_SYNC
-            value: "true"
           - name: USE_STREAMING
             value: "true"
           # HuggingFace token for downloading model config files

deploy/inference-gateway/helm/dynamo-gaie/templates/inference-pool.yaml

@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-# InferencePool for kGateway (stable API - inference.networking.k8s.io/v1)
-# This is used by kGateway to resolve HTTPRoute backends
+# InferencePool (stable API - inference.networking.k8s.io/v1)
+# Used by both kGateway (to resolve HTTPRoute backends) and EPP (to discover backend pods)
 apiVersion: inference.networking.k8s.io/v1
 kind: InferencePool
 metadata:
@@ -33,21 +33,3 @@ spec:
     name: {{ .Values.model.shortName }}-epp
     port:
       number: 9002
\ No newline at end of file
----
-# InferencePool for EPP (experimental API - inference.networking.x-k8s.io/v1alpha2)
-# This is used by the EPP to discover and route to backend pods
-apiVersion: inference.networking.x-k8s.io/v1alpha2
-kind: InferencePool
-metadata:
-  name: {{ .Values.model.shortName }}-pool
-  namespace: {{ .Release.Namespace }}
-spec:
-  targetPortNumber: {{ .Values.inferencePool.port }}
-  selector:
-    nvidia.com/dynamo-component: Frontend
-    nvidia.com/dynamo-namespace: {{ include "dynamo-gaie.dynamoNamespace" . }}
-  extensionRef:
-    failureMode: FailOpen
-    group: ""
-    kind: Service
-    name: {{ .Values.model.shortName }}-epp
\ No newline at end of file

