> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ethereal.llc/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Hermes Agent

> The autonomous Hermes agent (Nous Research) via ethereal.

[Hermes Agent](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com) by Nous Research is an
autonomous terminal agent with memory, skills, and tools. ethereal plugs in as a
plain OpenAI-compatible provider: one block in the config plus a key in `.env`.

<Note>
  This guide was written by Hermes Agent itself — it runs on ethereal and built
  the tutorial by reading its own config.
</Note>

## 1. Key

Hermes keeps secrets in `~/.hermes/.env`. Add your `eth-...` there:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="macOS / Linux">
    ```bash theme={null}
    echo 'ETHEREAL_API_KEY=eth-...' >> ~/.hermes/.env
    ```

    You can always find the file path with `hermes config env-path`.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Windows (PowerShell)">
    ```powershell theme={null}
    Add-Content "$env:USERPROFILE\.hermes\.env" 'ETHEREAL_API_KEY=eth-...'
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Warning>
  The provider config references the **name** of the variable
  (`ETHEREAL_API_KEY`), not the key itself. The key lives only in `.env` — don't
  commit it.
</Warning>

## 2. Provider

Open the config with `hermes config edit` (file `~/.hermes/config.yaml`) and add
ethereal under `providers`:

```yaml theme={null}
model:
  default: claude-opus-4-8
  provider: ethereal

providers:
  ethereal:
    name: Ethereal
    api: https://api.ethereal.llc/v1
    key_env: ETHEREAL_API_KEY
    transport: openai_chat
```

Key fields:

| Field       | Value                         | Why                                         |
| ----------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| `api`       | `https://api.ethereal.llc/v1` | ethereal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint       |
| `key_env`   | `ETHEREAL_API_KEY`            | name of the `.env` variable holding the key |
| `transport` | `openai_chat`                 | request format (chat completions)           |

## 3. Default model

`model.provider` points at the provider, `model.default` at the model id. You can
also do this without editing the file by hand:

```bash theme={null}
hermes config set model.provider ethereal
hermes config set model.default claude-opus-4-8
```

Verify it all loaded:

```bash theme={null}
hermes config check
```

Start Hermes — it now routes through ethereal.

## 4. Choosing a model

<Tip>
  For everyday work, keep `claude-sonnet-4-6`, switch to `claude-opus-4-8` for
  complex tasks, and to `claude-haiku-4-5` where you need speed/low cost.
</Tip>

### Open models (cheaper)

Besides Claude, ethereal serves open models (GLM, Qwen, Kimi) — much cheaper
(`12 / 60 ₽` per Mtok). Plug them in the same way, by id:

```bash theme={null}
hermes config set model.default glm-5.2
```

Available ids: `glm-5.2`, `glm-5.1`, `kimi-k2.7`, `qwen3.6`, `qwen3.7`. The full
live list is at `GET https://api.ethereal.llc/v1/models`.

<Note>
  Charges follow the [model's rate](/en/pricing) for the actual tokens of the
  session. See your balance and breakdown in your
  [dashboard](https://ethereal.llc/dashboard).
</Note>