diff --git a/backend/ollama_client.py b/backend/ollama_client.py
index d0b59b2..33ee103 100644
--- a/backend/ollama_client.py
+++ b/backend/ollama_client.py
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 import requests
 import json
-from typing import List, Dict
+import os
+from typing import List, Dict, Optional
 
 class OllamaClient:
-    def __init__(self, base_url: str = "http://localhost:11434"):
+    def __init__(self, base_url: Optional[str] = None):
+        if base_url is None:
+            base_url = os.getenv("OLLAMA_HOST", "http://localhost:11434")
         self.base_url = base_url
         self.api_url = f"{base_url}/api"
     
@@ -196,4 +199,4 @@ def main():
     print(f"AI: {response}")
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    main() 
\ No newline at end of file
+    main()    
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/test_ollama_connectivity.py b/backend/test_ollama_connectivity.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4e2e65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/test_ollama_connectivity.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+def test_ollama_connectivity():
+    """Test Ollama connectivity from within Docker container"""
+    print("🧪 Testing Ollama Connectivity")
+    print("=" * 40)
+    
+    ollama_host = os.getenv('OLLAMA_HOST', 'Not set')
+    print(f"OLLAMA_HOST environment variable: {ollama_host}")
+    
+    try:
+        from ollama_client import OllamaClient
+        client = OllamaClient()
+        print(f"OllamaClient base_url: {client.base_url}")
+        
+        is_running = client.is_ollama_running()
+        print(f"Ollama running: {is_running}")
+        
+        if is_running:
+            models = client.list_models()
+            print(f"Available models: {models}")
+            print("✅ Ollama connectivity test passed!")
+            return True
+        else:
+            print("❌ Ollama connectivity test failed!")
+            return False
+            
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"❌ Error testing Ollama connectivity: {e}")
+        return False
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    success = test_ollama_connectivity()
+    sys.exit(0 if success else 1)
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index c2e91b9..abf8b80 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       - NODE_ENV=production
       - RAG_API_URL=http://rag-api:8001
+      - OLLAMA_HOST=${OLLAMA_HOST:-http://172.18.0.1:11434}
     volumes:
       - ./backend:/app/backend
       - ./shared_uploads:/app/shared_uploads
@@ -100,4 +101,4 @@ volumes:
 
 networks:
   rag-network:
-    driver: bridge  
\ No newline at end of file
+    driver: bridge    
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker.env b/docker.env
index c79ef77..4bb29ee 100644
--- a/docker.env
+++ b/docker.env
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Docker environment configuration
 # Set this to use local Ollama instance running on host
-OLLAMA_HOST=http://host.docker.internal:11434
+# Note: Using Docker gateway IP instead of host.docker.internal for Linux compatibility
+OLLAMA_HOST=http://172.18.0.1:11434
 
 # Alternative: Use containerized Ollama (uncomment and run with --profile with-ollama)
 # OLLAMA_HOST=http://ollama:11434
@@ -8,4 +9,4 @@ OLLAMA_HOST=http://host.docker.internal:11434
 # Other configuration
 NODE_ENV=production
 NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=http://localhost:8000
-RAG_API_URL=http://rag-api:8001 
\ No newline at end of file
+RAG_API_URL=http://rag-api:8001   
\ No newline at end of file