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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
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Open WebUI
Development512MB+ RAM
Self-hosted AI interface for Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs with chat, RAG, and model management
aillmollamachatopenairag
Deploy Open WebUI in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Open WebUI
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Video Tutorials
Learn How to Deploy Open WebUI
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Open WebUI on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Open WebUI template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted AI chat interface on your VPS, then verify the first-run web UI in a browser.
About 10 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
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Step 3Search for Open WebUI
Use the template picker search to find Open WebUI in the Server Compass template catalog.
4
Step 4Select the Open WebUI template
Choose the Open WebUI template. Server Compass fills the Open WebUI service, persistent data volume, Ollama URL, session secret, and web port.
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Step 5Review the Open WebUI settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named open-webui-demo and used host port 3001.
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Step 6Deploy Open WebUI
Review the generated compose settings, confirm the web port is available, keep the generated session secret hidden, and click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Open WebUI image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Open WebUI is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Open WebUI app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Open WebUI in the browser
Click Open Application or open the application URL in a browser. The Open WebUI first-run screen confirms the AI chat interface is reachable and ready for the first admin account.
After Open WebUI Opens
- Register the first Open WebUI user promptly; the first registered user becomes admin.
- Configure Ollama or a remote model provider before production use.
- Disable open signup after creating the intended admin and user accounts.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before exposing the chat interface outside a private network.
- Back up the Open WebUI data volume before relying on saved chats, users, or settings.
Open WebUI deployment questions
What does the Open WebUI template deploy?
It deploys the Open WebUI container with a persistent data volume, a generated session secret, and an Ollama base URL that can point to a local or remote model server.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 3001, which maps to the Open WebUI web UI on container port 8080.
Why does the browser verification stop at the first web UI screen?
A fresh Open WebUI deployment is considered reachable when the first-run account screen loads. Model configuration and user policy depend on your own production setup.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Open WebUI template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Command Line Setup
Install Open WebUI Manually
Set up Open WebUI yourself using Docker Compose and the command line.
1
Establish SSH Connection
Connect to your remote server using SSH. Make sure you have your server credentials ready.
terminal
# Log into your server
ssh root@<your-server-ip>
# If using key-based auth
ssh -i ~/.ssh/my-key root@<your-server-ip>First time? Docker not installed? Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
2
Create Project Directory
Set up a directory to store your Docker configuration.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/open-webui
cd ~/apps/open-webui3
Configure Docker Compose
Add this configuration to your docker-compose.yml file:
docker-compose.yml
services:
open-webui:
image: ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main
ports:
- "3000:8080"
environment:
- OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://host.docker.internal:11434
- WEBUI_SECRET_KEY=<your-secret-key>
- ENABLE_SIGNUP=true
volumes:
- open_webui_data:/app/backend/data
extra_hosts:
- "host.docker.internal:host-gateway"
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
open_webui_data:
Configuration Options
PORTHost port to expose(default: 3000)OLLAMA_URLOllama URL(default: http://host.docker.internal:11434)SECRET_KEYSession secret4
Start the Services
Execute the deployment and check the container status.
terminal
# Deploy the application
docker compose up -d
# Check container health
docker compose ps
# Monitor logs
docker compose logs -f --tail=1005
Allow Incoming Connections
Enable network access by updating your firewall rules.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 3000/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:3000Skip the Terminal
Too complicated? Let Server Compass handle it.
No terminal needed. Deploy Open WebUI through a visual dashboard with automatic configuration.
- Intuitive dashboard
- Deploy in 3 minutes
- Free SSL included
- Blue-green deploys
- Real-time logs
- Version history
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Open WebUI with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Open the Open WebUI URL in your browser
2
Create your admin account
3
Connect to Ollama or configure OpenAI-compatible API endpoints
4
Start chatting with AI models
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Open WebUI FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Open WebUI
How do I deploy Open WebUI with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Open WebUI from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.
What are the system requirements for Open WebUI?
Open WebUI requires a minimum of 512MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 1024MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing Open WebUI data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Open WebUI backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Open WebUI to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Open WebUI image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Open WebUI free to self-host?
Open WebUI is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.
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