setup Beginner

Hermes Agent Setup on VPS

⏱️ ~7 minutes

Setting up Hermes Agent on a VPS (Virtual Private Server) is the cleanest and most reliable method. It provides 24/7 runtime, keeps everything separated from your local machine, and requires just four

Hermes Agent Setup on VPS

Overview

Setting up Hermes Agent on a VPS (Virtual Private Server) is the cleanest and most reliable method. It provides 24/7 runtime, keeps everything separated from your local machine, and requires just four simple steps.

Video Reference: Watch on YouTube
Duration: ~7 minutes
Difficulty: Beginner

Why VPS Setup?

Advantages

✅ 24/7 Runtime: Your agent runs continuously, even when your computer is off
✅ Clean Separation: Doesn't touch your local files or resources
✅ Simple Installation: Just four steps to get running
✅ Cost-Effective: Starting at $2-3/month
✅ Remote Access: Control from anywhere via SSH

Use Cases

  • Executive assistant role (2-4GB RAM sufficient)
  • Research automation
  • Daily briefings and reports
  • Continuous monitoring tasks
  • Multi-platform integrations (Discord, Telegram, etc.)

Prerequisites

  • VPS account (recommended: Zebra VPS)
  • SSH client (Terminal on Mac/Linux, or Termius)
  • API key from your chosen provider (MiniMax, Anthropic, DeepSeek, Gemini, etc.)

Step 1: Get a VPS

Recommended Provider: Zebra VPS

Why Zebra?

  • Extremely affordable ($2-3/month)
  • Reliable performance
  • Easy setup
  • Monthly billing (cancel anytime)

Choosing Your Plan

For Executive Assistant Role:

  • 2GB RAM: $2/month (basic tasks)
  • 4GB RAM: $3/month (recommended for most users)

For Heavy Projects (games, large-scale automation):

  • 8GB RAM: $5-7/month
  • 16GB RAM: $10-15/month

How to Select:

  1. Go to Zebra VPS website
  2. Click "Create New Project"
  3. Scroll to "Standard" plans
  4. Filter by price
  5. Choose the 4GB RAM option ($3/month)

VPS Pricing Options

Step 2: Get Your VPS Credentials

After purchasing your VPS:

  1. Go to Servers in your Zebra dashboard
  2. Click on your newly created server
  3. Note down these three items:
    • IP Address
    • SSH Username (usually ubuntu)
    • SSH Password

⚠️ Important: Never share your SSH password publicly!

Server Credentials

Step 3: Connect to Your VPS

Using Termius (Recommended)

Why Termius?

  • User-friendly interface
  • Built-in SFTP for file management
  • Visual access to all server files

Setup Steps:

  1. Open Termius
  2. Click "New Host"
  3. Enter your details:
    • Address: Your VPS IP address
    • Label: Any name (e.g., "Hermes VPS")
    • Username: ubuntu
    • Password: Your SSH password
  4. Click "Connect"

You're now SSH'd into your VPS!

Termius Connection

Using Terminal (Mac/Linux)

ssh ubuntu@YOUR_VPS_IP

Enter your SSH password when prompted.

Step 4: Install Hermes Agent

4.1 Run Installation Command

Copy this command from the official Hermes documentation:

curl -fsSL https://hermes-agent.newsresearch.com/install.sh | bash

Paste it into your VPS terminal and press Enter.

The installation will begin, installing all dependencies and packages.

Installation time: 2-5 minutes

4.2 Troubleshooting: Missing Dependencies

If the installation fails with "command not found" errors, your VPS might be missing Git or curl:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y git curl

Then run the installation command again.

4.3 Migration from OpenClaw (Optional)

If you see this prompt:

OpenClaw installation detected. Would you like to import from OpenClaw? (yes/no)
  • Starting from scratch: Choose no
  • Migrating from OpenClaw: Choose yes (note: some features like cron jobs may not migrate perfectly)

For this guide, we'll choose no (fresh installation).

Step 5: Configure Hermes

5.1 Choose Setup Type

How would you like to set up Hermes?
1. Quick setup
2. Full setup

Choose 1 (Quick setup) - you can customize later.

