Linux Server Deployment
Run Nowledge Mem as a headless server on Linux without a desktop environment
Nowledge Mem can run as a headless server on Linux machines without a GUI. Install the same .deb or .AppImage package, then manage everything from the command line.
Pro License Required
Background intelligence features (daily briefings, insight detection, knowledge graph enrichment) require a Pro license. The server itself runs on the free tier with a 20-memory limit.
System Requirements
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Ubuntu 22.04+, Debian 12+, RHEL 9+, or compatible |
| Architecture | x86_64 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GiB minimum (16 GiB recommended) |
| Disk Space | 10 GiB available |
| Dependencies | libgtk-3-0, libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0, zstd (installed automatically by .deb) |
Installation
# Install the package
sudo dpkg -i nowledge-mem_*.deb
# Fix any missing dependencies
sudo apt-get install -fThe .deb post-install script automatically:
- Extracts the bundled Python runtime
- Creates the
nmemCLI at/usr/local/bin/nmem - Sets up the desktop entry (ignored on headless servers)
# Make executable
chmod +x Nowledge_Mem_*.AppImage
# Run once to extract the Python runtime
./Nowledge_Mem_*.AppImage --appimage-extract
# The nmem CLI is available after first run
# Location: ~/.local/bin/nmemVerify the CLI is available:
nmem --versionQuick Start
Start the Server
nmem serveThis runs the server in the foreground (press Ctrl+C to stop). The server starts on 0.0.0.0:14242 by default. Customize with flags:
nmem serve --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8080For production, use nmem service install instead. It sets up a background systemd service that starts on boot. See Running as a systemd Service below.
Activate Your License
nmem license activate <license-key> <email>
nmem license status # Verify activationDownload the Embedding Model
nmem models download
nmem models status # Verify installationThis downloads the embedding model for hybrid search (~500 MB). Only needed once.
Configure the LLM Provider
A remote LLM is required on Linux (no on-device LLM support):
nmem config provider set anthropic \
--api-key sk-ant-xxx \
--model claude-sonnet-4-20250514
nmem config provider test # Verify connectionSupported providers: anthropic, openai, ollama, openrouter, and OpenAI-compatible endpoints.
Enable Background Intelligence
nmem config settings set backgroundIntelligence true
nmem config settings set autoDailyBriefing trueVerify Everything
nmem statusRunning as a systemd Service
For production deployments, use nmem service install to set up a background systemd service that automatically starts on boot:
# Install, enable, and start
sudo nmem service install
# Custom host/port
sudo nmem service install --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8080# No root required
nmem service install --userManaging the Service
nmem service status # Show service status
nmem service logs -f # Follow service logs
nmem service stop # Stop the service
nmem service start # Start the service
nmem service uninstall # Stop, disable, and removeAdd --user to any nmem service command if you installed a user-level service.
serve vs service
nmem serve | nmem service install | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs in | Foreground (current terminal) | Background (systemd) |
| Stops when | Ctrl+C or terminal closes | nmem service stop or system shutdown |
| Starts on boot | No | Yes (auto-enabled) |
| Best for | Testing, development | Production deployments |
Remote Access
By default, the server listens on all interfaces (0.0.0.0). To access from other machines:
# From a remote machine with nmem-cli installed
export NMEM_API_URL=http://your-server:14242
nmem status
nmem m search "query"Install the standalone CLI on remote machines:
pip install nmem-cli
# or
uv pip install nmem-cliSecurity
The server does not include authentication. For production use, restrict access via firewall rules or bind to 127.0.0.1 and use SSH tunneling or a reverse proxy with authentication.
Interactive TUI
For an interactive terminal experience, use the TUI:
nmem tuiThe TUI provides a full settings management interface including license activation, LLM configuration, and knowledge processing toggles.
Configuration Reference
Environment Variables
| Variable | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
NMEM_API_URL | http://127.0.0.1:14242 | Server URL for CLI commands |
NOWLEDGE_DB_PATH | Auto-detected | Override database location |
NOWLEDGE_BACKEND_HOST | 0.0.0.0 | Server bind address |
CLI Commands Summary
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
nmem serve | Start the server in the foreground |
nmem service install | Install and start as a systemd service |
nmem service status | Show systemd service status |
nmem service logs -f | Follow service logs |
nmem service stop / start | Stop or start the service |
nmem service uninstall | Remove the systemd service |
nmem status | Check server health |
nmem license activate <key> <email> | Activate license |
nmem models download | Download embedding model |
nmem config provider set <p> --api-key <k> | Configure LLM provider |
nmem config provider test | Test LLM connection |
nmem config settings | Show processing settings |
nmem config settings set <key> <value> | Update a setting |
nmem tui | Interactive terminal UI |
Next Steps
- CLI Reference - Complete CLI documentation
- API Reference - REST API endpoints
- Integrations - Connect with AI tools