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docs(faq): Update docs on backups

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- update faq answer with new `backup` command in release 0.9.0
- move profile export section together with backup section so related information can be read more easily
- add table comparison between `profile export` and `backup` to assist users if understanding the nuances between both
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Allard 2026-04-25 02:23:13 +08:00 • committed by Teknium
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website/docs/reference/faq.md
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@ -614,19 +614,6 @@ No. Each profile has its own memory store, session database, and skills director
`hermes update` pulls the latest code and reinstalls dependencies **once** (not per-profile). It then syncs updated skills to all profiles automatically. You only need to run `hermes update` once — it covers every profile on the machine. `hermes update` pulls the latest code and reinstalls dependencies **once** (not per-profile). It then syncs updated skills to all profiles automatically. You only need to run `hermes update` once — it covers every profile on the machine.
### Can I move a profile to a different machine?
Yes. Export the profile to a portable archive and import it on the other machine:
```bash
# On the source machine
hermes profile export work ./work-backup.tar.gz
# Copy the file to the target machine, then:
hermes profile import ./work-backup.tar.gz work
```
The imported profile will have all config, memories, sessions, and skills from the export. You may need to update paths or re-authenticate with providers if the new machine has a different setup.
### How many profiles can I run? ### How many profiles can I run?
@ -749,24 +736,55 @@ Skills with very long descriptions are truncated to 40 characters in the Telegra
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/main/scripts/install.sh | bash curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/main/scripts/install.sh | bash
``` ```
2. Copy your entire `~/.hermes/` directory **except** the `hermes-agent` subdirectory (that's the code repo — the new install has its own): 2. On the **source machine**, create a full backup:
```bash
hermes backup
```
This creates a zip of your entire `~/.hermes/` directory — config, API keys, memories, skills, sessions, and profiles — saved to your home directory as `~/hermes-backup-<timestamp>.zip`.
3. Copy the zip to the new machine and import it:
```bash ```bash
# On the source machine # On the source machine
scp ~/hermes-backup-<timestamp>.zip newmachine:~/
# On the new machine
hermes import ~/hermes-backup-<timestamp>.zip
```
4. On the new machine, run `hermes setup` to verify API keys and provider config are working.
### Moving a single profile to another machine
**Scenario:** You want to move or share one specific profile — not your full installation.
```bash
# On the source machine
hermes profile export work ./work-backup.tar.gz
# Copy the file to the target machine, then:
hermes profile import ./work-backup.tar.gz work
```
The imported profile will have all config, memories, sessions, and skills from the export. You may need to update paths or re-authenticate with providers if the new machine has a different setup.
### `hermes backup` vs `hermes profile export`
| Feature | `hermes backup` | `hermes profile export` |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Use Case** | **Full machine migration** | **Porting/sharing a specific profile** |
| **Scope** | Global (entire `~/.hermes` directory) | Local (single profile directory) |
| **Includes** | All profiles, global config, API keys, sessions | Single profile: SOUL.md, memories, sessions, skills |
| **Credentials** | **Included** (`.env` and `auth.json`) | **Excluded** (stripped for safe sharing) |
| **Format** | `.zip` | `.tar.gz` |
**Manual fallback (rsync):** If you prefer to copy files directly, exclude the code repo:
```bash
rsync -av --exclude='hermes-agent' ~/.hermes/ newmachine:~/.hermes/ rsync -av --exclude='hermes-agent' ~/.hermes/ newmachine:~/.hermes/
``` ```
Or use profile export/import: :::tip
```bash `hermes backup` produces a consistent snapshot even while Hermes is actively running. The restored archive excludes machine-local runtime files like `gateway.pid` and `cron.pid`.
# On source machine :::
hermes profile export default ./hermes-backup.tar.gz
# On target machine
hermes profile import ./hermes-backup.tar.gz default
```
3. On the new machine, run `hermes setup` to verify API keys and provider config are working. Re-authenticate any messaging platforms (especially WhatsApp, which uses QR pairing).
The `~/.hermes/` directory contains everything: `config.yaml`, `.env`, `SOUL.md`, `memories/`, `skills/`, `state.db` (sessions), `cron/`, and any custom plugins. The code itself lives in `~/.hermes/hermes-agent/` and is installed fresh.
### Permission denied when reloading shell after install ### Permission denied when reloading shell after install