Expert knowledge for digital decisions
How to Run a Language Model In-House?
Short answer
The Two Common Approaches
Ollama. Installation takes minutes, models are loaded via command. Ideal for experimentation and individual users. It reaches its limits with many simultaneous requests.
vLLM. Built for server operation. Batches requests and uses graphics memory more efficiently – resulting in significantly higher throughput. More complex to set up.
Why the OpenAI-Compatible Interface is Important
Both provide an interface similar to that of commercial providers. This allows switching an application between your own server and the cloud without modification – helpful for comparison and as a fallback option.
The Typical Process
- Experiment with Ollama on an existing computer
- Measure against real cases to see if the quality is sufficient
- Only then decide if a server is worthwhile
- Switch to vLLM or a rented environment for productive operation
Step 2 is often skipped – and it is the most important.
What is Needed
A model server alone is not an application. The following are missing:
- Rights management
- Logging
- Searching in your own documents
- A user interface
These components constitute the greater effort, not the model server.
Key facts
- For Beginners
- Ollama
- For Multi-User Operation
- vLLM
- Greater Effort
- Rights, Logs, Document Search, User Interface