5.2 Select Provider

You'll see a list of providers. If you don't see yours immediately, select "More providers".

Example: MiniMax

  • If outside China: Select "MiniMax (Global Direct API)"
  • If in China: Select "MiniMax (China)"

5.3 Enter API Key

Paste your API key when prompted and press Enter.

5.4 Select Model

Choose your default model (e.g., MiniMax M2.7, Claude Opus, DeepSeek).

5.5 Connect Messaging Platform (Optional)

You can connect Discord, Telegram, or other platforms now, or skip and do it later.

For this guide, we'll skip and launch directly:

Launch Hermes Agent chat now? (yes/no)

Choose yes.

Hermes TUI

Step 6: Verify Installation

Test Your Agent

Once the TUI (Terminal User Interface) loads, you should see:

  • Available tools
  • Available skills
  • Chat interface

Type a simple message:

Hi! How are you?

If your agent responds, installation is complete! 🎉

Post-Installation Setup

Accessing Your Agent

To start Hermes anytime:

hermes

Setting Up Discord Integration

  1. Create a Discord bot token
  2. Run: hermes config
  3. Select "Channels" → "Configure" → "Discord"
  4. Paste your bot token
  5. Restart: hermes gateway restart

Setting Up Cron Jobs

For automated tasks:

hermes dashboard

Then configure cron jobs through the web interface.

File Management with Termius

Use Termius's SFTP feature to:

  • View all files in ~/.hermes/
  • Edit configuration files
  • Manage skills and memory
  • Upload/download files

VPS Management

Renewing Your VPS

Zebra VPS uses monthly billing. To continue service:

  1. Go to your Zebra dashboard
  2. Select your server
  3. Click "Renew"
  4. Pay the monthly fee

Canceling Service

Simply don't renew. Your VPS will expire at the end of the billing period.

Backing Up Your Agent

Regularly backup your ~/.hermes/ directory:

tar -czf hermes-backup.tar.gz ~/.hermes/

Download the backup file using Termius SFTP.

Comparison: VPS vs Local vs Mac Mini

VPS (This Guide)

Pros:

  • 24/7 availability
  • Clean separation from local machine
  • Low cost ($2-3/month)
  • Easy to manage

Cons:

  • Requires SSH knowledge
  • Monthly cost (though minimal)

Local Setup

Pros:

  • No monthly cost
  • Full control

Cons:

  • Computer must stay on
  • Uses local resources
  • Touches local files

Mac Mini

Pros:

  • Dedicated hardware
  • Always on

Cons:

  • High upfront cost ($500+)
  • Requires physical space
  • More complex setup

Troubleshooting

Can't Connect to VPS

Problem: SSH connection fails

Solutions:

  1. Verify IP address is correct
  2. Check username is ubuntu
  3. Ensure password is correct (no extra spaces)
  4. Check if VPS is running in Zebra dashboard

Installation Fails

Problem: Installation command errors out

Solutions:

  1. Run sudo apt update first
  2. Install Git and curl: sudo apt install -y git curl
  3. Try installation command again

Hermes Won't Start

Problem: hermes command not found

Solutions:

  1. Close and reopen your SSH session
  2. Run: source ~/.bashrc
  3. Verify installation completed successfully

Out of Memory Errors

Problem: Agent crashes or becomes unresponsive

Solutions:

  1. Upgrade to a higher RAM plan (4GB → 8GB)
  2. Reduce concurrent tasks
  3. Clear old logs and memory files

Next Steps

After successful installation:

  1. Set Up Dashboard: Run hermes dashboard for web interface
  2. Configure Integrations: Add Discord, Telegram, or Slack
  3. Create Skills: Build custom skills for your workflow
  4. Set Up Cron Jobs: Automate daily tasks
  5. Customize Personality: Edit config to match your preferences

Related Resources

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

  1. Check VPS provider documentation
  2. Ask your Hermes Agent for help (once running)
  3. Join the community Discord
  4. Review Hermes official documentation

Last Updated: 2026-05-06

Tags

setup openclaw hermes telegram discord
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