> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.smew.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Hermes Quickstart

> Connect Hermes to SmewAI with the OpenAI-compatible GPT endpoint.

## SmewAI x Hermes quickstart

## Use case

This page focuses on one thing: connecting SmewAI's **OpenAI-compatible GPT endpoint** to Hermes and verifying a minimal working setup.

***

## 1. Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure:

* you already created an API key in [SmewAI Console](https://smew.ai/keys)
* you know the actual model name Hermes should call
* you can edit Hermes' `config.yaml`
* you are using the **OpenAI-compatible endpoint**

## 2. Supported models

This guide currently focuses on GPT model access. Common model names:

| Model name |
| ---------- |
| `gpt-5.5`  |
| `gpt-5.4`  |

## 3. Recommended approach: use Hermes `custom_providers`

### Step 1: Define a custom provider

```yaml theme={null} theme={null}
custom_providers:
  - name: custom-smewai
    base_url: https://smew.ai/v1
    api_key: <your-key>
    api_mode: openai_chat_completions
    models:
      - gpt-5.5
      - gpt-5.4
```

### Step 2: Point the default model to that provider

```yaml theme={null} theme={null}
model:
  default: gpt-5.5
  provider: custom-smewai
  base_url: https://smew.ai/v1
  api_key: <your-key>
  api_mode: openai_chat_completions
```

### Step 3: Disable Smart Model Routing

```yaml theme={null} theme={null}
smart_model_routing:
  enabled: false
```

## 4. Minimal working config

```yaml theme={null} theme={null}
model:
  default: gpt-5.5
  provider: custom-smewai
  base_url: https://smew.ai/v1
  api_key: <your-key>
  api_mode: openai_chat_completions

custom_providers:
  - name: custom-smewai
    base_url: https://smew.ai/v1
    api_key: <your-key>
    api_mode: openai_chat_completions
    models:
      - gpt-5.5
      - gpt-5.4

smart_model_routing:
  enabled: false
```

## 5. Success checklist

* `base_url` is `https://smew.ai/v1`
* `api_mode` is `openai_chat_completions`
* `model.provider` points to the provider name defined in `custom_providers`
* `smart_model_routing.enabled` is disabled
* Hermes can send a message and receive a valid model response

## 6. Common issues

### Why do I get a 401?

Check:

* whether the API key is valid
* whether `api_key` is set in all required places
* whether Hermes is really loading the config file you edited

### Why do I get a 404 or model not found error?

Check:

* whether the base URL is exactly `https://smew.ai/v1`
* whether the model name is actually available to your account
* whether the default model matches a GPT model Hermes supports

## 7. API verification example

```bash theme={null} theme={null}
curl -X POST "https://smew.ai/v1/chat/completions" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <your-key>" \
  -d '{"model":"gpt-5.5","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"hi"}]}'
```

If this request succeeds, Hermes troubleshooting becomes much more direct.