How to manage the Ollama service

The Ollama service keeps the local API running on Linux hosts where the desktop app is not responsible for startup. Service management is needed after environment changes, updates, and troubleshooting.

Systemd controls the packaged Linux service. Use it to start, stop, restart, enable, disable, and inspect the ollama unit, then verify the API endpoint separately.

A service state of active only proves the process is running. Run an API version check after service operations so client-facing status is also confirmed.

1. Check whether the service is active.

   $ systemctl is-active ollama
   active

2. Start or restart the service after configuration changes.

   $ sudo systemctl restart ollama

3. Enable the service at boot when the host should serve Ollama after restarts.

   $ sudo systemctl enable ollama
   Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/ollama.service.

4. View recent service status and log lines.

   $ systemctl status ollama
   ● ollama.service - Ollama Service
        Active: active (running)
   ##### snipped #####

5. Confirm the API answers after the service operation.

   $ curl -s http://localhost:11434/api/version
   {"version":"0.31.1"}

6. Stop the service when maintenance requires no active API.

   $ sudo systemctl stop ollama