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How to Enable Web Search in Hermes Agent

A practical guide to enabling Hermes Agent web search, choosing a provider, configuring shared or split backends, verifying detection, and troubleshooting search-only and credential errors.
WorldHermes Agent Length14 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Enable Hermes Agent web search by running hermes tools, opening Web Search & Extract, choosing a provider, and entering its URL or API key. For a repeatable setup, put a backend in ~/.hermes/config.yaml. Remember that searching and extracting page content are separate capabilities: a search-only provider needs a second extraction backend.

What Hermes web search actually enables

Hermes Agent exposes two model-callable web capabilities: web_search, which returns ranked search results, and web_extract, which fetches readable content from a page. They can use one provider or two different providers. This distinction matters because several supported backends can search but cannot retrieve and parse a page for the agent.

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Web access is therefore a configuration task, not a hardware purchase. You select a backend, supply the credential or service URL it needs, and then make that backend available to the Hermes session or toolset.

Think of the two capabilities as a pipeline. Search discovers candidate URLs and returns ranking information. Extraction turns one of those URLs into text that the model can read, summarize, quote, or compare. A provider can be excellent at discovery while offering no extraction endpoint, so a successful first search does not prove that a full research workflow is configured.

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Use the interactive setup wizard (recommended)

  1. Open a shell in the environment where Hermes is installed.
  2. Run hermes tools.
  3. Select Web Search & Extract from the tool-management menu.
  4. Choose a provider from the list.
  5. When prompted, enter the provider’s API key or URL. A self-hosted service such as SearXNG requires its reachable service URL; hosted services generally require the credential requested by the wizard.
  6. Save the selection and exit the wizard.
  7. Run hermes setup to confirm which backend Hermes detects.

The wizard writes the configuration in Hermes’ expected format, reducing the chance of a typo in a backend name or YAML indentation. If you later choose a different provider, change the selection in hermes tools or edit the explicit backend setting; merely adding another environment variable does not necessarily switch traffic.

The wizard is especially useful on a first installation because it makes the capability choice visible. Read the provider description before entering a credential: a service labeled search-only will not satisfy extraction calls. If you want to combine services, configure each capability explicitly instead of expecting the shared selection to split itself.

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Configure a shared backend in YAML

For servers, containers, and reproducible deployments, edit ~/.hermes/config.yaml and add a shared web backend:

web:
  backend: "searxng"

Replace searxng with the backend identifier you selected. A shared backend is used for both search and extraction only when that provider advertises both capabilities. If it is search-only, extraction calls will fail until you assign a separate extraction backend.

Keep the YAML hierarchy exactly as shown: backend must be nested under web. After saving, start a new Hermes process and verify the detected backend with hermes setup.

A shared setting is convenient when one provider meets every requirement. It also gives operators one obvious place to review routing. Before adopting it, check the capability matrix and the provider’s authentication method. A valid key does not upgrade a search-only service into an extractor.

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Assign separate search and extraction providers

Split configuration is the reliable option when your preferred search service cannot fetch page content, or when you want different privacy, cost, or reliability characteristics for the two operations.

web:
  search_backend: "searxng"
  extract_backend: "firecrawl"

In this example, SearXNG handles result discovery and Firecrawl handles page extraction. You can substitute another extraction-capable backend. Explicit per-capability settings take priority over a shared web.backend value.

The documented extraction-capable choices are Firecrawl, Exa, Parallel, Tavily, Perplexity, and Keenable. The documented search-only choices are SearXNG, Brave Search, DDGS, xAI, and OpenAI Native. A search-only provider can remain your search backend while one of the extraction-capable providers handles web_extract.

Splitting providers can also reduce unnecessary paid usage. For example, you may use a self-hosted SearXNG endpoint for broad discovery and reserve a hosted extractor for the small number of pages the agent actually needs to read. Conversely, a single hosted provider can simplify billing and support when operational simplicity matters more than routing control.

