Articles on: VPS Hosting

How to Set Up Your Hermes Agent

The Hermes Agent software is already installed and ready for you to configure. This guide walks you through the initial setup so you can start chatting with your AI agent in minutes.


What You'll Need


  • Active Hermes VPS - Your VPS is running and accessible via SSH.
  • SSH Access - You can connect to your VPS as the root user or a user with sudo privileges.
  • AI Provider API Key - You will need an API key from your chosen AI provider (e.g., OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic).


If you're new to Hermes, feel free to check out this: Hermes VPS Quick Start Guide


  1. SSH into your Hermes VPS.
  2. Run the main setup wizard. This command will guide you through everything, from selecting your AI provider to configuring tools and features.


hermes setup


  1. Follow the interactive prompts. The wizard will ask you a series of questions to configure your agent. It will guide you through these key steps:


  • Choose a Setup Path: It will offer options like Quick Setup (for a fast path) or Full Setup (to configure every detail).


  • Select an AI Provider: Pick your preferred provider (e.g., OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic). The list is extensive and includes many popular options.


  • Enter Your API Key: You will need to paste the API key for your chosen provider. If you selected Nous Portal, you can use OAuth login instead of an API key.


  • Choose a Model: Pick the specific AI model you want your agent to use.


  • Configure Tools: You can enable or disable built-in tools like terminal access, file operations, and web search.


  • Connect a Messaging Platform (Optional): You can choose to connect Telegram, Discord, Slack, or WhatsApp right away, or you can skip this and test the CLI chat first.


Tip: It is recommended to get the CLI chat working first before connecting any messaging platforms. This makes troubleshooting much easier if something doesn't work.


  1. Start your first chat! Once the wizard is complete, run the hermes command to start a terminal-based chat session.


hermes


or for a more modern interface, use the TUI:


hermes --tui


  1. Test your agent by sending a message to your agent.


You have successfully set up Hermes Agent.




Need Further Assistance?


If you face any issues or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out — our support team is always ready to help!


🔧 Need help? Submit a Support Ticket
💬 Chat with us on Live Chat via our website

Updated on: 10/07/2026

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