Bug Description

The docker image (nousresearch/hermes-agent) does not include openssh-client dependency, which is required for the SSH terminal backend documented at Hermes Agent docs.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Run Hermes in Docker with SSH backend configured in config.yaml:

terminal:
    backend: ssh

2. Attempt any command using agent's terminal tool, or running ssh in-container
3. Observe unexpected behavior: ssh not found

Expected Behavior

SSH terminal backend works as documented.

Actual Behavior

ssh: command not found

In-container:

$ apt list --installed | grep ssh

libssh-4/stable,now 0.11.2-1+deb13u1 amd64 [installed, automatic]

$ apt search openssh-client

openssh-client/stable-security 1:10.0p1-7+deb13u2 amd 64
    secure shell (SSH) client, for secure access to remote machines
...

Affected Component

Setup / Installation, Configuration (config.yaml, .env, hermes setup)

Messaging Platform (if gateway-related)

No response

Operating System

Debian 6.12.74-2 (2026-03-08)

Python Version

3.13.5

Hermes Version

0.8.0

Relevant Logs / Traceback

$ ssh

ssh: command not found

Root Cause Analysis (optional)

openssh-client does not exist in current Dockerfile, but needed by SSH backend.

Proposed Fix (optional)

Add openssh-client to the Dockerfile apt-get install line:

RUN apt-get update && \
    apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
        build-essential nodejs npm python3 python3-pip ripgrep ffmpeg gcc python3-dev libffi-dev procps openssh-client && \  # Add openssh client here
    rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*

Are you willing to submit a PR for this?

• I'd like to fix this myself and submit a PR