[diffusion] fix: fall back to a component's default attention backend (#35796)

Co-authored-by: Mick <mickjagger19@icloud.com>

docs/docs/sglang-diffusion/api/cli.mdx

@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ sglang generate \
   --component-attention-backends text_encoder=torch_sdpa
 ```
 
-The component key must match a pipeline module key such as `text_encoder`, `text_encoder_2`, `transformer`, `transformer_2`, or `connectors`. Component overrides take precedence over the global `--attention-backend` only while that component is being constructed.
+The component key must match a pipeline module key such as `text_encoder`, `text_encoder_2`, `transformer`, `transformer_2`, or `connectors`. Component overrides take precedence over the global `--attention-backend` only while that component is being constructed and otherwise fail if the component cannot satisfy them. Sparse self-attention backends use a compatible dense backend for cross-attention layers. The global backend remains strict for DiT components, while auxiliary components may fall back to a compatible backend.
 
 You can also pass dotted CLI entries:
 

docs/docs/sglang-diffusion/attention_backends.mdx

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ This document describes the attention backends available in sglang diffusion (`s
 
 Attention backends are defined by `AttentionBackendEnum` (`sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.platforms.interface.AttentionBackendEnum`) and selected via the CLI flag `--attention-backend`.
 
-Backend selection is performed by the shared attention layers (e.g. `LocalAttention` / `USPAttention` / `UlyssesAttention` in `sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention.layer`) and therefore applies to any model component using these layers (e.g. diffusion transformer / DiT and encoders).
+Backend selection is performed by the shared attention layers (e.g. `LocalAttention` / `USPAttention` / `UlyssesAttention` in `sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention.layer`). `--attention-backend` is strict for the diffusion transformer / DiT. Auxiliary components such as encoders and VAEs use it when compatible, then fall back to a component default or a platform-compatible backend. Use `--component-attention-backends` when an auxiliary component must use a specific backend; incompatible component overrides fail unless a sparse backend is being replaced for cross-attention.
 
 When using the diffusers backend, `--attention-backend` is passed through to diffusers'
 `set_attention_backend` (e.g., `flash`, `_flash_3_hub`, `sage`, `xformers`, `native`).
@@ -129,7 +129,14 @@ The selection order in `runtime/layers/attention/selector.py` is:
 1. `global_force_attn_backend(...)` / `global_force_attn_backend_context_manager(...)`
 2. Component override from `--component-attention-backends` while that component is being constructed
 3. CLI `--attention-backend` (`ServerArgs.attention_backend`)
-4. Auto selection (platform capability, dtype, and installed packages)
+4. Layer or component default, when declared
+5. Auto selection (platform capability, dtype, and installed packages)
+
+An explicit global backend mismatch fails for DiT self-attention. Auxiliary
+components may fall back to their declared default or another compatible backend.
+Sparse backends selected for self-attention similarly fall back to a compatible
+dense backend for cross-attention. Explicit component overrides are otherwise
+strict.
 
 ## Configuration
 
@@ -631,6 +638,10 @@ sglang generate \
 ```
 
 Component keys match pipeline module names from `model_index.json`, such as `text_encoder`, `text_encoder_2`, `transformer`, `transformer_2`, or `connectors`.
+Use this override when the fallback must be pinned: unlike the global backend,
+an incompatible component override raises an error instead of selecting another
+backend. The one role-based exception is a sparse self-attention backend, which
+uses a compatible dense backend for cross-attention layers in the same component.
 
 ### Per-request override (denoise loop)
 

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/layers/attention/layer.py

@@ -597,6 +597,8 @@ class LocalAttention(nn.Module):
         softmax_scale: float | None = None,
         causal: bool = False,
         supported_attention_backends: set[AttentionBackendEnum] | None = None,
+        default_attention_backend: AttentionBackendEnum | None = None,
+        is_cross_attention: bool = False,
         compute_dtype: torch.dtype | None = None,
         **extra_impl_args,
     ) -> None:
@@ -610,7 +612,11 @@ class LocalAttention(nn.Module):
 
         dtype = compute_dtype or get_compute_dtype()
         attn_backend = get_attn_backend(
-            head_size, dtype, supported_attention_backends=supported_attention_backends
+            head_size,
+            dtype,
+            supported_attention_backends=supported_attention_backends,
+            default_attention_backend=default_attention_backend,
+            is_cross_attention=is_cross_attention,
         )
         impl_cls = attn_backend.get_impl_cls()
         self.allow_cudnn_sdp = bool(extra_impl_args.get("allow_cudnn_sdp", False))
@@ -740,7 +746,8 @@ class USPAttention(nn.Module):
               each rank's local Q shard can attend directly to the locally-held
               full KV without any collective communication.
             default_attention_backend:
-              fallback used only when no global or component override is active.
+              preferred fallback when the global backend is incompatible with
+              this layer. Explicit component overrides otherwise remain strict.
             is_cross_attention:
               sparse backend preferences may select a compatible dense backend
               for cross-attention while remaining strict for self-attention.

