diff --git a/api/client.go b/api/client.go
index 974c08eb..44af222c 100644
--- a/api/client.go
+++ b/api/client.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net"
@@ -95,11 +96,19 @@ func (c *Client) do(ctx context.Context, method, path string, reqData, respData
 	var reqBody io.Reader
 	var data []byte
 	var err error
-	if reqData != nil {
+
+	switch reqData := reqData.(type) {
+	case io.Reader:
+		// reqData is already an io.Reader
+		reqBody = reqData
+	case nil:
+		// noop
+	default:
 		data, err = json.Marshal(reqData)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+
 		reqBody = bytes.NewReader(data)
 	}
 
@@ -287,3 +296,18 @@ func (c *Client) Heartbeat(ctx context.Context) error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func (c *Client) CreateBlob(ctx context.Context, digest string, r io.Reader) error {
+	if err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodHead, fmt.Sprintf("/api/blobs/%s", digest), nil, nil); err != nil {
+		var statusError StatusError
+		if !errors.As(err, &statusError) || statusError.StatusCode != http.StatusNotFound {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodPost, fmt.Sprintf("/api/blobs/%s", digest), r, nil); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/api/types.go b/api/types.go
index ffa5b7ca..2a36a1f6 100644
--- a/api/types.go
+++ b/api/types.go
@@ -99,9 +99,10 @@ type EmbeddingResponse struct {
 }
 
 type CreateRequest struct {
-	Name   string `json:"name"`
-	Path   string `json:"path"`
-	Stream *bool  `json:"stream,omitempty"`
+	Name      string `json:"name"`
+	Path      string `json:"path"`
+	Modelfile string `json:"modelfile"`
+	Stream    *bool  `json:"stream,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type DeleteRequest struct {
diff --git a/cmd/cmd.go b/cmd/cmd.go
index 8fc6e4c4..008c6b38 100644
--- a/cmd/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/cmd.go
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"crypto/ed25519"
 	"crypto/rand"
+	"crypto/sha256"
 	"encoding/pem"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -27,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/api"
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/format"
+	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/parser"
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/progressbar"
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/readline"
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/server"
@@ -45,17 +48,64 @@ func CreateHandler(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	var spinner *Spinner
+	modelfile, err := os.ReadFile(filename)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	spinner := NewSpinner("transferring context")
+	go spinner.Spin(100 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	commands, err := parser.Parse(bytes.NewReader(modelfile))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	home, err := os.UserHomeDir()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	for _, c := range commands {
+		switch c.Name {
+		case "model", "adapter":
+			path := c.Args
+			if path == "~" {
+				path = home
+			} else if strings.HasPrefix(path, "~/") {
+				path = filepath.Join(home, path[2:])
+			}
+
+			bin, err := os.Open(path)
+			if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) && c.Name == "model" {
+				continue
+			} else if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			defer bin.Close()
+
+			hash := sha256.New()
+			if _, err := io.Copy(hash, bin); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			bin.Seek(0, io.SeekStart)
+
+			digest := fmt.Sprintf("sha256:%x", hash.Sum(nil))
+			if err = client.CreateBlob(cmd.Context(), digest, bin); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			modelfile = bytes.ReplaceAll(modelfile, []byte(c.Args), []byte("@"+digest))
+		}
+	}
 
 	var currentDigest string
 	var bar *progressbar.ProgressBar
 
-	request := api.CreateRequest{Name: args[0], Path: filename}
+	request := api.CreateRequest{Name: args[0], Path: filename, Modelfile: string(modelfile)}
 	fn := func(resp api.ProgressResponse) error {
 		if resp.Digest != currentDigest && resp.Digest != "" {
-			if spinner != nil {
-				spinner.Stop()
-			}
+			spinner.Stop()
 			currentDigest = resp.Digest
 			// pulling
 			bar = progressbar.DefaultBytes(
@@ -67,9 +117,7 @@ func CreateHandler(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			bar.Set64(resp.Completed)
 		} else {
 			currentDigest = ""
-			if spinner != nil {
-				spinner.Stop()
-			}
+			spinner.Stop()
 			spinner = NewSpinner(resp.Status)
 			go spinner.Spin(100 * time.Millisecond)
 		}
@@ -81,11 +129,9 @@ func CreateHandler(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if spinner != nil {
-		spinner.Stop()
-		if spinner.description != "success" {
-			return errors.New("unexpected end to create model")
-		}
+	spinner.Stop()
+	if spinner.description != "success" {
+		return errors.New("unexpected end to create model")
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index 08402266..9bb4d378 100644
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -292,12 +292,13 @@ curl -X POST http://localhost:11434/api/generate -d '{
 POST /api/create
 ```
 
-Create a model from a [`Modelfile`](./modelfile.md)
+Create a model from a [`Modelfile`](./modelfile.md). It is recommended to set `modelfile` to the content of the Modelfile rather than just set `path`. This is a requirement for remote create. Remote model creation should also create any file blobs, fields such as `FROM` and `ADAPTER`, explicitly with the server using [Create a Blob](#create-a-blob) and the value to the path indicated in the response.
