Hermes Workspace V2 Setup Guide (Step By Step)

Hermes Workspace v2 setup takes 10-15 minutes — this is the step-by-step.

By the end of this post:

Hermes Workspace v2 installed.
Connected to your Hermes agent.
Models configured.
First chat working.

Prerequisites

Three things first.

1 — Hermes installed

If you don't have Hermes, follow How To Setup Hermes Agent first.

2 — Decide local or Docker

Local = simpler.

Docker = siloed but more setup.

Most users go local.

3 — Pick your model setup

Cloud (Claude, GPT) = easy.

Local Ollama = free + private.

Either works.

Step 1 — Open Hermes

Use your existing Hermes setup.

Either CLI or whatever interface you have it in.

Step 2 — Ask Hermes To Install Workspace

In Hermes chat, say:

"Can you set up Hermes Workspace?"

Hermes will guide you through.

You'll get options for Local (B) or Docker (A).

Pick B for simplicity.

Step 3 — Run The Install

Hermes runs the install command in terminal.

Takes ~2-5 minutes.

If it fails, ask Claude Code or Hermes to debug.

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Step 4 — Open The Local URL

Once installed, Workspace runs on local host.

Open in browser.

You should see the Workspace UI.

Step 5 — Connect To Hermes Gateway

If Workspace says "not connected" or "connection error":

Make sure Hermes gateway is running.
Configure Workspace to point at your Hermes setup.

Hermes can help with this if asked.

Step 6 — Configure A Model

Workspace needs a model to work.

In settings:

Add a provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Ollama local, etc.).
Paste your API key (or local URL for Ollama).
Save.

Common pick: cloud free tier or local Ollama with Hermes Gemma 4.

Step 7 — Send A Test Message

In the chat panel:

Type "hello, are you working?"
Hit send.
You should get a reply.

If you do — you're set up.

Step 8 — Configure Skills

Workspace has 2,000+ skills available.

Don't enable all of them.

Start with these essentials:

Web search.
Browser automation.
Memory.
File operations.

Add more as you find specific needs.

Step 9 — Set Up Your First Profile

If you want to run multiple agents (now or later), create a profile.

Profiles let you have:

Different system prompts per agent.
Different model assignments per agent.
Different skill sets per agent.

Configure a "default" profile to start.

Add specialised profiles later (e.g. "Researcher", "Writer", "Customer Ops").

Step 10 — Optional: Mobile Access

Workspace is a progressive web app.

Install on iPhone or Android via your browser:

Visit Workspace URL on phone.
Add to home screen.
Use like a native app.

For external access (when away from home Wi-Fi), set up VPN or tunnel.

Common Setup Issues

1. Install fails mid-way.

Use Claude Code or Hermes to debug.

Both communicate with Workspace well.

2. "Connection error" after install.

Hermes gateway isn't running.

Start Hermes first, then Workspace.

3. Model not responding.

Check API key is valid.

Confirm model is loaded.

4. Skills not appearing.

Restart Workspace after adding skills.

What To Do After Setup

Three steps.

1 — Test with a real task

Send a real prompt to your agent.

Check the output quality.

2 — Add a second profile

Specialise — e.g. one for content, one for research.

3 — Set up Hermes Swarm (optional)

Multi-agent workflow on top of Workspace.

See Hermes Swarm for setup.

Atomic Chat For Local Models

Hermes Workspace supports Atomic Chat — a way to run local models.

Useful if you want:

Free local AI.
Privacy.
No API costs.

Configuration is similar to Ollama (covered in Ollama Hermes).

Setup Time Reality

Honest estimate.

Install: 5-10 minutes.
First model config: 5 minutes.
First chat test: 1 minute.
Total: 15-20 minutes for a working setup.

Add 30+ minutes if you're new to terminal/config files.

What Setup Doesn't Include

You set up Workspace.

You don't set up:

Hermes itself (do that first).
Specific skills (add after install).
Multi-agent profiles (configure after setup).
Phone access (configure after).

Each is incremental.

Daily Reality After Setup

What it looks like:

Open Hermes Workspace in browser.
Pick a profile.
Chat with your agent.
Toggle skills as needed.
Manage Kanban tasks.

Used to need terminal commands.

Now lives in a clean UI.

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FAQ — Hermes Workspace V2 Setup

How long does setup take?

15-20 minutes for a working install.

Do I need to know coding?

No — Hermes can install Workspace via chat.

What if install fails?

Ask Hermes or Claude Code to debug.

Will my old Hermes setup still work?

Yes — Workspace is a UI on top, doesn't replace Hermes.

Can I install on multiple machines?

Yes — install once per machine.

Will it work on Linux?

Yes — Workspace runs on Mac, Windows, Linux.

How much disk space does it need?

A few hundred MB plus model storage.