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/layers/attention/selector.py

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ class ComponentAttnBackendContext(NamedTuple):
     backend: AttentionBackendEnum | None
     component_name: str | None
     selected_backends: dict[str, str | None]
+    allow_global_backend_fallback: bool = False
 
 
 component_attn_backend_context: ContextVar[ComponentAttnBackendContext | None] = (
@@ -113,6 +114,11 @@ def get_component_attn_backend_name() -> str | None:
     return context.component_name if context is not None else None
 
 
+def _component_allows_global_backend_fallback() -> bool:
+    context = get_component_attn_backend_context()
+    return context is not None and context.allow_global_backend_fallback
+
+
 def _record_component_attn_backend(backend_name: str, reason: str | None) -> bool:
     context = get_component_attn_backend_context()
     if context is None or context.component_name is None:
@@ -166,6 +172,7 @@ def get_attn_backend(
         )
 
     selected_backend = selected_attention_backend
+    selected_from_global_cli = False
     selection_is_explicit = selected_backend is not None
     if selected_backend is None:
         selected_backend = get_global_forced_attn_backend()
@@ -188,6 +195,7 @@ def get_attn_backend(
             selection_is_explicit = isinstance(
                 server_args, ServerArgs
             ) and server_args.is_arg_explicitly_set("attention_backend")
+            selected_from_global_cli = selection_is_explicit
 
     if selected_backend is None:
         selected_backend = default_attention_backend
@@ -197,6 +205,14 @@ def get_attn_backend(
         allowed_fallback_reason = "platform default fallback"
     elif is_cross_attention and selected_backend.is_sparse:
         allowed_fallback_reason = "dense cross-attention fallback"
+    elif selected_from_global_cli and (
+        default_attention_backend is not None
+        or _component_allows_global_backend_fallback()
+    ):
+        # The global CLI backend is strict for DiT components. Auxiliary
+        # components may instead use a declared default or platform-compatible
+        # backend. A component-specific CLI override otherwise remains strict.
+        allowed_fallback_reason = "global backend fallback"
     elif not selection_is_explicit:
         allowed_fallback_reason = "platform default fallback"
 
@@ -206,7 +222,7 @@ def get_attn_backend(
 
     candidate_backends = [selected_backend]
     if allowed_fallback_reason is not None:
-        for candidate in (None, *be_tuple):
+        for candidate in (default_attention_backend, None, *be_tuple):
             if candidate not in candidate_backends:
                 candidate_backends.append(candidate)
 
@@ -229,9 +245,17 @@ def get_attn_backend(
                 selection_error = error
             continue
 
-        candidate_name = candidate_cls.get_enum().name.lower()
+        candidate_backend = candidate_cls.get_enum()
+        candidate_name = candidate_backend.name.lower()
+        if is_cross_attention and candidate_backend.is_sparse:
+            if selection_error is None:
+                selection_error = ValueError(
+                    f"Sparse attention backend '{candidate_name}' cannot serve "
+                    "cross-attention"
+                )
+            continue
         if supported_backends and not _is_backend_supported(
-            candidate_cls.get_enum(), supported_backends
+            candidate_backend, supported_backends
         ):
             if selection_error is None:
                 selection_error = ValueError(
@@ -254,14 +278,22 @@ def get_attn_backend(
         break
 
     if attention_backend_cls is None:
+        component_name = get_component_attn_backend_name()
+        component_suffix = (
+            f" for component '{component_name}'" if component_name is not None else ""
+        )
         if unsupported_requirements:
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Attention backend '{unsupported_backend_name}' does not implement "
-                f"{', '.join(unsupported_requirements)}"
+                f"{', '.join(unsupported_requirements)}{component_suffix}"
             )
         if selection_error is not None:
-            raise selection_error
+            raise ValueError(
-        raise ValueError("No compatible attention backend is available")
+                f"{selection_error}{component_suffix}"
+            ) from selection_error
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"No compatible attention backend is available{component_suffix}"
+        )
 
     backend_name = attention_backend_cls.get_enum().name.lower()
     reason = fallback_reason
@@ -332,13 +364,19 @@ def _is_backend_supported(
 def component_attn_backend_context_manager(
     attn_backend: AttentionBackendEnum | None,
     component_name: str | None = None,
+    allow_global_backend_fallback: bool = False,
 ) -> Generator[None, None, None]:
     if attn_backend is None and component_name is None:
         yield
         return
 
     token = component_attn_backend_context.set(
-        ComponentAttnBackendContext(attn_backend, component_name, {})
+        ComponentAttnBackendContext(
+            attn_backend,
+            component_name,
+            {},
+            allow_global_backend_fallback,
+        )
     )
     try:
         yield

