Ollama + Open WebUI: A Way to Run LLMs Locally

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Introduction

This guide will show you how to easily set up and run large language models (LLMs) locally using Ollama and Open WebUI on Windows, Linux, or macOS - without the need for Docker. Ollama provides local model inference, and Open WebUI is a user interface that simplifies interacting with these models. The experience is similar to using interfaces like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Claude AI.

Why Run Open WebUI Without Docker?

Running Open WebUI without Docker allows you to utilize your computer’s resources more efficiently. Without the limitations of containerized environments, all available system memory, CPU power, and storage can be fully dedicated to running the application. This is particularly important when working with resource-heavy models, where every bit of performance matters.

For example, suppose you're using Open WebUI to interact with large language models. In that case, native execution can result in faster processing times and smoother performance, as there’s no overhead from Docker managing the container. By running natively, you also gain:

Simpler Setup: You avoid the complexity of setting up and managing Docker containers, which can be especially beneficial for users who prefer a more straightforward, direct installation.
Improved Performance: Without Docker's virtualization, there's a more direct connection to your system's resources, which can result in better application performance.
Direct Access to System Resources: You have direct control over file paths, settings, and system configurations, which makes troubleshooting and customization easier.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed on your system:

Python: Required to run Open WebUI.

Make sure you are using Python 3.11.X. Version 3.11.6 works well, for example. The latest version of Python, 3.12.7, is not compatible with the current version of Open WebUI.

You can download Python here. Make sure to select the appropriate version for your operating system. Python is a versatile programming language widely used in AI and machine learning, including the development and operation of Large Language Models (LLMs). If you're looking to grow your skills in this area, be sure to check out our python flashcards for a quick and efficient way to learn.

Installing Ollama

Go to the Ollama download page.
Choose your platform (Windows, Linux, or macOS) and download the appropriate version.
Install Ollama using the standard installation process for your platform.

Installing and Running Open WebUI

To install Open WebUI, you can use Python's package manager pip. Follow these steps:

Open your terminal and run the following command to install Open WebUI:
```
pip install open-webui
```
After installation, update pip to the latest version by running:
```
python.exe -m pip install --upgrade pip
```
Once Open WebUI is installed, start the server using the following command:
```
open-webui serve
```
After successfully starting Open WebUI, you can access it in your browser at: http://localhost:8080.

Additionally, if you prefer, you can install Open WebUI by cloning the project directly from GitHub. For more details, see the section at the end of this guide.

Configuring Ollama and Downloading Language Models

By default, Ollama sets the following paths for storing language models (LLMs) on your system:

macOS: ~/.ollama/models
Linux: /usr/share/ollama/.ollama/models
Windows: C:\Users\%username%\.ollama\models

You can change this path if needed. For example, on Windows, use the following command:

setx OLLAMA_MODELS "D:\ollama_models"

Setting Environment Variables on macOS

If you're running Ollama as a macOS application, environment variables should be set using launchctl. To set a variable, use the following command:

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_MODELS "/new/path/to/models"

After setting the variable, restart the Ollama application for the changes to take effect.

Setting Environment Variables on Linux

For Linux users running Ollama as a systemd service, you can set environment variables using systemctl. Here's how to do it:

Open the service configuration by running:
```
sudo systemctl edit ollama.service
```
Under the [Service] section, add the following line:
```
Environment="OLLAMA_MODELS=/new/path/to/models"
```
Save the file, then reload systemd and restart the service:
```
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl restart ollama
```

Downloading and Running Language Models in Ollama

To download and run language models in Ollama, use the following commands in the terminal. These commands will automatically download the model if it's not already installed:

To download and run the LLaMA 3.1 model from Meta (Facebook):
```
ollama run llama3.1
```
To download and run the Gemma 2 model from Google:
```
ollama run gemma2
```

Using Open WebUI

Once Open WebUI is running, you can access it via http://localhost:8080. After navigating to this address, you will be prompted to log in or register. To create a new account, select the Sign Up option. This account is created locally, meaning it is only available on this machine, and no other user on your system will have access to your data.

If you previously started Open WebUI and the models downloaded via Ollama do not appear on the list, refresh the page to update the available models. All data managed within Open WebUI is stored locally on your device, ensuring privacy and control over your models and interactions.

Installing Open WebUI Using Git

If you'd like to install Open WebUI by cloning the project from GitHub and managing it manually, follow these steps:

Prerequisites:

Git: Ensure you have Git installed on your system. You can download it here.
Anaconda: It's recommended to use Anaconda to manage your Python environment. You can download and install Anaconda from here.

Installation Instructions:

For Linux/macOS:

Open a terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to clone the repository.

Clone the Open WebUI repository using Git:

git clone https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui.git

Change to the project directory:
```
cd open-webui/
```
Copy the .env file:
```
cp -RPp .env.example .env
```
Build the frontend using Node.js:
```
npm install
npm run build
```
Move into the backend directory:
```
cd ./backend
```

(Optional) Create and activate a Conda environment:

conda create --name open-webui-env python=3.11
conda activate open-webui-env

Install Python dependencies:
```
pip install -r requirements.txt -U
```
Start the application:
```
bash start.sh
```

For Windows:

Open a terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to clone the repository.