# How to connect VLM Run to Hermes Agent (paste one key, 11 tools)

> Connect VLM Run to Hermes with ClawLink: paste your VLM Run key once and 11 tools work from chat. No MCP server to run, nothing stored on your machine.

Web version: https://claw-link.dev/hermes/vlm-run

Most guides for giving Hermes Agent VLM Run access start with registering your own OAuth app or pasting API keys into env files, then leave the token refresh and tool wiring to you. ClawLink gives Hermes a more practical VLM Run setup: pair once in the browser and your always-on Hermes agent can act on VLM Run for you, reading and doing real work on your behalf with no auth, token refresh, or tool wiring to build yourself.

## Setup

It takes three steps to connect Hermes to VLM Run.

1. **Install ClawLink** — add the plugin to Hermes Agent once.
2. **Connect VLM Run** — one-click OAuth in the ClawLink dashboard.
3. **Use it from chat** — ask Hermes Agent in plain English.

**Paste this into Hermes to set up ClawLink:**

> Set up ClawLink for Hermes and tell me when it's ready.
> 1. Install the plugin: `hermes plugins install ClawLink-HQ/hermes-plugin --enable`
> 2. Start pairing with `hermes clawlink begin`. It prints an approval link, so show me the link and stop, don't wait.
> 3. I'll approve it in my browser, then reply "approved".
> 4. When I say approved, finish setup: `hermes clawlink finish`
> 5. Then run `hermes clawlink test` and tell me whether ClawLink is ready.

**Alternative for any agent (no plugin needed):** if the Hermes Agent plugin route isn't available or doesn't work, any AI agent with shell access can use the ClawLink CLI instead:

```bash
npx -y @useclawlink/cli login          # sign in via browser — no API key to paste
npx -y @useclawlink/cli connect vlm-run  # connect VLM Run (browser OAuth)
npx -y @useclawlink/cli actions vlm-run  # list available actions
npx -y @useclawlink/cli run vlm-run <action> --input '<json>'  # execute (add --confirm for writes)
```

### Install by command

The prompt above walks Hermes through this. By hand, it is four commands and a browser approval:

```bash
hermes plugins install ClawLink-HQ/hermes-plugin --enable
hermes clawlink begin    # prints an approval link — open it and approve
hermes clawlink finish   # after approving in the browser
hermes clawlink test
```

Then connect VLM Run in the [ClawLink dashboard](https://claw-link.dev/dashboard) — paste your VLM Run API key once.

Verify the connection by asking Hermes:

> Use VLM Run to discover extraction schemas and walk me through the result in plain English.

### Using a different agent?

The Hermes plugin is one client of ClawLink's MCP server. Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or any agent that can run a shell command pairs with the same ClawLink account through the CLI:

```bash
npx -y @useclawlink/cli login
```

`login` opens the same browser approval and stores a credential locally. Once VLM Run is connected in the dashboard, that agent calls the same 11 VLM Run tools over MCP. Full setup for MCP clients and shell agents: [connect apps to any AI agent](https://claw-link.dev/learn/connect-apps-to-any-ai-agent).

## VLM Run MCP for Hermes

Looking for a VLM Run MCP server for Hermes Agent? ClawLink connects VLM Run to Hermes Agent and exposes 11 VLM Run tools your agent can call over [MCP](https://claw-link.dev/learn/what-is-an-mcp-server), with [hosted auth](https://claw-link.dev/learn/oauth-for-ai-agents) and nothing to run or maintain yourself. Using OpenClaw instead? The [OpenClaw VLM Run integration](https://claw-link.dev/openclaw/vlm-run) works the same way.

## What the Hermes Agent VLM Run integration can do

11 VLM Run tools are ready for Hermes Agent once the account is connected.

### All 11 VLM Run tools for Hermes

| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Discover extraction schemas** `vlm_run_discover_extraction_schemas` | List supported structured-extraction domains, or return the full JSON schema for one domain |
| **Find files** `vlm_run_find_files` | List uploaded files or find one by file ID or MD5 hash |
| **Find skills** `vlm_run_find_skills` | List VLM Run skills or find one exact skill by ID, name, and optional version |
| **Get run** `vlm_run_get_run` | Get the current status and result of one structured-extraction prediction or agent execution |
| **List agents** `vlm_run_list_agents` | Return agents available to the connected account for selection before execution |
| **List artifacts** `vlm_run_list_artifacts` | List artifact metadata belonging to exactly one chat session or agent execution |
| **List runs** `vlm_run_list_runs` | List structured-extraction predictions or agent executions for the connected account |
| **Create skill** `vlm_run_create_skill` | Create a reusable skill from exactly one uploaded zip, prompt, or chat session |
| **Execute agent** `vlm_run_execute_agent` | Start a VLM Run agent execution from an existing agent name or inline configuration over |
| **Extract structured json** `vlm_run_extract_structured_json` | Start structured JSON extraction from images, a document, a video, or audio using a domain |
| **Upload file** `vlm_run_upload_file` | Upload a local file to VLM Run for extraction, agent input, or skill creation |

## Example prompts

**Discover Extraction Schemas**

> Use VLM Run to discover extraction schemas and walk me through the result in plain English.

**Find Files**

> Use VLM Run to find files and walk me through the result in plain English.