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Provider capabilities at a glance

Backend Search Extraction Configuration signal documented by Hermes
Firecrawl Supported Supported FIRECRAWL_API_KEY or FIRECRAWL_API_URL
Exa Supported Supported EXA_API_KEY
Parallel Supported Supported PARALLEL_API_KEY
Tavily Supported Supported TAVILY_API_KEY
Perplexity Supported Supported PERPLEXITY_API_KEY
Keenable Supported Supported Keyless rotation can include it when no credentials are configured
SearXNG Supported Search-only SEARXNG_URL
Brave Search Supported Search-only BRAVE_SEARCH_API_KEY
DDGS Supported Search-only An importable ddgs package
xAI Supported Search-only Not stated in the guide’s credential list
OpenAI Native Supported Search-only Authenticated OpenAI Codex OAuth login

“Search-only” means Hermes can obtain ranked results but cannot use that same backend for readable page extraction. Capability support is the deciding factor when selecting a shared backend; if the table says extraction is unsupported, configure extract_backend separately.

Hosted services generally trade a shorter setup for an external data path and provider quotas. SearXNG is useful when you operate the endpoint yourself and want to control where queries go, but you must keep that service reachable and configured to return JSON. DDGS avoids an API key when the package is installed, while OpenAI Native depends on an authenticated Codex OAuth session. These are different operating models, not interchangeable credentials.

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How Hermes chooses a backend

Hermes resolves providers in a fixed order. Understanding that order prevents a newly added key from appearing to have no effect.

  1. Explicit per-capability settings: web.search_backend controls searching and web.extract_backend controls extraction.
  2. Shared setting: web.backend is used for both capabilities when no per-capability override exists.
  3. Environment auto-detection: when no shared selection has ever been written, Hermes looks for recognized credentials, URLs, or installed packages.

Recognized detection signals include TAVILY_API_KEY, PERPLEXITY_API_KEY, EXA_API_KEY, PARALLEL_API_KEY, FIRECRAWL_API_KEY, FIRECRAWL_API_URL, SEARXNG_URL, BRAVE_SEARCH_API_KEY, and an importable ddgs package.

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There is also a keyless rotation ring across Exa, Parallel, Firecrawl, and Keenable when no credentials are present. Treat that as a convenience fallback rather than a fixed provider guarantee: the active service can change, and provider limits or availability can change.

Once a shared backend has been saved, Hermes keeps honoring that explicit choice. Adding a new API key afterward does not reroute requests. Change or remove the explicit setting, or select a different backend in hermes tools.

For troubleshooting, inspect all three levels rather than only the environment. A per-capability entry can override a shared entry, and a shared entry can suppress auto-detection. This explains the common situation in which a newly exported key is correct but Hermes continues calling an older provider.

Provide credentials safely

Set provider credentials in the environment used by the Hermes process, or enter them through the interactive wizard. Do not paste keys into a project file that will be committed to source control. A shell session can export a key before launching Hermes:

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export TAVILY_API_KEY="your-key"
hermes setup

Use the variable that matches the provider you selected. For a self-hosted SearXNG instance, configure SEARXNG_URL with the service address instead of an API key. If you configure an explicit backend in YAML, make sure the credential or URL for that backend is available to the same user, container, or service account running Hermes.

In managed deployments, pass the variable through the process environment or secret mechanism used by that service account. A key exported in an interactive terminal is not automatically visible to a background service, another container, or a different user. Verify from the same runtime that launches Hermes, then avoid printing the full value in logs or support tickets.

Make web tools available in a chat session

Backend configuration and tool availability are separate. To start one CLI session with web search, file access, and terminal tools enabled, run:

hermes chat --toolsets web,file,terminal

The web toolset contains web_search. It is intentionally separate from the browser toolset, so enabling browser tools alone does not configure or expose Hermes’ web-search provider.

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If the backend is configured correctly but the session was launched without the web toolset, the model cannot call web_search. Conversely, enabling the toolset without a usable provider produces provider errors. Check both layers whenever a tool appears to be missing.

Verify that the selected backend works

Check detected configuration

Run:

hermes setup

Confirm that the reported backend matches the one you intended. If you are working from a Hermes source checkout, activate that checkout and run:

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python -m tools.web_tools

This prints backend status and is useful when a system installation and a source checkout might be reading different configuration or environment variables.

Test a SearXNG endpoint

For SearXNG, request JSON output directly:

http://localhost:8888/search?q=test&format=json

A successful response confirms that the service is reachable and returning the format Hermes expects. A 403 response generally means JSON output is disabled in SearXNG’s settings.yml; enable the JSON format and restart the container before testing again.

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Test both capabilities

Do not stop after a successful search. Ask Hermes to perform a search and then extract one result. If search succeeds but extraction reports that the backend is search-only, your search provider is functioning; you simply need an extraction-capable backend in web.extract_backend.

