On Ubuntu, Ollama’s documented default is its Linux install script: curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh. Before running it on a fresh system, check that zstd is installed. You can also install from an archive or run Ollama in Docker; the Docker GPU setup differs for NVIDIA and AMD. Ollama’s Linux guide does not state release-specific support for Ubuntu 26.04, so treat compatibility on that release as unconfirmed.
Choose an installation method
| Method | Best suited to | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Install script | Most Ubuntu users who want the documented Linux setup | Installs Ollama on the host and configures a systemd service when possible. The current script may require zstd. |
| Manual tarball | Users who want to extract the Linux archive themselves | Extracts into /usr; start the service with ollama serve. The archive uses zstd decompression. |
| Docker | Users who prefer a container-managed service or need the documented container GPU setup | Uses a persistent volume for Ollama data and publishes port 11434. GPU use requires vendor-specific host configuration. |
Ollama documents the script, archive, and Docker routes in its Linux installation guide and Docker guide.
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Prepare Ubuntu, including zstd
The installer currently prefers a .tar.zst archive when available. If a fresh system lacks the zstd utility, the installer can stop and ask you to install it; its source gives this Debian/Ubuntu command:
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Install Ollama with the official script
-
Open a terminal and run the documented installer command:
curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh -
When installation finishes, check that the CLI is available:
ollama -v -
If the service is not already running, start it in a terminal with:
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ollama serve
The Linux installer detects the system architecture and supports x86_64 and ARM64. Ollama’s Linux documentation says the installer configures a systemd service when possible. For a specific release, set OLLAMA_VERSION for the installer as described in the Linux guide; avoid copying an old version number without checking the current release information.
Install from a Linux archive
For the documented amd64 archive, make sure zstd extraction is available, then run:
curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/download/ollama-linux-amd64.tar.zst
| sudo tar x -C /usrStart the service in one terminal:
ollama serveOpen a second terminal and verify the CLI:
ollama -vThe same Linux guide lists separate ARM64 and AMD ROCm archives. Choose the archive that matches your system and GPU software needs rather than using the amd64 example indiscriminately.
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Run Ollama in Docker
CPU-only Docker
The official CPU-only example retains Ollama data in a named volume and exposes the service on port 11434:
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docker run -d -v ollama:/root/.ollama -p 11434:11434 --name ollama ollama/ollamaThe named volume keeps the Ollama data outside the container’s writable layer, so it persists when the container is replaced.
NVIDIA GPU
For NVIDIA, Ollama’s Docker guide requires the NVIDIA Container Toolkit and Docker runtime configuration on the host, then uses --gpus=all when starting the container. Follow the current Docker instructions for the complete command and host setup; the CPU-only example does not enable GPU access.
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AMD GPU
The documented AMD route uses the ollama/ollama:rocm image tag and passes the /dev/kfd and /dev/dri devices into the container. Confirm the host’s AMD GPU and ROCm setup against the Docker guide before using this route.
What to expect on Ubuntu 26.04 and 24.04
The official Linux installation guide does not identify Ubuntu release numbers or publish a release-specific compatibility statement for either 24.04 or 26.04. A community issue reports an installation failure on a clean Ubuntu 26.04 system without the zstd CLI, but that is a reported case, not an official support or compatibility declaration: community issue. Installing zstd addresses that particular missing-utility condition; it does not establish broader 26.04 support.
For either Ubuntu release, use the documented Linux path and check the current installer and Docker instructions before proceeding, since those rolling project materials can change.
Update an existing script installation
Ollama documents rerunning the installer as an update method. Use the same command:
curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | shIf you need a particular release, use the OLLAMA_VERSION mechanism described in the Linux guide rather than assuming a version number is current.
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