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/loader/component_loaders/component_loader.py

@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ class ComponentLoader(ABC):
     # diffusers or transformers
     expected_library: str = ""
 
+    # --attention-backend primarily selects the DiT backend. Auxiliary
+    # components may fall back when that global choice is incompatible; an
+    # explicit --component-attention-backends entry remains strict.
+    allow_global_attention_backend_fallback = True
+
     _loaders_registered = False
 
     def __init_subclass__(cls, **kwargs):
@@ -125,9 +130,12 @@ class ComponentLoader(ABC):
         component_name: str,
         attn_backend: Any,
         component_attn_name: str | None,
+        allow_global_backend_fallback: bool,
     ) -> AutoModel:
         with component_attn_backend_context_manager(
-            attn_backend, component_name=component_attn_name
+            attn_backend,
+            component_name=component_attn_name,
+            allow_global_backend_fallback=allow_global_backend_fallback,
         ):
             load_kwargs = self.customized_load_kwargs_for_component(
                 server_args, component_name
@@ -144,9 +152,12 @@ class ComponentLoader(ABC):
         transformers_or_diffusers: str,
         attn_backend: Any,
         component_attn_name: str | None,
+        allow_global_backend_fallback: bool,
     ) -> AutoModel:
         with component_attn_backend_context_manager(
-            attn_backend, component_name=component_attn_name
+            attn_backend,
+            component_name=component_attn_name,
+            allow_global_backend_fallback=allow_global_backend_fallback,
         ):
             component = self.load_native(
                 component_model_path,
@@ -198,6 +209,7 @@ class ComponentLoader(ABC):
                 component_name,
                 attn_backend,
                 component_attn_name,
+                self.allow_global_attention_backend_fallback,
             )
             source = "sgl-diffusion"
         except (ComponentCheckpointUnsupportedError, ComponentResidencyError):
@@ -231,6 +243,7 @@ class ComponentLoader(ABC):
                 transformers_or_diffusers,
                 attn_backend,
                 component_attn_name,
+                self.allow_global_attention_backend_fallback,
             )
             source = "native"
             logger.warning(
@@ -501,6 +514,10 @@ class TokenizerLoader(ComponentLoader):
 class GenericComponentLoader(ComponentLoader):
     """Generic loader for components that don't have a specific loader."""
 
+    # An unknown out-of-tree component may itself be the primary transformer.
+    # Require it to opt into fallback through a registered component loader.
+    allow_global_attention_backend_fallback = False
+
     def __init__(
         self, library="transformers", component_architecture: str | None = None
     ) -> None:
@@ -521,6 +538,8 @@ class PipelineComponentLoader:
         transformers_or_diffusers: str,
         server_args: ServerArgs,
         component_architecture: str | None = None,
+        component_attn_backend: Any = None,
+        component_attn_name: str | None = None,
     ):
         """
         Load a pipeline component.
@@ -538,15 +557,21 @@ class PipelineComponentLoader:
         )
 
         try:
-            # Load the component
+            with component_attn_backend_context_manager(
+                component_attn_backend,
+                component_name=component_attn_name,
+                allow_global_backend_fallback=(
+                    loader.allow_global_attention_backend_fallback
+                ),
+            ):
                 return loader.load(
                     component_model_path,
                     server_args,
                     component_name,
                     transformers_or_diffusers,
                 )
-        except Exception as e:
+        except Exception:
             logger.error(
                 f"Error while loading component: {component_name}, {component_model_path=}"
             )
-            raise e
+            raise

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/loader/component_loaders/transformer_loader.py

@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ def _server_args_for_transformer_component(
 class TransformerLoader(ComponentLoader):
     """Shared loader for (video/audio) DiT transformers."""
 