Use a small, ordinary query for the first test and one stable public URL for extraction. This separates authentication and routing problems from pages that block automated requests. Record which capability failed, the selected backend, and the status reported by Hermes before changing several settings at once.

Fix common setup failures

web_search returns success: false

  • Confirm that the backend name is spelled exactly as Hermes expects.
  • Check that the selected URL is reachable from the Hermes environment.
  • Verify that the API key belongs to the selected provider and is available to the running process.
  • Run the provider’s health check, then repeat hermes setup to confirm detection.

web_extract reports a search-only backend

Leave the search-only service assigned to web.search_backend and set web.extract_backend to Firecrawl, Tavily, Perplexity, Keenable, Exa, or Parallel. Restart the Hermes session after changing configuration.

An unexpected provider remains active

Look for an existing web.backend, web.search_backend, or web.extract_backend entry. Explicit settings override environment auto-detection. Remove or change the stale setting, then verify again with hermes setup.

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SearXNG responds with HTTP 403

Enable JSON output in SearXNG’s settings.yml, restart SearXNG, and repeat the JSON request. A 403 in this test usually reflects output-format configuration rather than a bad Hermes key.

The keyless fallback is unreliable for a workload

Choose a specific backend explicitly and provide its credential or service URL. The keyless rotation ring is useful for trying the feature, but an explicit provider gives you a stable routing decision and a clearer place to investigate limits or outages.

Search works but the agent receives unusable page text

Confirm that extraction is routed to a provider marked extraction-capable. If it is, test a second public URL to distinguish a provider problem from a page-specific block or unusual format. Keep search and extraction settings separate while diagnosing so a change to one capability does not hide the cause of the other.

The configuration appears ignored

Check that the file is ~/.hermes/config.yaml for the user actually running Hermes, then start a new process. A system service, container, or source checkout may use a different home directory and environment. Use hermes setup from that same runtime to see what Hermes is reading.

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Choose between hosted and self-hosted search

Use a hosted provider when you want the shortest setup path: select it in hermes tools, enter the requested key, and let the provider handle infrastructure. Use SearXNG when you need to point Hermes at a service you operate or control. That choice changes where queries and fetched content travel, so review the provider’s privacy and retention terms before sending sensitive prompts.

When comparing providers, evaluate five practical dimensions:

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  • Capability coverage: search only or search plus extraction.
  • Authentication: hosted API key, self-hosted URL, OAuth login, or installed package.
  • Availability and limits: whether a free or keyless mode exists and what quotas apply.
  • Data routing: which service receives search terms and page URLs.
  • Result model: whether results come from an index-backed search service or a model-generated workflow.

The Hermes guide lists these provider-plan figures, which may change and should be checked before relying on them: Firecrawl has a 500-credit-per-month free tier, Brave Search lists 2,000 free queries per month, and Exa lists 1,000 searches per month with a key. These are provider-plan allowances, not Hermes guarantees.

Free or keyless access is useful for evaluation, but quotas, rate limits, and availability are controlled by each provider. Estimate both search calls and extraction calls for your workflow; splitting providers can produce separate limits and bills. Do not treat a listed free tier as a promise that every Hermes operation is unlimited.

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OpenAI Native search configuration

Hermes documents openai-native as a search backend for users authenticated through an OpenAI Codex OAuth login. Configure it explicitly when you want that managed search path:

web:
  search_backend: "openai-native"
  extract_backend: "firecrawl"

OpenAI Native supplies search only in the documented matrix, so an extraction backend remains necessary for workflows that need page content. If the OAuth session is missing or expired, authentication—not YAML syntax—is the first thing to fix.

This option is distinct from enabling the browser toolset. The OAuth-backed backend supplies Hermes’ search capability; it does not make an extraction provider appear automatically. Keep the explicit extraction assignment whenever your task requires reading full pages.

Extend Hermes with another web backend

Hermes supports web backends supplied in three ways: bundled with Hermes, installed under ~/.hermes/plugins/web/<name>/, or exposed through a pip entry point. A plugin registers a WebSearchProvider, advertises whether it supports search, extraction, or both, and is selected through the same web.backend, web.search_backend, and web.extract_backend settings.

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When building a plugin, advertise capabilities accurately. Marking a provider as extraction-capable when it only returns links will produce failures later in an agent run. After installation, select the plugin explicitly and verify it with hermes setup or python -m tools.web_tools.

