Hosting Hermes Agent: VPS, Docker and managed hosting in the EU
To be reachable around the clock, run scheduled jobs and answer on Telegram or WhatsApp, Hermes needs a server. Here is how much, which options exist and what to watch in production.
In short
Hermes Agent is light: 2 to 4 GB of memory and 2 CPU cores are enough for 24/7 operation, and no GPU is needed as long as the language model runs via an API. If you want to maintain it yourself, use a VPS with Docker. If you want servers and models in Germany without maintenance, use managed hosting with Mittwald, which offers a ready-made Hermes Agent container template.
What Hermes needs on the server
| Resource | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 1 GB | 2 to 4 GB |
| CPU | 1 core | 2 cores |
| Disk (data volume) | 500 MB | 2 GB or more, grows with sessions and skills |
The browser tools (Chromium) use the most memory. Without them 1 GB is enough; with them, plan at least 2 GB. The language model itself does not run on this server but at a provider such as OpenRouter, Anthropic or Mittwald AI Hosting.
Source: Hermes documentation, “Resource limits” in the Docker setup.
Five ways to host Hermes
| Option | Good for | You take care of | Where data lives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your own computer | Trying it out, single user | Everything. Only runs while the machine is on. | With you |
| Your own VPS (e.g. Hetzner, OVHcloud, Hostinger) | Technical users who maintain servers themselves | Server, updates, security, backups, Hermes updates | Depends on provider and chosen region |
| One-click app from a host | Fast start without server knowledge | Hermes configuration, models, skills | Depends on provider, check before booking |
| Mittwald managed (container template + AI Hosting) | Companies that want servers and models in Germany (EU) | Hermes configuration. Mittwald maintains server and platform. | Germany, contract directly with Mittwald |
| B.R.A.I.N. by MadeByBrain | Business owners, executives, law firms | Nothing technical. We set it up and run it, you approve. | Mittwald in Germany, the server is yours |
Our own system runs as a lab on our own server at Hetzner. Client systems run on Mittwald managed hosting so that nobody on the client side has to maintain servers.
Running Hermes with Docker
The official image is nousresearch/hermes-agent. All data (config, keys, sessions, skills, memory) lives in one directory on the host, mounted as /opt/data. You can swap the image for a new version at any time.
1. One-time setup
mkdir -p ~/.hermes
docker run -it --rm \
-v ~/.hermes:/opt/data \
nousresearch/hermes-agent setup2. Run it permanently in the background
docker run -d \
--name hermes \
--restart unless-stopped \
-v ~/.hermes:/opt/data \
-p 8642:8642 \
nousresearch/hermes-agent gateway run--restart unless-stopped brings Hermes back after a server reboot. Port 8642 is only needed for the dashboard or external tools, not for Telegram or WhatsApp.
Tip from the Hermes docs
Enter commands over SSH, not in your host’s browser console. Some browser consoles transmit characters like : or @ incorrectly, which silently breaks the docker run command.
Prefer no Docker, or your own computer? All options are in the install guide.
Production checklist
An agent on a server can run commands and is reachable via messengers. The Hermes documentation recommends these six points for production:
- 1 Set explicit allowed users (allowlist or pairing code), never allow everyone.
- 2 Run the agent’s commands inside a container (terminal.backend: docker).
- 3 Set limits for CPU, memory and disk.
- 4 Keep API keys only in ~/.hermes/.env and protect the file with chmod 600.
- 5 Never run the gateway as root.
- 6 Check the logs in ~/.hermes/logs/ and run hermes update regularly.
Hermes Agent at Mittwald in Germany
Mittwald is a German managed hosting provider. Two building blocks matter for Hermes:
“Hermes Agent” container template
In mStudio, Mittwald’s control panel, Hermes Agent is available as a ready-made template. The container runs on Mittwald infrastructure; Mittwald maintains server and platform.
Mittwald container templates (German) →Mittwald AI Hosting
Open-weight language models hosted in Germany behind an OpenAI-compatible API. Hermes connects to it like any other provider. From €9 per month plus VAT; AI Dedicated offers your own GPUs.
Mittwald AI Hosting (German) →We have no affiliate or reseller agreement with Mittwald. Prices according to mittwald.de on Oct 31, 2026.
Hosting without the work?
We set up B.R.A.I.N. for you, our AI system built on Hermes: on managed hosting with Mittwald in Germany; the server, the contract and the data belong to you.
FAQ
How much server does Hermes Agent need?
According to the Hermes documentation, 1 GB of memory, 1 CPU core and 500 MB of disk is the minimum. 2 to 4 GB and 2 cores are recommended. If you use the browser tools, plan at least 2 GB. The language model runs externally via an API, so the server needs no GPU.
Can I host Hermes Agent in the EU or in Germany?
Yes. Hermes runs on any server with Docker or Linux, including data centers in Germany. Mittwald, a German managed host, offers a ready-made Hermes Agent container template in mStudio and, with Mittwald AI Hosting, language models that run in Germany.
What does it cost to host Hermes Agent?
Hermes itself is free (MIT license). You pay for the server and the language model. A small VPS usually costs a single-digit to low double-digit euro amount per month. Mittwald AI Hosting for models in Germany starts at €9 per month plus VAT (as of Oct 31, 2026).
Do I need a GPU for Hermes?
No, not if the model runs via an API such as OpenRouter, Anthropic or Mittwald AI Hosting. You only need a GPU to run large models yourself. At Mittwald that is available via AI Dedicated with its own GPU resources.
VPS or managed hosting: what is the difference?
With a VPS you get a server and take care of the operating system, security, backups and updates yourself. With managed hosting the provider takes care of server and platform. For companies without their own IT, managed is usually the safer choice because nobody can forget to install updates.
As of Oct 31, 2026. Sources: Hermes documentation (Docker setup, production deployment), github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent, mittwald.de. Unofficial, not sponsored by Nous Research. Back to the Hermes guide