+    allow_global_attention_backend_fallback = False
+
     component_names = [
         "transformer",
         "unconditional_transformer",

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/models/adapter/ltx_2_connector.py

@@ -11,11 +11,9 @@ from diffusers.models.attention import FeedForward
 from sglang.multimodal_gen.configs.models.adapter.ltx_2_connector import (
     LTX2ConnectorConfig,
 )
-from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention import USPAttention
 from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.managers.memory_managers.layerwise_offload import (
     LayerwiseOffloadableModuleMixin,
 )
-from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.platforms import AttentionBackendEnum
 
 
 def apply_interleaved_rotary_emb(
@@ -151,22 +149,6 @@ class LTX2Attention(torch.nn.Module):
         self.to_out.append(torch.nn.Linear(self.inner_dim, self.out_dim, bias=out_bias))
         self.to_out.append(torch.nn.Dropout(dropout))
 
-        # Scaled dot product attention
-        self.attn = USPAttention(
-            num_heads=heads,
-            head_size=self.head_dim,
-            dropout_rate=0,
-            softmax_scale=None,
-            causal=False,
-            supported_attention_backends={
-                AttentionBackendEnum.FA,
-                AttentionBackendEnum.AITER,
-                AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA,
-                AttentionBackendEnum.SAGE_ATTN,
-                AttentionBackendEnum.SAGE_ATTN_3,
-            },
-        )
-
     def forward(
         self,
         hidden_states: torch.Tensor,

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/models/bridges/mova_dual_tower.py

@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ class ConditionalCrossAttention(nn.Module):
             head_size=self.head_dim,
             causal=False,
             softmax_scale=None,
-            # is_cross_attention=True,
+            is_cross_attention=True,
         )
 
     def forward(

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/models/dits/cosmos3video.py

@@ -743,6 +743,7 @@ class Cosmos3CrossAttention(nn.Module):
             causal=False,
             supported_attention_backends=supported_attention_backends,
             prefix=add_prefix("attn", prefix),
+            is_cross_attention=True,
         )
 
     def forward(

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/models/dits/helios.py

@@ -372,6 +372,7 @@ class HeliosCrossAttention(nn.Module):
             head_size=self.head_dim,
             causal=False,
             skip_sequence_parallel=True,
+            is_cross_attention=True,
         )
 
     def project_kv(self, encoder_hidden_states):

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/models/dits/ltx_2.py

@@ -740,6 +740,7 @@ class LTX2Attention(nn.Module):
     ) -> None:
         super().__init__()
 
+        is_cross_attention = context_dim is not None
         self.query_dim = int(query_dim)
         self.context_dim = int(query_dim if context_dim is None else context_dim)
         self.heads = int(heads)
@@ -836,6 +837,7 @@ class LTX2Attention(nn.Module):
                 softmax_scale=None,
                 causal=False,
                 supported_attention_backends=supported_attention_backends,
+                is_cross_attention=is_cross_attention,
                 prefix=f"{prefix}.attn",
                 enable_packed_qkv_input_a2a=self.enable_packed_qkv_input_a2a,
                 # official LTX2 torch_sdpa uses cuDNN; cuda setup disables it
@@ -850,6 +852,7 @@ class LTX2Attention(nn.Module):
                 softmax_scale=None,
                 causal=False,
                 supported_attention_backends=supported_attention_backends,
+                is_cross_attention=is_cross_attention,
                 prefix=f"{prefix}.attn",
                 # official LTX2 torch_sdpa uses cuDNN; cuda setup disables it
                 allow_cudnn_sdp=True,

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/models/dits/mova_video_dit.py

@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ class CrossAttention(nn.Module):
             head_size=self.head_dim,
             causal=False,
             softmax_scale=None,
+            is_cross_attention=True,
         )
 
     def forward(self, x: torch.Tensor, y: torch.Tensor):

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/models/dits/qwen_image.py

@@ -641,7 +641,8 @@ class QwenImageCrossAttention(nn.Module):
         self.norm_added_q = RMSNorm(head_dim, eps=eps)
         self.norm_added_k = RMSNorm(head_dim, eps=eps)
 
-        # Scaled dot product attention
+        # Despite the historical class name, this is joint text-image
+        # self-attention: Q/K/V are concatenated before the kernel call.
         self.attn = USPAttention(
             num_heads=self.local_num_heads,
             head_size=self.head_dim,

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/models/dits/sana_wm_components.py

@@ -3009,6 +3009,7 @@ class MultiHeadCrossAttention(nn.Module):
         self.attn = LocalAttention(
             num_heads=num_heads,
             head_size=self.head_dim,
+            is_cross_attention=True,
         )
 
     def forward(

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/models/vaes/minimax_h3_video_vae/attention.py

