Add Configuration Backup and Restore
TL;DR
New hermes backup and hermes import commands allow for full snapshots of agent configurations, sessions, skills, and memory, facilitating easy migration between machines.
## What changed Hermes Agent introduced two new CLI commands: hermes backup and hermes import. These commands create complete snapshots that capture agent configurations, active sessions, auto-generated skills, and the full three-layer memory store.
The update arrived after the v0.9.0 release on 13 April 2026. It targets self-hosted users who run the agent on VPS instances and need to move or duplicate setups without rebuilding from scratch.
## Why it matters Portable snapshots lower the cost of switching hosts or recovering from a failed VPS. Vibe Builders gain the ability to treat the agent as movable infrastructure rather than a machine-specific install.
The move pressures SaaS agent tools that hide state management behind subscriptions. It also bets that users will tolerate self-hosting if data can travel cleanly between machines.
## How to use it Run hermes backup from the terminal on your current VPS to produce a single snapshot file. Copy the file to the new machine and execute hermes import to restore configurations, sessions, skills, and memory.
The same actions are available in the local web dashboard started with hermes web. Both paths work on the free MIT-licensed version with no paid plan required.
## Watch for Successful zero-downtime migrations reported in GitHub issues will confirm the feature works as intended. Snapshot bloat or corrupted skill exports would break the promise. The next logical step is a selective restore command that lets users pull only memory or only skills.
Harsh’s take
For a solo Vibe Builder running real work in 2026, the backup commands remove one concrete pain point: losing weeks of learned skills and memory when a $5 VPS dies. The remaining trade-off is unchanged. You still maintain YAML files, bot tokens, and an always-on server yourself.
Backups make recovery faster but do not eliminate the operational load. They simply make it less catastrophic.
Do this now: schedule a weekly backup to an external bucket and test a full import on a second VPS before you need it.
by Harsh Desai
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