 
 ### Parameters
 
 - `name`: name of the model to create
-- `path`: path to the Modelfile
+- `path`: path to the Modelfile (deprecated: please use modelfile instead)
+- `modelfile`: contents of the Modelfile
 - `stream`: (optional) if `false` the response will be returned as a single response object, rather than a stream of objects
 
 ### Examples
@@ -307,7 +308,8 @@ Create a model from a [`Modelfile`](./modelfile.md)
 ```shell
 curl -X POST http://localhost:11434/api/create -d '{
   "name": "mario",
-  "path": "~/Modelfile"
+  "path": "~/Modelfile",
+  "modelfile": "FROM llama2"
 }'
 ```
 
@@ -321,6 +323,54 @@ A stream of JSON objects. When finished, `status` is `success`.
 }
 ```
 
+### Check if a Blob Exists
+
+```shell
+HEAD /api/blobs/:digest
+```
+
+Check if a blob is known to the server.
+
+#### Query Parameters
+
+- `digest`: the SHA256 digest of the blob
+
+#### Examples
+
+##### Request
+
+```shell
+curl -I http://localhost:11434/api/blobs/sha256:29fdb92e57cf0827ded04ae6461b5931d01fa595843f55d36f5b275a52087dd2
+```
+
+##### Response
+
+Return 200 OK if the blob exists, 404 Not Found if it does not.
+
+### Create a Blob
+
+```shell
+POST /api/blobs/:digest
+```
+
+Create a blob from a file. Returns the server file path.
+
+#### Query Parameters
+
+- `digest`: the expected SHA256 digest of the file
+
+#### Examples
+
+##### Request
+
+```shell
+curl -T model.bin -X POST http://localhost:11434/api/blobs/sha256:29fdb92e57cf0827ded04ae6461b5931d01fa595843f55d36f5b275a52087dd2
+```
+
+##### Response
+
+Return 201 Created if the blob was successfully created.
+
 ## List Local Models
 
 ```shell
diff --git a/server/images.go b/server/images.go
index 8d784fef..d8ff0fd8 100644
--- a/server/images.go
+++ b/server/images.go
@@ -248,200 +248,181 @@ func filenameWithPath(path, f string) (string, error) {
 	return f, nil
 }
 
-func CreateModel(ctx context.Context, name string, path string, fn func(resp api.ProgressResponse)) error {
-	mp := ParseModelPath(name)
-
-	var manifest *ManifestV2
-	var err error
-	var noprune string
-
-	// build deleteMap to prune unused layers
-	deleteMap := make(map[string]bool)
-
-	if noprune = os.Getenv("OLLAMA_NOPRUNE"); noprune == "" {
-		manifest, _, err = GetManifest(mp)
-		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		if manifest != nil {
-			for _, l := range manifest.Layers {
-				deleteMap[l.Digest] = true
-			}
-			deleteMap[manifest.Config.Digest] = true
-		}
-	}
-
-	mf, err := os.Open(path)
+func realpath(p string) string {
+	abspath, err := filepath.Abs(p)
 	if err != nil {
-		fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: fmt.Sprintf("couldn't open modelfile '%s'", path)})
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to open file: %w", err)
+		return p
 	}
-	defer mf.Close()
 
-	fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "parsing modelfile"})
-	commands, err := parser.Parse(mf)
+	home, err := os.UserHomeDir()
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return abspath
 	}
 
+	if p == "~" {
+		return home
+	} else if strings.HasPrefix(p, "~/") {
+		return filepath.Join(home, p[2:])
+	}
+
+	return abspath
+}
+
+func CreateModel(ctx context.Context, name string, commands []parser.Command, fn func(resp api.ProgressResponse)) error {
 	config := ConfigV2{
-		Architecture: "amd64",
 		OS:           "linux",
+		Architecture: "amd64",
 	}
 
+	deleteMap := make(map[string]struct{})
+
 	var layers []*LayerReader
+
 	params := make(map[string][]string)
-	var sourceParams map[string]any
+	fromParams := make(map[string]any)
+
 	for _, c := range commands {
-		log.Printf("[%s] - %s\n", c.Name, c.Args)
+		log.Printf("[%s] - %s", c.Name, c.Args)
+		mediatype := fmt.Sprintf("application/vnd.ollama.image.%s", c.Name)
+
 		switch c.Name {
 		case "model":
-			fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "looking for model"})
+			if strings.HasPrefix(c.Args, "@") {
+				blobPath, err := GetBlobsPath(strings.TrimPrefix(c.Args, "@"))
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
 
-			mp := ParseModelPath(c.Args)
-			mf, _, err := GetManifest(mp)
+				c.Args = blobPath
+			}
+
+			bin, err := os.Open(realpath(c.Args))
 			if err != nil {
-				modelFile, err := filenameWithPath(path, c.Args)
-				if err != nil {
+				// not a file on disk so must be a model reference
+				modelpath := ParseModelPath(c.Args)
+				manifest, _, err := GetManifest(modelpath)