@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ from diffusers.utils import logging
 from torch.nn.attention import SDPBackend, sdpa_kernel
 
 from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention import USPAttention
-from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.platforms import current_platform
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.platforms import (
+    AttentionBackendEnum,
+    current_platform,
+)
 
 from .vit_utils import _env_flag, apply_rotary_pos_emb_qk
 
@@ -110,6 +113,11 @@ class Attention(nn.Module):
                 num_heads=heads,
                 head_size=dim_head,
                 causal=False,
+                supported_attention_backends={
+                    AttentionBackendEnum.FA,
+                    AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA,
+                },
+                default_attention_backend=AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA,
                 skip_sequence_parallel=True,
             )
             if current_platform.is_cuda()

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/pipelines_core/composed_pipeline_base.py

@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@ from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.disaggregation.roles import (
     RoleType,
     filter_modules_for_role,
 )
-from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention.selector import (
-    component_attn_backend_context_manager,
-)
 from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.loader.component_loaders.component_loader import (
     PipelineComponentLoader,
 )
@@ -557,15 +554,14 @@ class ComposedPipelineBase(ABC):
                     attn_backend.name.lower(),
                     matched_backend_key,
                 )
-            with component_attn_backend_context_manager(
-                attn_backend, component_name=matched_backend_key or module_name
-            ):
             module, memory_usage = PipelineComponentLoader.load_component(
                 component_name=load_module_name,
                 component_model_path=component_model_path,
                 transformers_or_diffusers=transformers_or_diffusers,
                 server_args=server_args,
                 component_architecture=architecture,
+                component_attn_backend=attn_backend,
+                component_attn_name=matched_backend_key or module_name,
             )
 
             self.memory_usages[load_module_name] = memory_usage

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/runtime/server_args/server_args.py

@@ -1823,10 +1823,11 @@ class ServerArgs(DisaggServerArgsMixin):
             type=str,
             default=None,
             help=(
-                "The attention backend to use. For SGLang-native pipelines, use "
+                "The global attention backend. Native DiT components treat it as "
-                "values like fa, torch_sdpa, sage_attn, etc. For diffusers pipelines, "
+                "strict; auxiliary native components use a compatible fallback when "
-                "use diffusers attention backend names such as flash, _flash_3_hub, "
+                "needed. Use --component-attention-backends for a component-scoped "
-                "sage, or xformers."
+                "choice. For diffusers pipelines, use names such as flash, "
+                "_flash_3_hub, sage, or xformers."
             ),
         )
         parser.add_argument(

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/test/unit/test_attention_backend_selector.py

@@ -9,8 +9,22 @@ from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention.backends.attention_backend i
 )
 from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention.selector import (
     _cached_get_attn_backend,
+    component_attn_backend_context_manager,
     get_attn_backend,
+    get_component_attn_backend_context,
 )
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.loader.component_loaders.component_loader import (
+    ComponentLoader,
+    GenericComponentLoader,
+    PipelineComponentLoader,
+)
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.loader.component_loaders.text_encoder_loader import (
+    TextEncoderLoader,
+)
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.loader.component_loaders.transformer_loader import (
+    TransformerLoader,
+)
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.loader.component_loaders.vae_loader import VAELoader
 from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.platforms import AttentionBackendEnum
 from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.server_args import ServerArgs
 
@@ -55,6 +69,16 @@ class _FakeAITERBackend:
         return ("packed varlen attention",) if requirements.packed_varlen else ()
 
 
+class _FakeSparseBackend:
+    @classmethod
+    def get_enum(cls) -> AttentionBackendEnum:
+        return AttentionBackendEnum.LASER_ATTN
+
+    @classmethod
+    def unsupported_requirements(cls, _requirements) -> tuple[str, ...]:
+        return ()
+
+
 class _FakePlatform:
     device_name = "test"
     selected_backend = None
@@ -64,6 +88,8 @@ class _FakePlatform:
         cls.selected_backend = selected_backend
         if selected_backend == AttentionBackendEnum.AITER:
             return "fake.AITERBackend"
+        if selected_backend == AttentionBackendEnum.LASER_ATTN:
+            return "fake.SparseBackend"
         if selected_backend in (None, AttentionBackendEnum.FA):
             return "fake.FABackend"
         return "fake.SDPABackend"
@@ -72,6 +98,7 @@ class _FakePlatform:
 _FAKE_BACKENDS = {
     "fake.AITERBackend": _FakeAITERBackend,
     "fake.FABackend": _FakeFABackend,
+    "fake.SparseBackend": _FakeSparseBackend,
     "fake.SDPABackend": _FakeSDPABackend,
 }
 
