Open WebUI - Advanced LLM GUI
Open WebUI is an extensible, feature-rich, and user-friendly self-hosted WebUI designed to operate entirely offline.?
In this article, we'll explore how to set up and run a ChatGPT-like interface on your local machine using Open WebUI. This tool allows you to utilize large language models like Llama or dolphin-mixtral, as well as connect to OpenAI's API.
Open WebUI can optionally be set up on a server for multiple user access and has a rich set of admin and user controls.
Cost effectiveness
Using Open WebUI presents a cost-effective solution for managing various chatbot interactions. This versatility stems from its ability to switch between free, open-source models and more powerful, paid APIs based on the complexity of the task at hand.
For routine inquiries and standard interactions, the free models offer sufficient capabilities, effectively reducing operational costs. However, when faced with more complex requests that demand higher accuracy and nuanced understanding, users can seamlessly switch to paid APIs.
This flexibility allows for a more economical use of resources, ensuring that you only pay for the advanced services when absolutely necessary, while still maintaining high-quality responses across all types of queries.
Installation
1. Install Docker:
2. Install Ollama:
For windows users I recommend the one click Docker install option.
Open windows terminal
Check docker is running - docker --version
Run this command
docker run -d -p 3000:8080 --add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway -v open-webui:/app/backend/data --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main
Accessing Open WebUI
To read more or for troubleshooting tips.
The first time you run Open WebUI sign up for account. This will create an administrator account. Standard user accounts may optionally be created later.
Light/Dark Mode
Optionally change theme to dark theme found under the settings menu at the top right of the window.
Interacting with the Model
Note: If you add an API for commercially available LLMs, for example OpenAI's ChatGPT then the model selection dropdown will include these options.
Using Models and OpenAI API
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Running Code and Complex Queries
Notable features
1. Local and Remote RAG Integration
2. Prompt Preset Support
3. Multiple Model Support
4. Many Models Conversations
5. Voice Input Support
6. Image Generation Integration
Note: Automatic1111 must first be installed on your computer.
Setting Up Multi-User Environments
1. Connecting to an External Server
2. Load Balancing Across Multiple Open WebUI Instances
3. Managing Multiple Users
These features are designed to optimize multi-user setups, enhancing the overall performance and management of the system for all users.
For a full list of features check out the documents page.
Conclusion and Tips
This setup is ideal for those who want to run large language models locally or use OpenAI's API more cost-effectively.
Remember to check your system's compatibility and resource availability, especially for larger models.
Experiment with different models and queries to fully leverage the capabilities of Ollama Web UI.
Paul Hankin is the author of:
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