Files
hermes-agent/website/docs/user-guide/docker.md
Teknium 7e0c2c3ce3 docs: comprehensive documentation audit — fix 9 HIGH, 20+ MEDIUM gaps (#4087)
Reference docs fixes:
- cli-commands.md: remove non-existent --provider alibaba, add hermes
  profile/completion/plugins/mcp to top-level table, add --profile/-p
  global flag, add --source chat option
- slash-commands.md: add /yolo and /commands, fix /q alias conflict
  (resolves to /queue not /quit), add missing aliases (/bg, /set-home,
  /reload_mcp, /gateway)
- toolsets-reference.md: fix hermes-api-server (not same as hermes-cli,
  omits clarify/send_message/text_to_speech)
- profile-commands.md: fix show name required not optional, --clone-from
  not --from, add --remove/--name to alias, fix alias path, fix export/
  import arg types, remove non-existent fish completion
- tools-reference.md: add EXA_API_KEY to web tools requires_env
- mcp-config-reference.md: add auth key for OAuth, tool name sanitization
- environment-variables.md: add EXA_API_KEY, update provider values
- plugins.md: remove non-existent ctx.register_command(), add
  ctx.inject_message()

Feature docs additions:
- security.md: add /yolo mode, approval modes (manual/smart/off),
  configurable timeout, expanded dangerous patterns table
- cron.md: add wrap_response config, [SILENT] suppression
- mcp.md: add dynamic tool discovery, MCP sampling support
- cli.md: add Ctrl+Z suspend, busy_input_mode, tool_preview_length
- docker.md: add skills/credential file mounting

Messaging platform docs:
- telegram.md: add webhook mode, DoH fallback IPs
- slack.md: add multi-workspace OAuth support
- discord.md: add DISCORD_IGNORE_NO_MENTION
- matrix.md: add MSC3245 native voice messages
- feishu.md: expand from 129 to 365 lines (encrypt key, verification
  token, group policy, card actions, media, rate limiting, markdown,
  troubleshooting)
- wecom.md: expand from 86 to 264 lines (per-group allowlists, media,
  AES decryption, stream replies, reconnection, troubleshooting)

Configuration docs:
- quickstart.md: add DeepSeek, Copilot, Copilot ACP providers
- configuration.md: add DeepSeek provider, Exa web backend, terminal
  env_passthrough/images, browser.command_timeout, compression params,
  discord config, security/tirith config, timezone, auxiliary models

21 files changed, ~1000 lines added
2026-03-30 17:15:21 -07:00

2.3 KiB

Hermes Agent — Docker

Want to run Hermes Agent, but without installing packages on your host? This'll sort you out.

This will let you run the agent in a container, with the most relevant modes outlined below.

The container stores all user data (config, API keys, sessions, skills, memories) in a single directory mounted from the host at /opt/data. The image itself is stateless and can be upgraded by pulling a new version without losing any configuration.

Quick start

If this is your first time running Hermes Agent, create a data directory on the host and start the container interactively to run the setup wizard:

mkdir -p ~/.hermes
docker run -it --rm \
  -v ~/.hermes:/opt/data \
  nousresearch/hermes-agent

This drops you into the setup wizard, which will prompt you for your API keys and write them to ~/.hermes/.env. You only need to do this once. It is highly recommended to set up a chat system for the gateway to work with at this point.

Running in gateway mode

Once configured, run the container in the background as a persistent gateway (Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, etc.):

docker run -d \
  --name hermes \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -v ~/.hermes:/opt/data \
  nousresearch/hermes-agent gateway run

Running interactively (CLI chat)

To open an interactive chat session against a running data directory:

docker run -it --rm \
  -v ~/.hermes:/opt/data \
  nousresearch/hermes-agent

Upgrading

Pull the latest image and recreate the container. Your data directory is untouched.

docker pull nousresearch/hermes-agent:latest
docker rm -f hermes
docker run -d \
  --name hermes \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -v ~/.hermes:/opt/data \
  nousresearch/hermes-agent

Skills and credential files

When using Docker as the execution environment (not the methods above, but when the agent runs commands inside a Docker sandbox), Hermes automatically bind-mounts the skills directory (~/.hermes/skills/) and any credential files declared by skills into the container as read-only volumes. This means skill scripts, templates, and references are available inside the sandbox without manual configuration.

The same syncing happens for SSH and Modal backends — skills and credential files are uploaded via rsync or the Modal mount API before each command.