@@ -89,13 +116,19 @@ class TestAttentionBackendFallback(unittest.TestCase):
         is_cross_attention: bool,
         supported: set[AttentionBackendEnum],
         attention_requirements: AttentionRequirements | None = None,
+        default_attention_backend: AttentionBackendEnum | None = None,
+        component_backend: AttentionBackendEnum | None = None,
+        allow_global_backend_fallback: bool = False,
         server_args: object | None = None,
     ):
         if server_args is None:
             server_args = _ServerArgs(backend.name.lower(), explicit=explicit)
         with (
             patch(f"{_SELECTOR}.get_global_forced_attn_backend", return_value=None),
-            patch(f"{_SELECTOR}.get_component_forced_attn_backend", return_value=None),
+            patch(
+                f"{_SELECTOR}.get_component_forced_attn_backend",
+                return_value=component_backend,
+            ),
             patch(f"{_SELECTOR}.get_global_server_args", return_value=server_args),
             patch(
                 "sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.platforms.current_platform",
@@ -105,12 +138,18 @@ class TestAttentionBackendFallback(unittest.TestCase):
                 f"{_SELECTOR}.resolve_obj_by_qualname",
                 side_effect=_FAKE_BACKENDS.__getitem__,
             ),
+            component_attn_backend_context_manager(
+                component_backend,
+                component_name="text_encoder",
+                allow_global_backend_fallback=allow_global_backend_fallback,
+            ),
         ):
             return get_attn_backend(
                 128,
                 torch.bfloat16,
                 supported_attention_backends=supported,
                 attention_requirements=attention_requirements,
+                default_attention_backend=default_attention_backend,
                 is_cross_attention=is_cross_attention,
             )
 
@@ -161,6 +200,45 @@ class TestAttentionBackendFallback(unittest.TestCase):
                 supported={AttentionBackendEnum.FA, AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA},
             )
 
+    def test_explicit_global_backend_uses_component_default(self):
+        backend = self._resolve(
+            AttentionBackendEnum.AITER,
+            explicit=True,
+            is_cross_attention=False,
+            supported={AttentionBackendEnum.FA, AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA},
+            default_attention_backend=AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA,
+        )
+
+        self.assertIs(backend, _FakeSDPABackend)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            _FakePlatform.selected_backend, AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA
+        )
+
+    def test_explicit_global_backend_falls_back_for_auxiliary_component(self):
+        backend = self._resolve(
+            AttentionBackendEnum.AITER,
+            explicit=True,
+            is_cross_attention=False,
+            supported={AttentionBackendEnum.FA, AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA},
+            allow_global_backend_fallback=True,
+        )
+
+        self.assertIs(backend, _FakeFABackend)
+        self.assertIsNone(_FakePlatform.selected_backend)
+
+    def test_explicit_component_backend_remains_strict(self):
+        with self.assertRaisesRegex(
+            ValueError, "not supported by this attention layer"
+        ):
+            self._resolve(
+                AttentionBackendEnum.FA,
+                explicit=True,
+                is_cross_attention=False,
+                supported={AttentionBackendEnum.FA, AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA},
+                component_backend=AttentionBackendEnum.AITER,
+                allow_global_backend_fallback=True,
+            )
+
     def test_sparse_backend_falls_back_for_cross_attention(self):
         backend = self._resolve(
             AttentionBackendEnum.LASER_ATTN,
@@ -172,6 +250,17 @@ class TestAttentionBackendFallback(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIs(backend, _FakeFABackend)
         self.assertIsNone(_FakePlatform.selected_backend)
 
+    def test_sparse_backend_falls_back_for_unconstrained_cross_attention(self):
+        backend = self._resolve(
+            AttentionBackendEnum.LASER_ATTN,
+            explicit=True,
+            is_cross_attention=True,
+            supported=set(),
+        )
+
+        self.assertIs(backend, _FakeFABackend)
+        self.assertIsNone(_FakePlatform.selected_backend)
+
     def test_sparse_backend_mismatch_fails_for_self_attention(self):
         with self.assertRaisesRegex(
             ValueError, "not supported by this attention layer"
@@ -184,5 +273,47 @@ class TestAttentionBackendFallback(unittest.TestCase):
             )
 