+				switch {
+				case errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist):
+					fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "pulling model"})
+					if err := PullModel(ctx, c.Args, &RegistryOptions{}, fn); err != nil {
+						return err
+					}
+
+					manifest, _, err = GetManifest(modelpath)
+					if err != nil {
+						return err
+					}
+				case err != nil:
 					return err
 				}
-				if _, err := os.Stat(modelFile); err != nil {
-					// the model file does not exist, try pulling it
-					if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
-						fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "pulling model file"})
-						if err := PullModel(ctx, c.Args, &RegistryOptions{}, fn); err != nil {
-							return err
-						}
-						mf, _, err = GetManifest(mp)
-						if err != nil {
-							return fmt.Errorf("failed to open file after pull: %v", err)
-						}
-					} else {
-						return err
-					}
-				} else {
-					// create a model from this specified file
-					fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "creating model layer"})
-					file, err := os.Open(modelFile)
-					if err != nil {
-						return fmt.Errorf("failed to open file: %v", err)
-					}
-					defer file.Close()
 
-					ggml, err := llm.DecodeGGML(file)
-					if err != nil {
-						return err
-					}
-
-					config.ModelFormat = ggml.Name()
-					config.ModelFamily = ggml.ModelFamily()
-					config.ModelType = ggml.ModelType()
-					config.FileType = ggml.FileType()
-
-					// reset the file
-					file.Seek(0, io.SeekStart)
-
-					l, err := CreateLayer(file)
-					if err != nil {
-						return fmt.Errorf("failed to create layer: %v", err)
-					}
-					l.MediaType = "application/vnd.ollama.image.model"
-					layers = append(layers, l)
-				}
-			}
-
-			if mf != nil {
 				fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "reading model metadata"})
-				sourceBlobPath, err := GetBlobsPath(mf.Config.Digest)
+				fromConfigPath, err := GetBlobsPath(manifest.Config.Digest)
 				if err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
 
-				sourceBlob, err := os.Open(sourceBlobPath)
+				fromConfigFile, err := os.Open(fromConfigPath)
 				if err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
-				defer sourceBlob.Close()
+				defer fromConfigFile.Close()
 
-				var source ConfigV2
-				if err := json.NewDecoder(sourceBlob).Decode(&source); err != nil {
+				var fromConfig ConfigV2
+				if err := json.NewDecoder(fromConfigFile).Decode(&fromConfig); err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
 
-				// copy the model metadata
-				config.ModelFamily = source.ModelFamily
-				config.ModelType = source.ModelType
-				config.ModelFormat = source.ModelFormat
-				config.FileType = source.FileType
+				config.ModelFormat = fromConfig.ModelFormat
+				config.ModelFamily = fromConfig.ModelFamily
+				config.ModelType = fromConfig.ModelType
+				config.FileType = fromConfig.FileType
 
-				for _, l := range mf.Layers {
-					if l.MediaType == "application/vnd.ollama.image.params" {
-						sourceParamsBlobPath, err := GetBlobsPath(l.Digest)
+				for _, layer := range manifest.Layers {
+					deleteMap[layer.Digest] = struct{}{}
+					if layer.MediaType == "application/vnd.ollama.image.params" {
+						fromParamsPath, err := GetBlobsPath(layer.Digest)
 						if err != nil {
 							return err
 						}
 
-						sourceParamsBlob, err := os.Open(sourceParamsBlobPath)
+						fromParamsFile, err := os.Open(fromParamsPath)
 						if err != nil {
 							return err
 						}
-						defer sourceParamsBlob.Close()
+						defer fromParamsFile.Close()
 
-						if err := json.NewDecoder(sourceParamsBlob).Decode(&sourceParams); err != nil {
+						if err := json.NewDecoder(fromParamsFile).Decode(&fromParams); err != nil {
 							return err
 						}
 					}
 
-					newLayer, err := GetLayerWithBufferFromLayer(l)
+					layer, err := GetLayerWithBufferFromLayer(layer)
 					if err != nil {
 						return err
 					}
-					newLayer.From = mp.GetShortTagname()
-					layers = append(layers, newLayer)
-				}
-			}
-		case "adapter":
-			fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: fmt.Sprintf("creating model %s layer", c.Name)})
 
-			fp, err := filenameWithPath(path, c.Args)
+					layer.From = modelpath.GetShortTagname()
+					layers = append(layers, layer)
+				}
+