**Find Skills**

> Use VLM Run to find skills and walk me through the result in plain English.

**Get Run**

> Pull the relevant data from VLM Run, summarize it in plain English, and point out anything that needs attention.

## ClawLink vs. building it yourself

The alternative to ClawLink is usually manual API key setup plus your own token handling, permission troubleshooting, and tool plumbing for Hermes Agent. That is fine if you want to build and maintain the integration yourself. Most teams just want VLM Run working from chat.

| | Manual | ClawLink |
|---|---|---|
| **Credential handling** | Collect, validate, store, and rotate the VLM Run API key yourself, then make sure every tool call uses the right account. | Users complete the hosted ClawLink setup once and the connected VLM Run account becomes available to the agent without you building credential management. |
| **Ongoing maintenance** | You own refresh logic, permission debugging, environment config, and every provider-specific edge case for VLM Run. | ClawLink handles the repetitive integration plumbing so your team can focus on the workflow instead of the infrastructure. |
| **Agent usability** | You still need to expose the right VLM Run actions to the runtime in a format your agent can reliably use. | 11 tools for VLM Run are already exposed through ClawLink, so the agent can read and act from chat immediately. |

## ClawLink vs. Composio

Composio also exposes VLM Run to AI agents. It is developer infrastructure: Python and TypeScript SDKs, an MCP server, and a catalog past 1,000 apps, aimed at teams shipping agent products. ClawLink is built for Hermes Agent users instead. You install the plugin once, connect VLM Run in the browser, and the 11 tools above work from chat. There is no SDK and no config file, and the VLM Run key you paste at setup is stored server-side rather than kept in your environment. Choosing between them? Read the full [Composio alternatives](https://claw-link.dev/hub/composio-alternatives) comparison.

### Hermes paired but still can't use VLM Run
Pairing is a two-step handshake: run `hermes clawlink begin`, approve the link in your browser, then run `hermes clawlink finish`. If you ran finish before approving, or the approval link expired, run `hermes clawlink begin` again to get a fresh link. Confirm the plugin was installed with `--enable`, then verify with `hermes clawlink test`.

### Connection succeeds but no tools appear
Reconnect VLM Run from the dashboard, then start a fresh chat if the runtime still has the old tool catalog loaded.

### "Tool schema not loaded yet" error when calling VLM Run tools
VLM Run tool schemas load on demand the first time a tool runs and are cached after that, so this error usually clears on its own: wait a few seconds and retry the same request. If every VLM Run call keeps failing with it in a fresh chat, reconnect from the dashboard, and contact support if it still persists — that pattern points to a configuration problem on our side, not something you can fix by reconnecting again.

### VLM Run returns 403 or "permission denied" on one action while others work
Two usual causes. The connected account may not have access to the specific workspace, inbox, store, or project in the request — check that first. If access looks right, the agent may have sent a placeholder value (like "YOUR_ID" or an example id from documentation) instead of a real one: ask it to run a list or search tool first, then retry the action with a real id from those results. Most failures at this stage are one of these two, not ClawLink bugs.

### API key setup works but results look incomplete
Double-check that the API key for VLM Run has the right scopes or account access. A valid key can still be too limited for some reads or writes.

### Is there a Hermes Agent VLM Run integration?
Yes. ClawLink is the fastest way to connect Hermes to VLM Run: link your VLM Run account once in the browser and Hermes Agent can call the VLM Run API through 11 ready-made tools — no custom code or token handling.

### How do I connect VLM Run to Hermes with ClawLink?
Install the plugin with `hermes plugins install ClawLink-HQ/hermes-plugin --enable`, then pair once: run `hermes clawlink begin`, approve the link in your browser, and run `hermes clawlink finish`. Connect VLM Run in the dashboard and Hermes can use it from the next message — no config files, and the VLM Run key you paste is stored server-side instead of in your environment.

### How long does it take to connect VLM Run to Hermes Agent?
About two minutes. Sign in, click Connect next to VLM Run in the dashboard, authenticate, and Hermes Agent can use it from the next chat message.

### Why use ClawLink instead of wiring VLM Run up myself?
The alternative to ClawLink is usually manual API key setup plus your own token handling, permission troubleshooting, and tool plumbing for Hermes Agent. That is fine if you want to build and maintain the integration yourself. Most teams just want VLM Run working from chat.

### Hermes paired but still can't use VLM Run
Pairing is a two-step handshake: run `hermes clawlink begin`, approve the link in your browser, then run `hermes clawlink finish`. If you ran finish before approving, or the approval link expired, run `hermes clawlink begin` again to get a fresh link. Confirm the plugin was installed with `--enable`, then verify with `hermes clawlink test`.

## Related

- [DataRobot](https://claw-link.dev/hermes/datarobot) — DataRobot is a machine learning platform that automates model building, deployment, and monitoring, enabling organizations to derive predictive insights from large datasets.
- [Connect Chatbotkit](https://claw-link.dev/hermes/chatbotkit) — ChatBotKit is a platform that enables developers to build and manage AI-powered chatbots, offering comprehensive APIs and SDKs for seamless integration into applications.
- [Hermes Just One API integration](https://claw-link.dev/hermes/just-one-api) — Just One API provides unified access to public social media, creator, entertainment, and ecommerce data across hundreds of metered endpoints.