 
+class TestComponentAttentionBackendScope(unittest.TestCase):
+    def _load_with_policy(self, allow_global_backend_fallback: bool):
+        captured_context = None
+
+        class _Loader:
+            def load(self, *_args):
+                nonlocal captured_context
+                captured_context = get_component_attn_backend_context()
+                return object(), 0.0
+
+        _Loader.allow_global_attention_backend_fallback = allow_global_backend_fallback
+        with patch.object(
+            ComponentLoader, "for_component_type", return_value=_Loader()
+        ):
+            PipelineComponentLoader.load_component(
+                component_name="text_encoder",
+                component_model_path="unused",
+                transformers_or_diffusers="transformers",
+                server_args=object(),
+                component_attn_name="text_encoder",
+            )
+        return captured_context
+
+    def test_auxiliary_loader_enables_global_fallback(self):
+        context = self._load_with_policy(True)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(context)
+        self.assertTrue(context.allow_global_backend_fallback)
+
+    def test_dit_loader_keeps_global_backend_strict(self):
+        context = self._load_with_policy(False)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(context)
+        self.assertFalse(context.allow_global_backend_fallback)
+
+    def test_builtin_loader_scopes(self):
+        self.assertFalse(TransformerLoader.allow_global_attention_backend_fallback)
+        self.assertFalse(GenericComponentLoader.allow_global_attention_backend_fallback)
+        self.assertTrue(TextEncoderLoader.allow_global_attention_backend_fallback)
+        self.assertTrue(VAELoader.allow_global_attention_backend_fallback)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/test/unit/test_cross_attention_backend_roles.py

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+from unittest import mock
+
+import pytest
+import torch
+from torch import nn
+
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention import layer as attention_layer
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.models.bridges import mova_dual_tower
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.models.dits import ltx_2
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.platforms import AttentionBackendEnum
+
+
+class _FakeAttentionImpl(nn.Module):
+    def __init__(self, **_kwargs) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+
+
+class _FakeAttentionBackend:
+    @classmethod
+    def get_enum(cls) -> AttentionBackendEnum:
+        return AttentionBackendEnum.FA
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_impl_cls(cls):
+        return _FakeAttentionImpl
+
+
+def test_local_attention_forwards_cross_attention_role():
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(
+            attention_layer, "get_compute_dtype", return_value=torch.bfloat16
+        ),
+        mock.patch.object(
+            attention_layer, "get_attn_backend", return_value=_FakeAttentionBackend
+        ) as get_backend,
+        mock.patch.object(attention_layer, "wrap_attention_impl_forward"),
+    ):
+        attention_layer.LocalAttention(
+            num_heads=1,
+            head_size=64,
+            is_cross_attention=True,
+        )
+
+    assert get_backend.call_args.kwargs["is_cross_attention"] is True
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("use_local_attention", [False, True])
+def test_ltx2_derives_cross_attention_role_from_context(use_local_attention):
+    selected_layer = "LocalAttention" if use_local_attention else "USPAttention"
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(ltx_2, "get_tp_world_size", return_value=1),
+        mock.patch.object(ltx_2, "ColumnParallelLinear", return_value=nn.Identity()),
+        mock.patch.object(ltx_2, "RowParallelLinear", return_value=nn.Identity()),
+        mock.patch.object(ltx_2, selected_layer) as attention,
+    ):
+        ltx_2.LTX2Attention(
+            query_dim=8,
+            context_dim=8,
+            heads=1,
+            dim_head=8,
+            use_local_attention=use_local_attention,
+        )
+        cross_attention_kwargs = attention.call_args.kwargs
+        attention.reset_mock()
+        ltx_2.LTX2Attention(
+            query_dim=8,
+            heads=1,
+            dim_head=8,
+            use_local_attention=use_local_attention,
+        )
+        self_attention_kwargs = attention.call_args.kwargs
+
+    assert cross_attention_kwargs["is_cross_attention"] is True
+    assert self_attention_kwargs["is_cross_attention"] is False
+
+
+def test_mova_bridge_marks_conditional_attention_as_cross_attention():
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(mova_dual_tower, "get_tp_world_size", return_value=1),
+        mock.patch.object(
+            mova_dual_tower, "ColumnParallelLinear", return_value=nn.Identity()
+        ),
+        mock.patch.object(
+            mova_dual_tower, "RowParallelLinear", return_value=nn.Identity()
+        ),
+        mock.patch.object(mova_dual_tower, "USPAttention") as attention,
+    ):
+        mova_dual_tower.ConditionalCrossAttention(
+            dim=8,
+            kv_dim=8,
+            num_heads=1,
+        )
+
+    assert attention.call_args.kwargs["is_cross_attention"] is True

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/test/unit/test_minimax_h3_vae_parallel_modes.py

