Unlocking the Power of Ollama Chatbot on Linux: A Comprehensive Guide

The Ollama Chatbot is an innovative web interface that leverages open-source large language models (LLMs) to deliver an experience similar to ChatGPT. In this article, we will guide you through the setup of Ollama Chatbot on your Linux machine, enabling you to engage in AI conversations effortlessly.

System Requirements for Running Ollama Chatbot

Before diving into the installation process, it’s essential to note that running the Ollama Chatbot UI effectively requires robust hardware. For optimal performance, a contemporary Nvidia GPU with adequate memory is recommended. If an Nvidia GPU isn’t available, a multi-core Intel or AMD CPU can be utilized to operate the chatbot in CPU mode.

Installing Ollama on Linux

The initial step in setting up the Ollama Chatbot involves installing Ollama itself, a powerful package management tool for LLMs. It is compatible with various Linux distributions and is relatively simple to install.

1. Open Terminal: Start by opening your terminal. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or searching for "terminal" in your applications menu.

2. Installation Command: Enter the following command to install Ollama:

   curl https://ollama.ai/install.sh | sh

   This command initiates the automated installation process. Follow the on-screen prompts, and to ensure transparency, you may want to review the script’s code here to understand the modifications being made to your system.

3. Verify Installation: After installation, run the command ollama in the terminal to display help information. If nothing appears, re-run the installation script to resolve any issues.

Running Ollama in the Background

For convenient use, Ollama needs to run in the background, allowing you to interact with it seamlessly. Instead of keeping the terminal open, you can utilize a Python-based tool I developed, which allows Ollama’s server to run silently in the background.

1. Install Git: First, ensure you have Git installed on your system. Use the following commands based on your Linux distribution:

   • Ubuntu: sudo apt install git
   • Debian: sudo apt-get install git
   • Arch Linux: sudo pacman -S git
   • Fedora: sudo dnf install git
   • OpenSUSE: sudo zypper install git

2. Clone the Repository: Download the daemon software using:

   git clone https://github.com/soltros/ollama-mini-daemon.git
   cd ollama-mini-daemon/

3. Change Script Permissions: Make the string executable:

   chmod +x *.py

4. Start the Daemon: Launch Ollama in the background with:

   ./daemon.py

5. Shutting Down: If you need to stop the Ollama server at any point, simply run:

   ./shutdown_daemon.py

Downloading Ollama Models

To make the most of Ollama, you will want to download various models. Here, we will focus on obtaining "llama2" and "orca2."

1. Download Commands:

   • For Facebook’s Llama2 model:

     ollama pull llama2

   • For Microsoft’s Orca2 model:

     ollama pull orca2

2. Stored Locally: Once downloaded, these models will be located in the ~/.ollama/ directory on your Linux system.

Installing Chatbot Ollama

Setting up the Chatbot Ollama interface requires Node.js, as the UI is designed to run on this platform.

1. Install Node.js: Depending on your Linux distribution, enter the following commands:

   • For Ubuntu/Debian:

     curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup | sudo bash -
     sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

   • For Arch Linux: sudo pacman -S nodejs
   • For Fedora: sudo dnf install nodejs
   • For OpenSUSE:
     • Tumbleweed: sudo zypper install nodejs16
     • Other version: sudo zypper install nodejs14

2. Clone the Chatbot Tool:

   git clone https://github.com/ivanfioravanti/chatbot-ollama.git
   cd ~/chatbot-ollama/

3. Install Dependencies:

   npm ci

4. Run the Chatbot UI:
   Start the interface with:

   npm run dev

   You can now access your chatbot by navigating to http://localhost:3000 in your web browser.

Using the Ollama Chatbot

To start interacting with your Ollama Chatbot, visit http://localhost:3000. Here, you’ll be greeted with the interface where you can select your model and adjust the temperature settings. Higher temperature values yield more creative responses, while lower values deliver more accurate results. Press Enter to submit your prompt and receive real-time responses from your chosen LLM.

With this guide, you’re now equipped to harness the power of Ollama Chatbot on your Linux system. Engage with AI conversationally and explore the potential of LLMs like never before!