Tutorials & Guides

The Best Linux Distributions for Running Ollama

Ollama is one of the easiest ways to run large language models (LLMs) locally on your machine. It supports macOS and Linux, and if you’re setting up a Linux system for AI development, choosing the right distribution can save you hours of troubleshooting.

In this article, we’ll look at the best Linux distributions for running Ollama, why some work better than others, and which ones to avoid.

✅ What Makes a Linux Distro Good for Ollama?

Ollama relies on:

  • CUDA and NVIDIA drivers for GPU acceleration.
  • Modern kernels and dependencies for performance and compatibility.
  • Ease of package management for installing Ollama and AI tools.

So, the best distro will be stable, well-supported by NVIDIA, and have an active community.

Top Choices for Ollama

1. Ubuntu LTS (22.04 or 24.04) – The Gold Standard

  • Why It’s Best:
    • Official CUDA and NVIDIA driver support is strongest on Ubuntu.
    • Ollama and most AI tools provide prebuilt binaries for Ubuntu first.
    • Massive community and extensive documentation.
  • Ideal For: Anyone who wants a smooth experience without headaches.

Install Ollama:

curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh

2. Pop!_OS (NVIDIA Edition)

  • Why It’s Great:
    • Built on Ubuntu, but ships with NVIDIA drivers out of the box.
    • Perfect for users who want plug-and-play GPU support.
    • Attractive interface, easy for beginners.
  • Ideal For: Developers who want zero hassle with drivers.

3. Debian 12 (Bookworm)

  • Why Choose It:
    • Very stable and minimal, good for dedicated AI workstations.
    • Great if you prefer a clean system and installing only what you need.
  • Downside: You’ll need to manually configure NVIDIA drivers and CUDA.

4. Fedora Workstation

  • Why It’s Good:
    • Modern kernel and libraries, great performance.
    • NVIDIA support available through RPM Fusion repository.
  • Downside: Slightly more setup work than Ubuntu or Pop!_OS.

⚠️ Distributions to Avoid

  • Arch Linux / Manjaro:
    • Cutting-edge, but frequent updates can break CUDA or Ollama dependencies.
  • Linux Mint:
    • Based on Ubuntu and works fine, but driver support can lag behind official Ubuntu releases.

✅ Our Recommendation

If you want the easiest and most reliable setup, go with:

  • Ubuntu 22.04 LTS for broad compatibility and community support, or
  • Pop!_OS NVIDIA Edition for a smoother GPU experience out of the box.

Bottom Line: If you want the least friction, Ubuntu or Pop!_OS are your best bets for running Ollama with NVIDIA GPUs. Both offer strong support, stability, and compatibility with AI tools.

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