+				deleteMap[manifest.Config.Digest] = struct{}{}
+				continue
+			}
+			defer bin.Close()
+
+			fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "creating model layer"})
+			ggml, err := llm.DecodeGGML(bin)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			// create a model from this specified file
-			fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "creating model layer"})
+			config.ModelFormat = ggml.Name()
+			config.ModelFamily = ggml.ModelFamily()
+			config.ModelType = ggml.ModelType()
+			config.FileType = ggml.FileType()
 
-			file, err := os.Open(fp)
+			bin.Seek(0, io.SeekStart)
+			layer, err := CreateLayer(bin)
 			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to open file: %v", err)
+				return err
 			}
-			defer file.Close()
 
-			l, err := CreateLayer(file)
+			layer.MediaType = mediatype
+			layers = append(layers, layer)
+		case "adapter":
+			fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "creating adapter layer"})
+			bin, err := os.Open(realpath(c.Args))
 			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to create layer: %v", err)
+				return err
 			}
-			l.MediaType = "application/vnd.ollama.image.adapter"
-			layers = append(layers, l)
-		case "license":
-			fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: fmt.Sprintf("creating model %s layer", c.Name)})
-			mediaType := fmt.Sprintf("application/vnd.ollama.image.%s", c.Name)
+			defer bin.Close()
 
-			layer, err := CreateLayer(strings.NewReader(c.Args))
+			layer, err := CreateLayer(bin)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
 			if layer.Size > 0 {
-				layer.MediaType = mediaType
+				layer.MediaType = mediatype
 				layers = append(layers, layer)
 			}
-		case "template", "system", "prompt":
-			fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: fmt.Sprintf("creating model %s layer", c.Name)})
-			// remove the layer if one exists
-			mediaType := fmt.Sprintf("application/vnd.ollama.image.%s", c.Name)
-			layers = removeLayerFromLayers(layers, mediaType)
+		case "license":
+			fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "creating license layer"})
+			layer, err := CreateLayer(strings.NewReader(c.Args))
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			if layer.Size > 0 {
+				layer.MediaType = mediatype
+				layers = append(layers, layer)
+			}
+		case "template", "system":
+			fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: fmt.Sprintf("creating %s layer", c.Name)})
+
+			// remove duplicate layers
+			layers = removeLayerFromLayers(layers, mediatype)
 
 			layer, err := CreateLayer(strings.NewReader(c.Args))
 			if err != nil {
@@ -449,48 +430,47 @@ func CreateModel(ctx context.Context, name string, path string, fn func(resp api
 			}
 
 			if layer.Size > 0 {
-				layer.MediaType = mediaType
+				layer.MediaType = mediatype
 				layers = append(layers, layer)
 			}
 		default:
-			// runtime parameters, build a list of args for each parameter to allow multiple values to be specified (ex: multiple stop sequences)
 			params[c.Name] = append(params[c.Name], c.Args)
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Create a single layer for the parameters
 	if len(params) > 0 {
-		fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "creating parameter layer"})
+		fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "creating parameters layer"})
 
-		layers = removeLayerFromLayers(layers, "application/vnd.ollama.image.params")
 		formattedParams, err := formatParams(params)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("couldn't create params json: %v", err)
+			return err
 		}
 
-		for k, v := range sourceParams {
+		for k, v := range fromParams {
 			if _, ok := formattedParams[k]; !ok {
 				formattedParams[k] = v
 			}
 		}
 
 		if config.ModelType == "65B" {
-			if numGQA, ok := formattedParams["num_gqa"].(int); ok && numGQA == 8 {
+			if gqa, ok := formattedParams["gqa"].(int); ok && gqa == 8 {
 				config.ModelType = "70B"
 			}
 		}
 
-		bts, err := json.Marshal(formattedParams)
+		var b bytes.Buffer
+		if err := json.NewEncoder(&b).Encode(formattedParams); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "creating config layer"})
+		layer, err := CreateLayer(bytes.NewReader(b.Bytes()))
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		l, err := CreateLayer(bytes.NewReader(bts))
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to create layer: %v", err)