docs/kubernetes/dynamo_operator.md

@@ -195,7 +195,9 @@ helm install dynamo-platform ./platform/ \
   --namespace ${NAMESPACE} \
   --create-namespace \
   --set "dynamo-operator.controllerManager.manager.image.repository=${DOCKER_SERVER}/dynamo-operator" \
-  --set "dynamo-operator.controllerManager.manager.image.tag=${IMAGE_TAG}"
+  --set "dynamo-operator.controllerManager.manager.image.tag=${IMAGE_TAG}" \
+  --set etcd.enabled=false \
+  --set dynamo-operator.imagePullSecrets[0].name=docker-imagepullsecret
 ```
 
 For detailed installation options, see the [Installation Guide](./installation_guide.md)

lib/bindings/c/src/lib.rs

@@ -952,7 +952,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn dynamo_router_add_request(
 }
 
 /// Mark prefill as completed for a request.
-/// Call this from GAIE hook when the first token is generated.
+/// Call this from the EPP extension point when the first token is generated.
 ///
 /// # Safety
 /// - `pipeline` must be a valid, non-null pointer from `dynamo_create_worker_selection_pipeline`
@@ -1132,76 +1132,14 @@ pub fn add_query_instance_id(
     set_kv_annotation(request, "query_instance_id".to_string(), "")
 }
 
-/// Set worker IDs directly on the NvExt fields for GAIE Stage 2
-///
-/// For disaggregated mode: sets `prefill_worker_id` and `decode_worker_id`
-/// For aggregated mode: sets `backend_instance_id` (when both IDs are the same)
-///
-/// Also sets `enable_local_updates: false` since the external caller (EPP/GAIE)
-/// will handle bookkeeping via C FFI functions.
-pub fn set_worker_ids_for_stage2(
-    request: &mut NvCreateChatCompletionRequest,
-    decode_worker_id: Option<i64>,
-    prefill_worker_id: Option<i64>,
-) -> &mut NvCreateChatCompletionRequest {
-    let nvext = request.nvext.get_or_insert_with(|| {
-        NvExt::builder()
-            .build()
-            .expect("NvExt builder should not fail")
-    });
-
-    // Disable local updates - external caller handles bookkeeping via C FFI
-    nvext.enable_local_updates = Some(false);
-
-    // Check if this is aggregated mode (same worker for both)
-    let is_aggregated = prefill_worker_id == decode_worker_id;
-
-    if is_aggregated {
-        // Aggregated: use backend_instance_id for direct routing
-        if let Some(id) = decode_worker_id {
-            nvext.backend_instance_id = Some(id as u64);
-            tracing::debug!(
-                backend_instance_id = id,
-                "GAIE Stage 2 Aggregated: Setting backend_instance_id"
-            );
-        }
-    } else {
-        // Disaggregated: use separate prefill and decode worker IDs
-        if let Some(id) = prefill_worker_id {
-            nvext.prefill_worker_id = Some(id as u64);
-        }
-        if let Some(id) = decode_worker_id {
-            nvext.decode_worker_id = Some(id as u64);
-        }
-        tracing::debug!(
-            prefill_worker_id = ?prefill_worker_id,
-            decode_worker_id = ?decode_worker_id,
-            "GAIE Stage 2 Disaggregated: Setting prefill and decode worker IDs"
-        );
-    }
-
-    request
-}
-
-/// Set token_data directly on the NvExt field for GAIE Stage 2
-pub fn set_token_data_for_stage2<'a>(
-    request: &'a mut NvCreateChatCompletionRequest,
-    tokens: &[u32],
-) -> &'a mut NvCreateChatCompletionRequest {
-    let nvext = request.nvext.get_or_insert_with(|| {
-        NvExt::builder()
-            .build()
-            .expect("NvExt builder should not fail")
-    });
-
-    nvext.token_data = Some(tokens.to_vec());
-    tracing::debug!(
-        token_count = tokens.len(),
-        "GAIE Stage 2: Setting token_data"
-    );
-
-    request
-}
+// Note: set_worker_ids_for_stage2 and set_token_data_for_stage2 have been removed.
+// The EPP now handles routing configuration via HTTP headers:
+// - `x-worker-instance-id`: decode worker ID
+// - `x-prefill-instance-id`: prefill worker ID (disaggregated mode only)
+// - `x-enable-local-updates`: set to "false" to disable router bookkeeping
+//
+// Body modifications are NOT sent to the inference engine (only headers are forwarded),
+// so these functions were ineffective.
 
 /// Ensure `nvext` exists and return a mutable slice of annotations.
 fn ensure_annotations(request: &mut NvCreateChatCompletionRequest) -> &mut Vec<String> {
@@ -1227,30 +1165,34 @@ fn set_kv_annotation(
     request
 }
 
-/// Wrapper function that queries worker selection and prepares the request for GAIE Stage 2
+/// Wrapper function that queries worker selection for GAIE Stage 1
 ///
 /// This function performs the complete GAIE Stage 1 flow:
 /// 1. Clones the original request and adds "query_instance_id:" (empty) annotation
 /// 2. Calls engine.generate() with the modified request
 /// 3. Extracts worker_id info and tokens from the response stream
-/// 4. Sets the appropriate NvExt fields on the original request for Stage 2:
-///    - Disaggregated: prefill_worker_id, decode_worker_id, token_data
-///    - Aggregated: backend_instance_id, token_data
-/// 5. Returns WorkerSelectionResult and the modified request ready for Stage 2
+/// 4. Returns WorkerSelectionResult and the original request
+///
+/// Note: The EPP (caller) is responsible for setting HTTP headers for Stage 2:
+/// - `x-worker-instance-id`: decode worker ID
+/// - `x-prefill-instance-id`: prefill worker ID (disaggregated mode only)
+/// - `x-enable-local-updates`: "false" to disable router bookkeeping
+///
+/// Body modifications are NOT forwarded to the inference engine, so this function
+/// does not modify the request body.
 ///
 /// # Parameters
 /// - `engine`: The worker selection pipeline engine
 /// - `original_request`: The original OpenAI request to process
 ///
 /// # Returns
-/// A tuple containing (WorkerSelectionResult, modified_original_request)
-/// where the modified_original_request is ready for GAIE Stage 2 execution
+/// A tuple containing (WorkerSelectionResult, original_request)
 pub async fn query_worker_selection_and_annotate(
     engine: &ServiceEngine<
         SingleIn<NvCreateChatCompletionRequest>,
         ManyOut<Annotated<NvCreateChatCompletionStreamResponse>>,
     >,
-    mut original_request: NvCreateChatCompletionRequest,
+    original_request: NvCreateChatCompletionRequest,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<(WorkerSelectionResult, NvCreateChatCompletionRequest)> {
     // GAIE Stage 1: Query for worker selection
     let mut query_request = original_request.clone();
@@ -1259,14 +1201,9 @@ pub async fn query_worker_selection_and_annotate(
     let response_stream = engine.generate(single_in).await?;
     let result = extract_worker_selection_from_stream(response_stream).await?;
 
-    // Prepare request for GAIE Stage 2: Set NvExt fields directly
-    set_worker_ids_for_stage2(
-        &mut original_request,
-        result.decode_worker_id,
-        result.prefill_worker_id,
-    );
-    set_token_data_for_stage2(&mut original_request, &result.tokens);
-
+    // Return the original request unchanged.
+    // The EPP sets routing headers (worker IDs, enable_local_updates) which the
+    // Dynamo frontend reads via apply_header_routing_overrides().
     Ok((result, original_request))
 }
 

lib/llm/src/protocols/openai/nvext.rs

@@ -11,12 +11,16 @@ pub use crate::protocols::common::timing::TimingInfo;
 
 pub const HEADER_WORKER_INSTANCE_ID: &str = "x-worker-instance-id";
 pub const HEADER_PREFILL_INSTANCE_ID: &str = "x-prefill-instance-id";
+/// Header to disable local bookkeeping updates (for GAIE Stage 2)
+/// When set to "false", the router skips add_request, mark_prefill_completed, and free calls.
+pub const HEADER_ENABLE_LOCAL_UPDATES: &str = "x-enable-local-updates";
 
 /// Apply routing overrides from HTTP headers to nvext.
 ///
 /// Header mappings:
 /// - `x-worker-instance-id` -> `backend_instance_id` and `decode_worker_id`
 /// - `x-prefill-instance-id` -> `prefill_worker_id`
+/// - `x-enable-local-updates` -> `enable_local_updates` (set to false to disable router bookkeeping)
 ///
 /// Headers take priority over existing nvext values when present.
 /// If no headers are present, returns the original nvext unchanged.
@@ -31,7 +35,17 @@ pub fn apply_header_routing_overrides(nvext: Option<NvExt>, headers: &HeaderMap)
         .and_then(|v| v.to_str().ok())
         .and_then(|s| s.parse::<u64>().ok());
 
-    if worker_id.is_none() && prefill_id.is_none() {
+    // Parse enable_local_updates header: "true" or "false"
+    let enable_local_updates = headers
+        .get(HEADER_ENABLE_LOCAL_UPDATES)
+        .and_then(|v| v.to_str().ok())
+        .and_then(|s| match s.to_lowercase().as_str() {
+            "true" | "1" => Some(true),
+            "false" | "0" => Some(false),
+            _ => None,
+        });
+
+    if worker_id.is_none() && prefill_id.is_none() && enable_local_updates.is_none() {
         return nvext;
     }
 
@@ -43,6 +57,9 @@ pub fn apply_header_routing_overrides(nvext: Option<NvExt>, headers: &HeaderMap)
     if let Some(id) = prefill_id {
         ext.prefill_worker_id = Some(id);
     }
+    if let Some(enabled) = enable_local_updates {
+        ext.enable_local_updates = Some(enabled);
+    }
     Some(ext)
 }