@@ -71,7 +71,13 @@ def test_vit_attention_uses_local_usp_backend_dispatch():
     ):
         Attention(heads=2, dim_head=64)
 
-    assert usp_attention.call_args.kwargs["skip_sequence_parallel"] is True
+    kwargs = usp_attention.call_args.kwargs
+    assert kwargs["skip_sequence_parallel"] is True
+    assert kwargs["default_attention_backend"] == AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA
+    assert kwargs["supported_attention_backends"] == {
+        AttentionBackendEnum.FA,
+        AttentionBackendEnum.TORCH_SDPA,
+    }
 
 
 def test_vit_qk_norm_supports_affine_free_rmsnorm():

python/sglang/multimodal_gen/test/unit/test_qwen3vl_text.py

@@ -4,6 +4,15 @@ import torch
 from torch import nn
 
 import sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.models.encoders.qwen3vl as qwen3vl
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention.selector import (
+    _cached_get_attn_backend,
+    component_attn_backend_context_manager,
+)
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.platforms import AttentionBackendEnum
+from sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.server_args import ServerArgs
+
+_SELECTOR = "sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention.selector"
+_LAYER = "sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.layers.attention.layer"
 
 
 class _IdentityAttention(nn.Module):
@@ -11,6 +20,41 @@ class _IdentityAttention(nn.Module):
         return query
 
 
+class _ExplicitServerArgs(ServerArgs):
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.attention_backend = "aiter"
+        self._explicit_arg_names = {"attention_backend"}
+
+
+class _FakeAttentionImpl(nn.Module):
+    def __init__(self, **_kwargs) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+
+
+class _FakeFABackend:
+    @classmethod
+    def get_enum(cls) -> AttentionBackendEnum:
+        return AttentionBackendEnum.FA
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_impl_cls(cls):
+        return _FakeAttentionImpl
+
+    @classmethod
+    def unsupported_requirements(cls, _requirements) -> tuple[str, ...]:
+        return ()
+
+
+class _FakePlatform:
+    device_name = "test"
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_attn_backend_cls_str(selected_backend, _head_size, _dtype):
+        if selected_backend not in (None, AttentionBackendEnum.FA):
+            raise AssertionError(f"Unexpected backend: {selected_backend}")
+        return "fake.FABackend"
+
+
 def test_qwen3vl_attention_uses_interleaved_mrope(monkeypatch):
     captured_kwargs = {}
 
@@ -44,6 +88,52 @@ def test_qwen3vl_attention_uses_interleaved_mrope(monkeypatch):
     assert captured_kwargs == {"mrope_interleaved": True}
 
 
+def test_qwen3vl_auxiliary_component_falls_back_from_global_backend(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        qwen3vl, "_make_text_linear", lambda *args, **kwargs: nn.Identity()
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        qwen3vl, "_make_text_row_linear", lambda *args, **kwargs: nn.Identity()
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        qwen3vl, "_make_text_rms_norm", lambda *args, **kwargs: nn.Identity()
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        qwen3vl, "build_qwen_vl_text_rope", lambda *args, **kwargs: object()
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(f"{_LAYER}.get_compute_dtype", lambda: torch.bfloat16)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(f"{_LAYER}.wrap_attention_impl_forward", lambda _impl: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(f"{_SELECTOR}.get_global_forced_attn_backend", lambda: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        f"{_SELECTOR}.get_global_server_args", lambda: _ExplicitServerArgs()
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "sglang.multimodal_gen.runtime.platforms.current_platform", _FakePlatform
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        f"{_SELECTOR}.resolve_obj_by_qualname", lambda _name: _FakeFABackend
+    )
+    _cached_get_attn_backend.cache_clear()
+    config = SimpleNamespace(
+        head_dim=8,
+        hidden_size=8,
+        num_attention_heads=1,
+        num_key_value_heads=1,
+        attention_dropout=0.0,
+        attention_bias=False,
+        rms_norm_eps=1e-6,
+    )
+
+    with component_attn_backend_context_manager(
+        None,
+        component_name="text_encoder",
+        allow_global_backend_fallback=True,
+    ):
+        attention = qwen3vl.Qwen3VLTextAttention(config, layer_idx=0)
+
+    assert attention.attn.backend == AttentionBackendEnum.FA
+
+
 def test_qwen3vl_attention_passes_three_axis_positions_to_srt_rope(monkeypatch):
     attention = qwen3vl.Qwen3VLTextAttention.__new__(qwen3vl.Qwen3VLTextAttention)
     nn.Module.__init__(attention)