---
title: Browser Backend
type: system
status: active
created: 2026-07-22
updated: 2026-08-02
verified_on: 2026-08-02
confidence: high
tags: [browser, camofox, automation]
sources: [live-probe, config, session-history]
---

# Browser Backend

## Purpose
Browser automation for Hermes — web search, form filling, screenshot, CDP control, authenticated scraping.

## Current Configuration (as of 2026-08-02)
- **Primary backend:** Camoufox (Firefox-based, anti-fingerprint) on CT450
- **Provider config:** `browser.cloud_provider: camofox`, `camera_provider: camofox`
- **REST API:** `localhost:9093` (profile `anthony`, sessionKey `anthony`)
- **CDP WebSocket:** `localhost:9377` (via Camoufox's Playwright bridge)
- **VNC viewer:** `https://ct460.kangaroo-eel.ts.net/vnc-camofox` (port 6080)
- **Steel Browser (CT201):** Still running but Hermes not connected — plugin disabled

## Camoufox (CT450)
- **Host:** CT450 (same host as Hermes — no network hop)
- **Deployment:** Systemd service `camofox-browser.service`
- **Engine:** Camoufox (custom Firefox build with anti-detection fingerprinting)
- **Display:** Headed via Xvfb `:99` (1600×1200×24) + fluxbox window manager
- **Auth:** Persistent profile `anthony` — authenticated into Uber Eats, LinkedIn, etc.
- **Connection:** REST API at `localhost:9093` for session management, CDP WebSocket at `localhost:9377` for browser tools
- **Last verified:** Jul 30 — `browserConnected: true`, `sessions: 1`, `tabs: 1`, active 200s on scroll/navigate

### Access
| Endpoint | URL | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| REST API | `http://localhost:9093` | Hermes browser tools (navigate, click, snapshot) |
| CDP WebSocket | `ws://localhost:9377` | Direct CDP control |
| VNC | `https://ct460.kangaroo-eel.ts.net/vnc-camofox` | Visual session viewer |
| Camoufox UI | `http://localhost:9378` | Internal management |

### Config
- `cloud_provider: camofox` in `~/.hermes/config.yaml`
- `CAMOFOX_URL=http://localhost:9093` in `~/.hermes/.env`
- `CAMOFOX_API_KEY` in `~/.hermes/.env`
- Profile: `anthony` (502913bf) — NOT `persist-anthony`

## Steel Browser (CT201) — Disabled
- **Status:** Still running on CT201, Hermes not connected since 2026-07-30
- **Plugin:** `browser-steel` at `/home/hermes/.hermes/plugins/browser-steel/` — disabled
- **CDP:** `http://100.96.244.39:9223`
- **REST API:** `http://100.96.244.39:3000`
- **UI:** `https://runtipi.kangaroo-eel.ts.net/steel`
- **See:** [[comparisons/steel-vs-camoufox]] for the full experiment story

## History
- **2026-07-22:** Camoufox primary, cua-driver bridge
- **2026-07-29:** Steel Browser deployed on CT201, became primary
- **2026-07-30:** Steel reverted — CDP issues + DeepSeek 0731 tool name validation problems. Camoufox restored as primary.
- **2026-08-02:** Camoufox confirmed working with authenticated sessions (Uber Eats report via Camofox REST API)

## Related
- [[comparisons/steel-vs-camoufox]]
- [[concepts/browser-automation]]
- [[decisions/rollback-steel-to-camofox]]
- [[runbooks/restart-browser]]