# Build a Mattermost AI Bot with Ollama

Source: https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/ollama/mattermost

Step-by-step guide to running a Ollama-powered AI bot on Mattermost with LangBot: model setup, bot credentials, networking, testing and troubleshooting.

This recipe puts a Ollama model behind a Mattermost bot. LangBot receives messages from Mattermost, runs them through a pipeline, and sends the answer back, so you do not write any platform code.

Run open models locally with Ollama and serve them through LangBot's built-in Agent, so conversations never leave your machines.

## What you need

- A running LangBot instance: [LangBot Cloud](https://space.langbot.app/cloud) (no server needed) or a [self-hosted deployment](https://langbot.app/docs/en/deploy/langbot/docker.md) with Docker or `uvx langbot`.
- A Ollama account or server you can call from LangBot.
- A Mattermost **bot account** (role `Member`) and its access token, plus your Mattermost server URL.

## Networking

LangBot only needs to reach your Mattermost server; Mattermost does not need to reach LangBot.

## 1. Add the Ollama model

1. Install Ollama and pull a model (for example `ollama pull` followed by the model name).
2. In LangBot, open **Models** and add an LLM model with the provider set to Ollama and the request URL pointing at your Ollama server (by default port `11434`).
3. If LangBot runs in Docker, `localhost` is the container itself: use the host's address (for example `host.docker.internal`) instead.

## 2. Create a pipeline

Open **Pipelines** in the LangBot WebUI, create a pipeline (or edit the default one) and set **AI** as follows.

| Field           | Value                                                                  |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Runner          | **Local Agent** (built-in Agent)                                       |
| Model           | The model you just added. You can add fallback models.                 |
| Prompt          | Instructions: who the bot is, tone, what it must not do.               |
| Knowledge Bases | Optional. Attach a knowledge base so answers come from your documents. |

## 3. Create the Mattermost bot

1. Create the bot account in Mattermost (choose `post:all` for direct messages) and copy its token; it is shown only once.
2. Create a bot with the **Mattermost** adapter, enter the server address and token, and bind a pipeline.

## 4. Bind and test

Open the bot, select the pipeline you created, save and make sure the bot is enabled.

Send the bot a direct message, or mention it in a channel it has joined.

## Troubleshooting

- Small local models may not support tool calling well; leave **Tool Use** off for models that do not support it.
- Administrator-related features are not supported; keep the bot role as `Member`.
- Disable streaming on the bot if your pipeline or AI provider does not support it.
- Check **Monitoring** in the WebUI: every message, pipeline run and error is recorded there.

## FAQ

### Do I need a server with a public IP for Mattermost?

No. LangBot only needs to reach your Mattermost server; Mattermost does not need to reach LangBot.

### Does the Mattermost bot support streaming replies?

Yes. Enable streaming on the bot; the AI back end must also stream. See the [platform feature matrix](https://langbot.app/docs/en/insight/platform-features.md) for details.

### Can the same Ollama setup serve other platforms too?

Yes. A pipeline can be bound to many bots, so one configuration can answer on several platforms at once.

## Related guides

- [Full Mattermost setup guide](https://langbot.app/docs/en/usage/platforms/mattermost.md)
- [Model configuration](https://langbot.app/docs/en/usage/models/readme.md)
- Other AI back ends on Mattermost: [Dify](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/dify/mattermost.md) · [n8n](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/n8n/mattermost.md) · [Coze](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/coze/mattermost.md) · [Langflow](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/langflow/mattermost.md) · [DeepSeek](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/deepseek/mattermost.md)
- Ollama on other platforms: [Telegram](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/ollama/telegram.md) · [Discord](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/ollama/discord.md) · [Slack](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/ollama/slack.md) · [Lark (Feishu)](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/ollama/lark.md) · [DingTalk](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/ollama/dingtalk.md) · [WeCom (internal app)](https://langbot.app/docs/en/recipes/ollama/wecom.md)