---
title: Ollama + LiteLLM
description: Run Skyvern with a local LLM via Ollama or an OpenAI-compatible proxy via LiteLLM.
---

## Overview

Skyvern can use local models via **Ollama** or any **OpenAI-compatible** endpoint (e.g., **LiteLLM**). Two paths:

- **(A) Direct Ollama** — use the Ollama API (`/v1/chat/completions`)
- **(B) OpenAI-compatible (LiteLLM)** — Skyvern connects to a proxy that exposes an OpenAI-style API

---

## A) Direct Ollama

### 1) Start Ollama locally
Install Ollama and run a model (example: `llama3.1`):
```bash
ollama pull llama3.1
ollama serve
```
The API is usually at `http://localhost:11434`.

### 2) Configure Skyvern (ENV)
Add to your `.env`:
```bash
# Enable Ollama integration
ENABLE_OLLAMA=true

# Ollama server URL
OLLAMA_SERVER_URL=http://localhost:11434

# Model name in Ollama (check with `ollama list`)
OLLAMA_MODEL=llama3.1

# Enable vision support for multimodal models (qwen3-vl, llava, etc.)
OLLAMA_SUPPORTS_VISION=false
```

> Note: Ollama may not support `max_completion_tokens` — Skyvern handles this internally.
> Set `OLLAMA_SUPPORTS_VISION=true` if using a vision model like qwen3-vl or llava.

---

## B) OpenAI-compatible via LiteLLM

### 1) Run LiteLLM as a proxy
Minimal example (see LiteLLM docs for more options):
```bash
# Map an Ollama model behind an OpenAI-compatible endpoint
litellm --model ollama/llama3.1 --host 0.0.0.0 --port 4000
```

### 2) Configure Skyvern (ENV)
Add to your `.env`:
```bash
# Enable OpenAI-compatible provider
ENABLE_OPENAI_COMPATIBLE=true

# The "model" exposed by the proxy (any identifier your proxy accepts)
OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_MODEL_NAME=llama3.1

# API key required by the proxy (use any placeholder if proxy doesn't enforce)
OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_KEY=sk-test

# Base URL for the LiteLLM proxy (OpenAI-compatible)
OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_BASE=http://localhost:4000/v1

# (optional)
# OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_VERSION=2024-06-01
# OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_SUPPORTS_VISION=false
# OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_REASONING_EFFORT=low|medium|high
```

---

## Start Skyvern (local)

After setting the environment variables in `.env`, start backend + UI:
```bash
# with Docker (recommended)
docker compose up -d

# or locally (dev):
# poetry install
# ./run_skyvern.sh
# ./run_ui.sh
```

Open the UI and pick the model (or keep default); if only Ollama/LiteLLM are enabled, Skyvern will use that.

---

## Verify your setup

Before starting Skyvern, quickly verify that your LLM endpoint is reachable.

### Ollama
```bash
# Should return the list of local models
curl -s http://localhost:11434/api/tags | jq .
```

### LiteLLM (OpenAI-compatible)
```bash
# Should return available models exposed by your proxy
curl -s http://localhost:4000/v1/models   -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-test" | jq .
```

> If your model doesn’t appear, re-check the proxy flags and your `.env` values (`OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_BASE`, `OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_MODEL_NAME`, etc.).

---

## Troubleshooting

- **Model not responding / timeout**: ensure `ollama serve` is running and `OLLAMA_MODEL` exists (`ollama list`).
- **LiteLLM 401**: set `OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_KEY` to a value accepted by the proxy or disable auth on the proxy.
- **CORS / wrong base URL**: confirm `OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_BASE` and that it ends with `/v1`.
- **Model not visible**: ensure `ENABLE_OLLAMA=true` or `ENABLE_OPENAI_COMPATIBLE=true` in `.env`, then restart services.

---

## Internal References

- Ollama vars: `ENABLE_OLLAMA`, `OLLAMA_SERVER_URL`, `OLLAMA_MODEL`, `OLLAMA_SUPPORTS_VISION`
- OpenAI-compatible vars: `ENABLE_OPENAI_COMPATIBLE`, `OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_MODEL_NAME`, `OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_KEY`, `OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_BASE`, `OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_VERSION`, `OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_SUPPORTS_VISION`, `OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_REASONING_EFFORT`
