2.7 KiB
2.7 KiB
title, type, status, created, updated, verified_on, last_tested, confidence, tags, sources
| title | type | status | created | updated | verified_on | last_tested | confidence | tags | sources | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Update Hermes safely | runbook | active | 2026-07-22 | 2026-07-22 | 2026-07-22 | 2026-07-22 | high |
|
|
Update Hermes safely
Purpose
Update Hermes to a newer release without losing configuration, skills, or sessions.
Symptoms that match this runbook
- User wants to move to a newer Hermes version
hermes versionshows an older build than expected- Update-related errors after manual changes in the install directory
Prerequisites
- Hermes install method: git-based install at
/home/hermes/.hermes/hermes-agent - Working Python virtualenv at
/home/hermes/.hermes/hermes-agent/venv - Available disk space in Hermes install and backup paths
- No active Hermes chat/webui shell issues before starting
Procedure
1. Create a backup first
hermes backup --quick --label pre-update-$(date +%Y%m%d)
If you need a full backup instead:
hermes backup --label pre-update-$(date +%Y%m%d)
2. Check whether an update is available
hermes update --check
3. Review configuration version and backups
python3 -c "import yaml; print(yaml.safe_load(open('/home/hermes/.hermes/config.yaml')).get('_config_version'))"
ls -la ~/.hermes/config.yaml.bak*
4. Run the update with noninteractive flags
cd /home/hermes/.hermes/hermes-agent
git status --short
hermes update --yes --branch main
5. Verify the new version
hermes version
6. Restart the required Hermes pieces
hermes gateway status
hermes dashboard status
hermes gateway restart
hermes dashboard restart
7. Sanity check health
hermes gateway status
curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" http://127.0.0.1:8787/health
Verification
hermes versionshows a newer version than beforehermes gateway statusis active- WebUI
/healthreturns200 - Providers reachable with provider-health
Rollback
- Rollback Hermes config:
ls -lt ~/.hermes/config.yaml.bak*
cp ~/.hermes/config.yaml.bak.<timestamp> ~/.hermes/config.yaml
hermes gateway restart
hermes dashboard restart
- Rollback entire Hermes install requires git revert or reinstall from previous checkout
- If update warns about config migration, revert the backup and re-run manually
Notes
- Hermes version on this install: v0.19.0 (2026.7.20)
- Install directory:
/home/hermes/.hermes/hermes-agent - Update preserves venv by default unless
--force-venvis used
Last tested
2026-07-22 on debian 13, git-based Hermes install