How to Deploy Hermes Agent on a VPS (No Docker, Pre-Installed Image)

Short version: To deploy Hermes Agent on a VPS the fast way, log in to the OMC Cloud console, click Create New App, choose a data center, select the Hermes image and a version, pick your CPU, RAM and storage, set a password and deploy. The image is pre-installed, so there is no Docker, reverse proxy or SSL to set up. The whole process takes about two minutes.

How to deploy Hermes Agent on a VPS (the short answer)

Most tutorials for Hermes Agent hand you a wall of Docker commands, a one-line install script and a reverse-proxy config. On OMC Cloud you skip all of it, because the Hermes image is already built. You register, create an app from the Hermes image, choose a data center and a version, set how much CPU, RAM and disk you want, and click deploy. The server boots with the agent installed and waiting for a model and a chat channel.

What you need before you start

There are only two things: an OMC Cloud account (free to open at console.omc.cloud) and a rough idea of how you will run the model. You can run the local model that ships with the image through Ollama at no per-token cost, or paste in an API key from Nous Portal, OpenRouter or any OpenAI-compatible provider. You do not need Docker knowledge, a domain or an SSL certificate.

How to deploy Hermes Agent on OMC Cloud, step by step

Step 1 — Log in to the console.
Go to console.omc.cloud and sign in, or register for a free account if you do not have one yet. Everything below happens in this one dashboard.

Step 2 — Click Create New App and choose a data center.
Open Create New App and pick the zone and data center closest to your users. OMC has locations across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

Step 2: pick a data center in Create New App.

Step 3 — Select the Hermes image and a version.
Scroll down to Choose App, click Hermes, then pick a version under Choose Version (for example hermes_v2026.5.7 on Ubuntu Server 26.04). This is the pre-installed image, so you are not installing anything by hand.

Step 3: select Hermes and choose a version (Ubuntu Server 26.04 or 24.04).

Step 4 — Choose CPU, RAM and storage.
Under Choose Server Specs, a solid starting point is Type B, 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM and a 50 GB SSD. Turn on Daily Backup if you want an off-site copy. You can resize any of these later with no downtime.

Step 4: Type B, 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 50 GB SSD.

Step 5 — Set a password and deploy.
Set and confirm a root password, give the server a name, choose monthly or hourly billing, and click Create Server. In a few seconds your Hermes server is live. In this example, Type B with 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM and a 50 GB SSD prices at about $43 per month.

Step 5: set a password, name the server, then Create Server (about $43/month).

That is the whole deployment. What is left is pointing Hermes at a model and connecting it to a chat channel, which we cover next.

The fast way vs the hard way

The hard way (other VPS providers): create a non-root user, install Docker and Docker Compose, pull the Hermes container, set environment variables, configure a reverse proxy, request an SSL certificate and keep it all updated. This is the path most tutorials describe, and it usually takes the better part of an hour.
The OMC way: pick the pre-installed Hermes image, choose a size, and deploy. No Docker, no proxy, no certificates. Setup takes minutes and there is nothing to wire up by hand.

After deployment: connect a model and a channel

Run the built-in local model. The image ships with a local model through Ollama, so the agent works out of the box and nothing leaves your server. This is the most private option and has no per-token cost. Local models lean on hardware, so give them more RAM, or run them on an OMC GPU instance for real speed.
Bring your own API key. Prefer a frontier model? Paste a key from Nous Portal, OpenRouter or any OpenAI-compatible provider and Hermes will use it. This runs comfortably on a small VPS because the heavy work happens at the provider.
Connect a channel. Hermes talks to Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack, Discord, Signal, email and the command line, all sharing one memory. Add a Telegram bot token or your channel of choice and the agent is reachable from your phone.

What size VPS do you need for Hermes Agent?

With an external API key, Hermes is light: 1 vCPU and 2 GB of RAM plus about 10 GB of storage is enough to start. Turn on browser automation, the web dashboard or several chat channels at once and you will want 2 vCPU and 4 GB of RAM or more. Planning to run a local model on the server itself? Size up the memory or choose a GPU instance. OMC lets you start small and scale with no downtime, so you are not guessing on day one.

Why deploy Hermes Agent on OMC Cloud?

OMC is a leading Israeli cloud provider running enterprise-grade data centers on all-NVMe storage, with a 99.99% uptime SLA and a real 24/7 support team you reach by phone, email or a ticket in the console. Choose fixed monthly pricing or pay-as-you-go, deploy in seconds, and manage your Hermes server, and everything else, from one console. Need serious horsepower for a local model? GPU instances are a click away.

Ready to deploy?

Create your VPS on OMC Cloud with Hermes Agent pre-installed and have your agent running 24/7 in minutes, on a built-in local model or your own API key.

Frequently asked questions

How do I deploy Hermes Agent on a VPS?
Log in to the OMC Cloud console, click Create New App, choose a data center, select the Hermes image and a version, set your CPU, RAM and storage, add a password, and click Create Server. The image is pre-installed, so there is no Docker or manual setup.

Do I need Docker to run Hermes Agent on OMC?
No. The pre-installed image handles setup for you, so there is no manual Docker, reverse proxy or SSL to configure.

How much CPU and RAM does Hermes Agent need?
1 to 2 vCPU and 2 to 4 GB of RAM covers most setups. Use 2 GB with an external API, and 4 GB or more for local models, browser automation or several channels.

Can I run Hermes Agent without paying for an LLM API?
Yes. The image includes a local model through Ollama, so you can run the agent entirely on your own server with no per-token fees. You can switch to an API key anytime.

How long does deployment take?
About two minutes. Because the image is pre-installed, the server boots with Hermes ready, and you only need to add a model and a chat channel.

Is my data private?
Yes. Everything runs on your OMC VPS. Your prompts, files and the agent's memory never leave your server.