> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://opensandbox-oc-s-762ac928075c46d2828bcb22.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a Hermes Agent

> Deploy a personal AI agent on Telegram with persistent memory using the oc CLI

This guide walks through creating a managed Hermes agent on OpenComputer, connecting it to Telegram, and chatting with it. By the end you'll have a personal AI agent running Claude via OpenRouter, reachable from your phone.

## Prerequisites

* An **OpenComputer API key** from [app.opencomputer.dev](https://app.opencomputer.dev)
* The **oc CLI** installed and configured
* **Telegram** installed on your phone or desktop ([download here](https://telegram.org/apps))

### Install the CLI

Install the `oc` binary from the [CLI installation guide](/cli/overview#installation).

```bash theme={null}
oc config set api-key YOUR_API_KEY
```

***

## Step 1: Create the agent

```bash theme={null}
oc agent create my-hermes --core hermes
```

This creates the agent, provisions its environment, configures the LLM provider, and starts the Hermes gateway.

Check that the agent is running:

```bash theme={null}
oc agent get my-hermes
```

```
ID:        my-hermes
Name:      my-hermes
Core:      hermes
Channels:  -
Packages:  -
Instance:  inst_... (running)
```

Wait for the status to show `running` before proceeding. Provisioning typically takes 20–30 seconds.

***

## Step 2: Create a Telegram bot

Open [this link to BotFather](https://t.me/BotFather) in Telegram (or search for `@BotFather` in the app). Then:

1. Tap **Start** if it's your first time
2. Send `/newbot`
3. Enter a display name when prompted (e.g. "My Hermes Agent")
4. Enter a username — must end in `bot` (e.g. `my_hermes_test_bot`)
5. BotFather replies with a token like `110201543:AAHdqTcvCH1vGWJxfSeofSAs0K5PALDsaw` — copy it

***

## Step 3: Connect Telegram

```bash theme={null}
oc agent connect my-hermes telegram
```

The CLI will prompt you to paste the bot token. Alternatively, use the API directly:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://api.opencomputer.dev/v1/agents/my-hermes/channels/telegram \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{"bot_token": "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN"}'
```

This registers a webhook with Telegram, configures Hermes for webhook mode, and restarts the gateway. Verify it worked:

```bash theme={null}
oc agent get my-hermes
```

```
Channels:  telegram
```

***

## Step 4: Chat with your agent

Open Telegram, find your bot by its username, and send a message. The agent responds using Claude (via OpenRouter) with the full Hermes personality — memory, tool use, and multi-turn conversation.

If the bot suggests setting a home channel (`/sethome`), do it — this is where Hermes delivers cron job results and cross-platform messages.

***

## Shell access

You can shell into the agent's sandbox at any time:

```bash theme={null}
oc shell my-hermes
```

This opens an interactive terminal inside the agent's environment. You have full access — inspect logs, edit Hermes config, install tools, change the model, add skills. Anything you can do with Hermes locally, you can do here. See the [Hermes docs](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/) for what's possible.

***

## Cleanup

Disconnect the channel and delete the agent:

```bash theme={null}
oc agent disconnect my-hermes telegram
oc agent delete my-hermes
```

Disconnecting deregisters the Telegram webhook and removes the channel config from Hermes. Deleting the agent tears down the sandbox.

***

## What's next

* **[Install gbrain](/agents/packages/gbrain)** for persistent memory: `oc agent install my-hermes gbrain`
* **Connect Slack** instead of Telegram (planned)
* **[Create an OpenClaw Agent](/guides/create-openclaw-agent)** — same journey, different core: multi-channel gateway with plugin SDK and hot-reload config
* **Custom cores** — bring your own agent runtime with `oc shell` and the raw sandbox API
* **Hermes docs** — see the full [Hermes documentation](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/) for skills, cron jobs, voice, browser tools, and more