How-To Guide
Configure MiniMax as Your Hermes Provider
Configure Hermes Agent to use MiniMax models — powerful Chinese AI models with excellent reasoning capabilities.
Quick answer
Configure MiniMax for strong reasoning and coding — the M2.5 model is a capable, cost-effective option that the community runs as a primary or worker model. Set your MiniMax API key in config and select the model; some users pair it with a monthly token plan to keep coding costs predictable.
MiniMax provides powerful Chinese AI models with excellent reasoning capabilities. The M2.5 UD model is particularly strong for coding and complex tasks.
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Before you start:
- ☑Hermes Agent installed
- ☑MiniMax account and API key
Steps
- 1
Get your API key
Sign up at minimax.io and get your API key
- 2
Add to .env
Add MINIMAX_API_KEY=your_key to ~/.hermes/.env
- 3
Set the provider
In config.yaml, set model: provider: minimax
- 4
Choose a model
Set model: default: minimax-m2.5-ud (or other MiniMax model)
- 5
For China endpoint
Use MINIMAX_CN_API_KEY and MINIMAX_CN_BASE_URL for mainland China
Pro Tips
- 💡MiniMax has separate endpoints for global and China — use the right one for your location
- 💡The M2.5 UD model has strong coding capabilities
- 💡Pair with Qwen 3.5 for model variety
Troubleshooting
❌ Connection issues from outside China
✅ Use the global endpoint (minimax.io), not the China endpoint (minimaxi.com).
❌ Model not responding
✅ Check thinking guard settings. Some MiniMax configurations need explicit thinking mode handling.
FAQ
What is MiniMax good for in Hermes?
Reasoning and coding tasks. The M2.5 model is capable and cost-effective, which is why the community runs it as a primary or worker model in multi-model setups.
How do I keep MiniMax costs predictable?
Many users buy a monthly token plan rather than pure per-token billing, which caps coding spend. Configure the key, pick the model, and monitor usage.
Can I use MiniMax alongside other models?
Yes — a common pattern is MiniMax as a worker or validator with a different orchestrator model, switching per task to balance cost and capability.