This project provides a lightweight script to install Open WebUI natively on a minimal Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS machine — without Docker.

It’s perfect for:

• Lightweight VirtualBox or Proxmox VMs
• Headless local servers
• Developers who prefer native over container-based deployment

⚠️ This assumes you already have Ollama running on another machine (e.g. a Windows PC), accessible from the VM over the local network.

• Native install — no Docker
• Python + Node.js stack
• Web UI on port 3000
• Optional autostart with systemd

• Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS (minimal install recommended)
• Ollama running elsewhere (e.g. http://192.168.1.100:11434)
• At least 2 GB RAM
• Internet access during setup

SSH into your Ubuntu VM or use the VirtualBox console, then run:

# Download the installer script
curl -O https://your-github-username.github.io/openwebui-native-installer/install.sh

# Make it executable
chmod +x install.sh

# Run the installer
./install.sh

💡 If you cloned the repo instead of downloading:

chmod +x install.sh
./install.sh

This will:

• Install Python, Node.js, npm, etc.
• Clone the Open WebUI repo
• Set up Python venv and Node frontend
• Create a .env file with default Ollama URL

After install, edit the .env file in:

~/open-webui/backend/.env

Set the correct IP address for your Ollama server:

OLLAMA_API_BASE_URL=http://192.168.1.100:11434

Replace the IP with the actual address of your Ollama machine.

Start Open WebUI manually with:

cd ~/open-webui/backend
source venv/bin/activate
python3 main.py

From your browser (on the same network):

http://<your-vm-ip>:3000

To auto-start Open WebUI when the VM boots, see postinstall.md:

sudo systemctl enable openwebui
sudo systemctl start openwebui

To fully remove everything:

rm -rf ~/open-webui
sudo apt remove --purge -y nodejs npm python3-pip git

Also remove the systemd service if created:

sudo systemctl disable openwebui
sudo rm /etc/systemd/system/openwebui.service
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

This project is licensed under the MIT License — see LICENSE

Open WebUI is developed at github.com/open-webui/open-webui

This installer project is a community contribution for native deployment.