---
title: Hermes Deployment Patterns
created: '2026-05-29'
updated: '2026-05-29'
type: concept
namespace: personal
tags: [hermes, architecture, agent, eagle, kraken, infra]
sources: []
confidence: medium
related:
  - "[[tech/hermes-eagle-mac]]"
  - "[[tech/hermes-docker-kraken]]"
  - "[[tech/hermes-kraken-api]]"
  - "[[personal-os-architecture]]"
---

# Hermes Deployment Patterns

Three distinct ways Hermes runs in the Personal OS ecosystem. Each serves
a different access model and client type.

## Pattern 1: Eagle Native (Mac M4)

**Where:** Eagle Mac M4 Max, native process (not Docker)  
**Transport:** Zulip (Docker)  
**Model backend:** `claude-code-openai-wrapper` (Python) on port 8090 — uses
`claude-agent-sdk` to spawn the bundled `claude` CLI as a subprocess and
expose an OpenAI-compatible endpoint with real streaming support.  
**Previous backend:** `openclaw-claude-proxy` (Node.js) on port 3456 —
still running as fallback but streaming broken since CLI ≥ 2.1.141.  
**Autostart:** launchd (`com.openclaw.claude-proxy.plist`)

**Why native:** Mac file system access, MCP tools (obsidian-mcp), and the
cron wiki-curation job all need full host access. Docker would require
volume mounts for every integration.

**Key pitfall:** `claude-python-proxy-start.sh` must `source ~/.hermes/.env`
explicitly — launchd does not inherit login session env. Also `CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN`
expires (access tokens are short-lived); when it does both proxies return 401.
See [[claude-python-cli-proxy]] for full details and token-refresh procedure.

## Pattern 2: Kraken Docker (RPi5)

**Where:** Kraken RPi5, `docker run` (not compose)  
**Transport:** Zulip (same instance or separate)  
**Model backend:** Gemini or OpenRouter via Hermes gateway  
**Autostart:** `--restart unless-stopped` on the container

**Why docker run, not compose:** explicit restart behavior; avoids accidental
`docker compose down` wipes. Config volume: `~/.hermes` on Kraken host.

See [[tech/hermes-docker-kraken]].

## Pattern 3: Kraken API Server (OpenAI-compat)

**Where:** Kraken RPi5, same hermes-kraken container  
**Transport:** HTTPS via Cloudflare Tunnel (`kraken.qentra.top`)  
**Model backend:** Gemini / OpenRouter (same gateway)  
**Clients:** Android Aide app (BYOK → Custom Endpoint), any OpenAI SDK

**Why Cloudflare Tunnel:** no port-forwarding on home router required.
The tunnel terminates at cloudflared running with `network_mode: host`,
hitting `localhost:8642` directly.

See [[tech/hermes-kraken-api]].

## Comparison

| Dimension | Eagle Native | Kraken Docker | Kraken API |
|-----------|-------------|---------------|-----------|
| Model | claude-sonnet via Python proxy (8090) | Gemini/ORouter | Gemini/ORouter |
| Transport | Zulip | Zulip | HTTPS REST |
| Clients | Cron, MCP tools | Zulip bot clients | Mobile / OpenAI SDK |
| External access | No | No | Yes (CF Tunnel) |
| MCP/tools | Full (host access) | Docker volumes | Not applicable |
| Rate limits | Claude OAuth (proxy workaround) | API keys | API keys |

## Design Principle

Hermes deployments follow the client's access model:
- **Interactive/tool-heavy** → Eagle native (full host, MCP)
- **Always-on background** → Kraken Docker (low-power, 24/7)
- **Mobile / external** → Kraken API server (HTTPS, standard protocol)

This avoids running a single large instance with conflicting requirements.
See [[personal-os-architecture]] for the full system overview.