Keep plugin installation and configuration in the same runtime context. A plugin installed for one Python environment may not be visible to a system Hermes installation, and an entry point that is present but not selected will not receive traffic. Explicit backend names make rollout and rollback easier to understand.

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FAQ

Which API key does Hermes web search need?

It depends on the backend. Hermes recognizes provider-specific variables such as TAVILY_API_KEY, PERPLEXITY_API_KEY, EXA_API_KEY, PARALLEL_API_KEY, FIRECRAWL_API_KEY, and BRAVE_SEARCH_API_KEY. SearXNG uses SEARXNG_URL, DDGS uses an importable package, and OpenAI Native uses an authenticated Codex OAuth login.

Can I use SearXNG for everything?

In the documented matrix, SearXNG is search-only. Set it as web.search_backend and assign Firecrawl, Exa, Parallel, Tavily, Perplexity, or Keenable to web.extract_backend if the agent must read page content.

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Why did adding an API key not change the provider?

An explicit backend already saved in YAML or by the wizard takes precedence over environment auto-detection. Change the explicit setting, then verify with hermes setup.

How do I check which backend is active?

Run hermes setup. From a source checkout, python -m tools.web_tools prints backend status and can reveal differences between installations.

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Do I need the browser toolset for web search?

No. web_search belongs to the web/search toolsets and is intentionally separate from the browser toolset. Launch a session with hermes chat --toolsets web,file,terminal when you need the web tools.

Is there a no-key option?

Hermes documents a keyless rotation ring across Exa, Parallel, Firecrawl, and Keenable when no credentials are configured. It is a convenience fallback, not a fixed service guarantee, so use an explicit provider for predictable production behavior.

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What does a SearXNG 403 mean?

When the JSON test endpoint returns 403, JSON output is generally disabled in SearXNG’s settings.yml. Enable that format and restart the SearXNG container, then repeat the request.

How much will web search cost?

Cost depends on provider plans and how many searches and extractions your workflow performs. The documented figures include Firecrawl’s 500-credit monthly free tier, Brave Search’s 2,000 free queries per month, and Exa’s 1,000 searches per month with a key; confirm current allowances with each provider.

A repeatable operator checklist

  1. Decide whether you need search only or search plus page extraction.
  2. Run hermes tools and configure the provider, or edit ~/.hermes/config.yaml.
  3. Use per-capability settings when search and extraction come from different providers.
  4. Export the required key or service URL in the Hermes runtime environment.
  5. Run hermes setup and confirm the selected backend.
  6. Launch a session with hermes chat --toolsets web,file,terminal.
  7. Test both web_search and web_extract, not just the first search request.
  8. If behavior contradicts your new environment key, inspect and change any existing explicit backend setting.
  9. For SearXNG, verify the JSON endpoint and enable JSON output if it returns 403.
  10. Document the selected providers, credentials source, and expected quotas for the operators who will maintain the deployment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enable web search in Hermes Agent?

Run hermes tools, open Web Search & Extract, choose a provider, and enter its URL or API key. Then verify the selection with hermes setup and launch a session with the web toolset.

Can search and extraction use different providers?

Yes. Set web.search_backend and web.extract_backend separately. This is required when the search provider, such as SearXNG or Brave Search, is search-only.

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What should I do if Hermes reports a search-only backend?

Keep that provider under web.search_backend and assign Firecrawl, Exa, Parallel, Tavily, Perplexity, or Keenable to web.extract_backend, then restart the Hermes session.

Why is Hermes still using an old provider?

An explicit per-capability or shared backend setting overrides environment auto-detection. Change or remove the stale setting and confirm the result with hermes setup.

How can I test SearXNG before using it in Hermes?

Request http://localhost:8888/search?q=test&format=json. If it returns 403, enable JSON output in SearXNG’s settings.yml and restart the container.

Does Hermes web search require an API key?

Not always. SearXNG uses a service URL, DDGS uses an installed package, OpenAI Native uses Codex OAuth, and Hermes documents a keyless rotation fallback. Hosted providers commonly require their own API keys.

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The Bottom Line

Start with hermes tools, select a provider, and verify it with hermes setup. Use web.backend for one provider or explicit search and extraction settings for a split setup. Remember that tool availability, provider credentials, and extraction support are separate checks; test both web capabilities before relying on the configuration.

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