Tutorial: Deploying DeepSeek on VPS with Linux + aaPanel + Ollama + Open WebUI

• Hardware Requirements for Locally Deploying DeepSeek Models

Step 1: Install Docker via aaPanel

1. Log in to your aaPanel dashboard.
2. Navigate to the App Store and search for “Docker.”
3. Install Docker Manager and Mariadb from the available options.

Step 2: Install Ollama

1. In the aaPanel Docker section, go to Docker Store > AI Category.
2. Locate Ollama and click “Install.”

Step 3: Open Port 11434

Ensure port 11434 is open for Ollama communication:

1. In aaPanel, go to Docker > Containers.
2. Find the Ollama container, click “Terminal” (right-side management option).
3. In the pop-up window, select “bash” as the shell type and confirm.

Step 4: Run DeepSeek-R1 Model

In the Ollama container terminal, execute the following command to launch the DeepSeek-R1 model:

ollama run deepseek-r1:1.5b  

• Note: DeepSeek-R1 offers multiple versions. Select a version based on your hardware configuration (higher parameter models require stronger specs).
• Wait for the model to download and initialize. A successful startup will be indicated by a confirmation prompt.
• To exit the model, type /bye and press Enter.

Step 5: Install Open WebUI

1. Locate Ollama Container IP:
   • In aaPanel, go to Docker > Containers.
   • Find the Ollama container, click “Manage” (right-side option), and note the container’s IP address (save this for later).
2. Configure Open WebUI:
   • Set the Web Port (default: 3000; adjust as needed).
   • For Ollama Address, enter http://[Ollama Container IP]:11434 (e.g., http://172.18.0.2:11434).
   • For WebUI Secret Key, set a custom API access key (e.g., 123456; keep this secure).
   • Leave other configurations as default.
3. Click “Confirm” to start the installation. Wait until the status changes to “Running.”
   • Note: Allow 5–10 minutes after the status turns “Running” for Open WebUI to fully load its services before accessing.

Step 6: Access Open WebUI

1. Open a browser and navigate to http://[Your Server IP]:3000 (e.g., http://xx.xx.xxx.xxx:3000).
   • Important: Ensure your cloud provider’s firewall allows traffic on port 3000 (configure this in your cloud console’s security group settings).
2. Click “Get Started” to set up administrator credentials.
3. After creating the admin account, you will automatically enter the management interface. You can now interact with the DeepSeek-R1 model directly through the Open WebUI.