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+---
+name: hermes-api-server-setup
+description: "Set up Hermes Agent built-in OpenAI-compatible API server on a custom port with external access. Includes the critical extra nesting pitfall."
+version: 1.0
+category: devops
+---
+
+# Hermes API Server Setup
+
+Hermes has a built-in OpenAI-compatible API server (`gateway/platforms/api_server.py`) that exposes endpoints like `/v1/chat/completions`, `/v1/responses`, `/v1/models`, `/health`, etc. Any OpenAI-compatible frontend (Open WebUI, LobeChat, LibreChat, ChatBox, etc.) can connect.
+
+## Critical Pitfall - extra Nesting
+
+**Host, port, key, cors_origins MUST be nested under `extra:` in config.yaml.** If placed directly under the platform name, `PlatformConfig.from_dict()` silently ignores them (it only reads `enabled`, `token`, `api_key`, `home_channel`, `reply_to_mode`, `extra`).
+
+WRONG - binds to 127.0.0.1 only (silently ignores host/port):
+```yaml
+platforms:
+  api_server:
+    enabled: true
+    host: "0.0.0.0"
+    port: 8642
+    key: "my-secret"
+```
+
+CORRECT - binds to 0.0.0.0:
+```yaml
+platforms:
+  api_server:
+    enabled: true
+    extra:
+      host: "0.0.0.0"
+      port: 8642
+      key: "my-secret"
+      cors_origins:
+        - "*"
+```
+
+## Defaults
+
+- `DEFAULT_HOST`: `127.0.0.1` (localhost only - NOT externally accessible)
+- `DEFAULT_PORT`: `8642`
+
+## Setup Steps
+
+1. Add the `platforms:` block at the TOP LEVEL of `~/.hermes/config.yaml` (not nested under `display:` or `agent:`).
+
+2. Ensure host is `0.0.0.0` for external access, set a `key` for API auth, and `cors_origins: ["*"]` for browser clients.
+
+3. Restart the gateway:
+   ```bash
+   systemctl --user restart hermes-gateway.service
+   ```
+
+4. Verify:
+   ```bash
+   # Check port is listening on 0.0.0.0
+   ss -tlnp | grep 8642
+   # Health check
+   curl http://localhost:8642/health
+   # Model list (auth required)
+   curl http://localhost:8642/v1/models -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY"
+   ```
+
+5. If `ss` shows `127.0.0.1:8642` instead of `0.0.0.0:8642`, the `extra:` nesting is wrong - recheck step 1.
+
+## Client Connection
+
+| Field      | Value                            |
+|------------|----------------------------------|
+| Base URL   | `http://YOUR_HOST:8642/v1`       |
+| API Key    | Value of `extra.key` in config   |
+| Model ID   | `hermes-agent` (or active profile name) |
+
+## Available Endpoints
+
+- `GET  /health`                      - Health check
+- `GET  /v1/models`                   - Model list
+- `POST /v1/chat/completions`         - OpenAI Chat Completions (SSE streaming supported)
+- `POST /v1/responses`                - OpenAI Responses API (stateful)
+- `GET  /v1/responses/{id}`           - Retrieve stored response
+- `DELETE /v1/responses/{id}`         - Delete stored response
+- `POST /v1/runs`                     - Async run (returns 202 + run_id)
+- `GET  /v1/runs/{id}/events`         - SSE stream of run lifecycle events
+
+### Session Management Endpoints
+
+- `GET  /v1/sessions`                 - List sessions (query: `limit`, `offset`, `source`, `include_children`, `order_by_last_active`)
+- `DELETE /v1/sessions/{session_id}`  - Delete a session and its messages
+- `POST /v1/sessions/prune`           - Delete ended sessions older than N days (body: `older_than_days`, `source`)
+- `GET  /v1/capabilities`             - Advertises all endpoints including sessions (third-party UIs use this for discovery)
+
+Session IDs are validated (hex + underscore/dash only) to prevent path traversal. All session endpoints require the same `Authorization: Bearer KEY` as other endpoints.
+
+## Troubleshooting: API Server Unresponsive
+
+If the API server returns connection refused or times out:
+
+1. **Check if gateway service is running:**
+   ```bash
+   systemctl --user status hermes-gateway.service
+   ```
+
+2. **Check if port is listening:**
+   ```bash
+   ss -tlnp | grep 8642
+   ```
+   No output = gateway not running or API Server not started.
+
+3. **Check gateway logs for startup errors or SIGTERM:**
+   ```bash
+   cat ~/.hermes/logs/gateway.log
+   ```
+   Look for `Received SIGTERM` (systemd or user killed it) or `api_server connected` (started OK).
+
+4. **Restart gateway:**
+   ```bash
+   systemctl --user restart hermes-gateway.service
+   # or: hermes gateway start
+   ```
+
+5. **Verify after restart:**
+   ```bash
+   sleep 5 && curl -s http://localhost:8642/health
+   ```
+
+Common cause: Gateway received SIGTERM (e.g. from `hermes gateway stop`, system reboot, or OOM). The API Server is NOT a separate process — it runs inside the gateway. If the gateway dies, API Server dies with it.
+
+## Environment Variable Alternative
+
+Instead of config.yaml, you can also use env vars (checked at gateway startup):
+- `API_SERVER_ENABLED=true`
+- `API_SERVER_HOST=0.0.0.0`
+- `API_SERVER_PORT=8642`
+- `API_SERVER_KEY=my-secret`
+- `API_SERVER_CORS_ORIGINS=*`
+- `API_SERVER_MODEL_NAME=custom-name`
+
+These are read in `gateway/config.py` and take effect if `API_SERVER_ENABLED=true` OR `API_SERVER_KEY` is set.