Overview

This guide provides a complete step-by-step process to configure Ollama, Docker, WSL2, and Open WebUI for network access across multiple devices.

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Part 1 – Host Preparation

Step 1 – Confirm Virtualisation

• Open Task Manager → Performance → CPU




• Confirm: Virtualisation = Enabled

Step 2 – Install WSL2

wsl --install
wsl --set-default-version 2

Reboot the machine.

Step 3 – Verify WSL

wsl -l -v

Expected:

docker-desktop       Running   Version 2
docker-desktop-data  Running   Version 2

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Part 2 – Install Docker

Step 4 – Install Docker

winget install -e --id Docker.DockerDesktop

Step 5 – Start Docker

Open Docker Desktop and wait for “Docker is running”.

Step 6 – Test Docker

docker run hello-world

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Part 3 – Configure Ollama for Network Access

Step 7 – Configure Listener

Add environment variable:

OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434

Restart Ollama.

Step 8 – Test Local Access

curl http://localhost:11434/api/tags

Step 9 – Test LAN Access

ipconfig
curl http://YOUR-IP:11434/api/tags

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Part 4 – Deploy Open WebUI

Step 10 – Run Container

docker run -d ^
  -p 3000:8080 ^
  -e OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://host.docker.internal:11434 ^
  -e WEBUI_AUTH=False ^
  --name open-webui ^
  ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main

Step 11 – Verify Container

docker ps

Step 12 – Access WebUI

http://localhost:3000

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Part 5 – Configure Firewall

Step 13 – Open Ports

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Open WebUI" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 3000 -Action Allow
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Ollama API" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 11434 -Action Allow

Step 14 – Test from Another Device

http://OLLAMA-PC-IP:3000

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Part 6 – Load Models

Step 15 – Pull Model

ollama pull llama3

Step 16 – Test Chat

Use WebUI to send a test prompt.

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Part 7 – Enable Persistence

Step 17 – Create docker-compose.yml

version: '3.8'

services:
  open-webui:
    image: ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main
    container_name: open-webui
    ports:
      - "3000:8080"
    environment:
      - OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://host.docker.internal:11434
      - WEBUI_AUTH=False
    volumes:
      - open-webui-data:/app/backend/data
    restart: always

volumes:
  open-webui-data:

Step 18 – Deploy

docker compose up -d

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Troubleshooting

UI Not Loading

docker ps

Container Unhealthy

wsl --shutdown

Auth Blocking Access

WEBUI_AUTH=False

Cannot Access from Network

• Open firewall ports 3000 and 11434




• Use correct IP address