-		}
-		l.MediaType = "application/vnd.ollama.image.params"
-		layers = append(layers, l)
+		layer.MediaType = "application/vnd.ollama.image.params"
+		layers = append(layers, layer)
 	}
 
 	digests, err := getLayerDigests(layers)
@@ -498,36 +478,31 @@ func CreateModel(ctx context.Context, name string, path string, fn func(resp api
 		return err
 	}
 
-	var manifestLayers []*Layer
-	for _, l := range layers {
-		manifestLayers = append(manifestLayers, &l.Layer)
-		delete(deleteMap, l.Layer.Digest)
-	}
-
-	// Create a layer for the config object
-	fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "creating config layer"})
-	cfg, err := createConfigLayer(config, digests)
+	configLayer, err := createConfigLayer(config, digests)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	layers = append(layers, cfg)
-	delete(deleteMap, cfg.Layer.Digest)
+
+	layers = append(layers, configLayer)
+	delete(deleteMap, configLayer.Digest)
 
 	if err := SaveLayers(layers, fn, false); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Create the manifest
+	var contentLayers []*Layer
+	for _, layer := range layers {
+		contentLayers = append(contentLayers, &layer.Layer)
+		delete(deleteMap, layer.Digest)
+	}
+
 	fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "writing manifest"})
-	err = CreateManifest(name, cfg, manifestLayers)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := CreateManifest(name, configLayer, contentLayers); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if noprune == "" {
-		fn(api.ProgressResponse{Status: "removing any unused layers"})
-		err = deleteUnusedLayers(nil, deleteMap, false)
-		if err != nil {
+	if noprune := os.Getenv("OLLAMA_NOPRUNE"); noprune == "" {
+		if err := deleteUnusedLayers(nil, deleteMap, false); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -739,7 +714,7 @@ func CopyModel(src, dest string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func deleteUnusedLayers(skipModelPath *ModelPath, deleteMap map[string]bool, dryRun bool) error {
+func deleteUnusedLayers(skipModelPath *ModelPath, deleteMap map[string]struct{}, dryRun bool) error {
 	fp, err := GetManifestPath()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -779,21 +754,19 @@ func deleteUnusedLayers(skipModelPath *ModelPath, deleteMap map[string]bool, dry
 	}
 
 	// only delete the files which are still in the deleteMap
-	for k, v := range deleteMap {
-		if v {
-			fp, err := GetBlobsPath(k)
-			if err != nil {
-				log.Printf("couldn't get file path for '%s': %v", k, err)
+	for k := range deleteMap {
+		fp, err := GetBlobsPath(k)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("couldn't get file path for '%s': %v", k, err)
+			continue
+		}
+		if !dryRun {
+			if err := os.Remove(fp); err != nil {
+				log.Printf("couldn't remove file '%s': %v", fp, err)
 				continue
 			}
-			if !dryRun {
-				if err := os.Remove(fp); err != nil {
-					log.Printf("couldn't remove file '%s': %v", fp, err)
-					continue
-				}
-			} else {
-				log.Printf("wanted to remove: %s", fp)
-			}
+		} else {
+			log.Printf("wanted to remove: %s", fp)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -801,7 +774,7 @@ func deleteUnusedLayers(skipModelPath *ModelPath, deleteMap map[string]bool, dry
 }
 
 func PruneLayers() error {
-	deleteMap := make(map[string]bool)
+	deleteMap := make(map[string]struct{})
 	p, err := GetBlobsPath("")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -818,7 +791,9 @@ func PruneLayers() error {
 		if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
 			name = strings.ReplaceAll(name, "-", ":")
 		}
-		deleteMap[name] = true
+		if strings.HasPrefix(name, "sha256:") {
+			deleteMap[name] = struct{}{}
+		}
 	}
 
 	log.Printf("total blobs: %d", len(deleteMap))
@@ -873,11 +848,11 @@ func DeleteModel(name string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	deleteMap := make(map[string]bool)
+	deleteMap := make(map[string]struct{})
 	for _, layer := range manifest.Layers {
-		deleteMap[layer.Digest] = true
+		deleteMap[layer.Digest] = struct{}{}
 	}
-	deleteMap[manifest.Config.Digest] = true
+	deleteMap[manifest.Config.Digest] = struct{}{}
 
 	err = deleteUnusedLayers(&mp, deleteMap, false)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1013,7 +988,7 @@ func PullModel(ctx context.Context, name string, regOpts *RegistryOptions, fn fu
