Verdict
This is the workhorse setup. Intel NUC 13 (or any equivalent 32 GB i7 mini PC) running full Hermes Agent including browser automation is what most pocket AI deployments should look like in 2026. Comfortable RAM, fast NVMe, x86 means anything Linux runs.
Setup notes
Debian 12 minimal install. Docker + docker-compose. Caddy reverse proxy with Let's Encrypt for HTTPS. Tailscale for dashboard access — never expose port 8765 publicly. Configure Hermes credential vault to use the OS keyring.
Performance
Idle: 8W. Sustained agent load: 25-40W. Browser-tool launch: ~3s. Local Mistral 7B Q4 fallback fits comfortably alongside the agent runtime.
What breaks
- 70B+ local LLM (RAM ceiling)
- Apple Silicon optimised tooling
Want to know more
See the full Hermes Agent review and the Intel NUC 13 / Mini PC buyer's notes.