 	var noprune string
 
 	// build deleteMap to prune unused layers
-	deleteMap := make(map[string]bool)
+	deleteMap := make(map[string]struct{})
 
 	if noprune = os.Getenv("OLLAMA_NOPRUNE"); noprune == "" {
 		manifest, _, err = GetManifest(mp)
@@ -1023,9 +998,9 @@ func PullModel(ctx context.Context, name string, regOpts *RegistryOptions, fn fu
 
 		if manifest != nil {
 			for _, l := range manifest.Layers {
-				deleteMap[l.Digest] = true
+				deleteMap[l.Digest] = struct{}{}
 			}
-			deleteMap[manifest.Config.Digest] = true
+			deleteMap[manifest.Config.Digest] = struct{}{}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/server/routes.go b/server/routes.go
index a543b10e..58145576 100644
--- a/server/routes.go
+++ b/server/routes.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package server
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"crypto/sha256"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/api"
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/llm"
+	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/parser"
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/version"
 )
 
@@ -409,8 +411,31 @@ func CreateModelHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if req.Name == "" || req.Path == "" {
-		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "name and path are required"})
+	if req.Name == "" {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "name is required"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	if req.Path == "" && req.Modelfile == "" {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "path or modelfile are required"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	var modelfile io.Reader = strings.NewReader(req.Modelfile)
+	if req.Path != "" && req.Modelfile == "" {
+		bin, err := os.Open(req.Path)
+		if err != nil {
+			c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": fmt.Sprintf("error reading modelfile: %s", err)})
+			return
+		}
+		defer bin.Close()
+
+		modelfile = bin
+	}
+
+	commands, err := parser.Parse(modelfile)
+	if err != nil {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -424,7 +449,7 @@ func CreateModelHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(c.Request.Context())
 		defer cancel()
 
-		if err := CreateModel(ctx, req.Name, req.Path, fn); err != nil {
+		if err := CreateModel(ctx, req.Name, commands, fn); err != nil {
 			ch <- gin.H{"error": err.Error()}
 		}
 	}()
@@ -625,6 +650,60 @@ func CopyModelHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 }
 
+func HeadBlobHandler(c *gin.Context) {
+	path, err := GetBlobsPath(c.Param("digest"))
+	if err != nil {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
+		return
+	}
+
+	if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusNotFound, gin.H{"error": fmt.Sprintf("blob %q not found", c.Param("digest"))})
+		return
+	}
+
+	c.Status(http.StatusOK)
+}
+
+func CreateBlobHandler(c *gin.Context) {
+	hash := sha256.New()
+	temp, err := os.CreateTemp("", c.Param("digest"))
+	if err != nil {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
+		return
+	}
+	defer temp.Close()
+	defer os.Remove(temp.Name())
+
+	if _, err := io.Copy(temp, io.TeeReader(c.Request.Body, hash)); err != nil {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
+		return
+	}
+
+	if fmt.Sprintf("sha256:%x", hash.Sum(nil)) != c.Param("digest") {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "digest does not match body"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	if err := temp.Close(); err != nil {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
+		return
+	}
+
+	targetPath, err := GetBlobsPath(c.Param("digest"))
+	if err != nil {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
+		return
+	}
+
+	if err := os.Rename(temp.Name(), targetPath); err != nil {
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
+		return
+	}
+
+	c.Status(http.StatusCreated)
+}
+
 var defaultAllowOrigins = []string{
 	"localhost",
 	"127.0.0.1",
@@ -684,6 +763,8 @@ func Serve(ln net.Listener, allowOrigins []string) error {
 	r.POST("/api/copy", CopyModelHandler)
 	r.DELETE("/api/delete", DeleteModelHandler)
 	r.POST("/api/show", ShowModelHandler)
+	r.POST("/api/blobs/:digest", CreateBlobHandler)
+	r.HEAD("/api/blobs/:digest", HeadBlobHandler)
 
 	for _, method := range []string{http.MethodGet, http.MethodHead} {
 		r.Handle(method, "/", func(c *gin.Context) {