If you are looking to automate repetitive IT tasks that require multiple apps and advanced skills, n8n is the solution for you. n8n is a workflow automation tool that allows you to schedule tasks and migrate data between many apps, tools, platforms, and solutions that your team uses every day.
In this guide, we will decode what n8n VPS is, its installation process, and why many people choose it over similar AI automation tools.
Table Of Content
What is n8n?
n8n an automation tool, allows you to create custom workflows. You can call it a digital assistant. It handles repetitive tasks by scheduling them. It is different from other automation tools, as it has a variety of self-hosting options. It enables more flexibility and avoids vendor lock-in. As a no-code/low-code tool, n8n enables people with no coding backgrounds to build robust automated pipelines without writing a single line of code.
Key Features of n8n
Here is the rich set of features that streamline integration and workflow management:
- Visual Workflow Editor: Visualize, construct, and configure complex automations with the drag-and-drop designer. You can edit nodes, establish conditional logics, and observe the execution flow in real time directly within the editor.
- 300+ Integrations: n8n can be smoothly integrated with over 300 applications. It covers GitHub, Google Sheets, Slack, MySQL, AWS, Discord, and many other tools.
- Self-Hosting Support: Build n8n on your infrastructure with Docker, Docker Compose, or on bare-metal servers. It provides complete control of data, security, and scaling, and can be custom-configured to meet the needs of the organization.
- Native JavaScript: Support Fine-tuning with the built-in Function and Function Item nodes, adding your own JavaScript code directly into your workflows. This enables you to manipulate data, apply business logic, or integrate with APIs in a way that goes beyond traditional integrations.
How to Install n8n?
You need to install the n8n dependencies on your VPS hosting. Start by connecting to your VPS via SSH or a web-based console.
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -yExecuting the above command ensures your system has the latest security patches and software versions before proceeding.
After installing dependencies, you can directly install n8n in a Node.js environment.
Install curl and the Node.js setup script:
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash –Install Node.js and npm:
sudo apt-get install -y nodejsVerify the installations:
node -v
npm –vNow, decide on the container on which you want to run n8n.
Containerized installation
Install Docker first if you want to run n8n on it.
Install required dependencies:
sudo apt-get install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-commonIntegrate Docker’s official GPG key:
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpgInstall Docker and the Docker repository:
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.ioVerify your Docker installation:
docker –versionSet up n8n
After installing dependencies, you set up n8n.
If Node. Js is pre-installed, use npm to install n8n.
npm install -g n8nInside the n8n screen session, run the following command:
Start n8n. It is a screen session.
screen -S n8nn8nCTRL+A then D will detach you from the screen session. To re-attach to n8n, run:
screen -R n8nN8n runs by default on port 5678. Now you can access it at:
http://your-server-ip:5678You may receive a secure cookie error at this point. In a later step, we will discuss how to create an SSL certificate.
By default, data inside a Docker container is not persistent. To ensure your workflows and settings are saved, run n8n with a mounted volume:
docker run -d --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n --restart always n8nio/n8nThis links your local ~/.n8n directory to the data directory of n8n within the container.
Due to insufficient permissions, containers may fail to start. You need to execute the following command to obtain relevant permissions.
sudo chown -R 1000:1000 ~/.n8nsudo chmod -R 755 ~/.n8nThen start the container:
docker start n8nBenefits of n8n
1. Flexibility and Customization
Users receive adequate flexibility and customization options. In this, you get the speed of no-code with the flexibility of code. It allows you to build custom extensions and add JavaScript snippets directly into workflows when required.
2. Self-Hosting & Data Control
You can either choose our n8n web hosting infrastructure or host on your own. Both provide complete data control, privacy, and deployment, unlike many cloud-based alternatives.
3. Cost-Effective
There are no licensing fees involved in n8n. It is an open-source tool, and self-hosting is cheaper than subscription-based services. Especially the automation needs scale.
4. User-Friendly Visual Interface
Our AI website builder is easier to use, thanks to its intuitive visual features and enhanced usability. The tool eases the construction of complex workflows. It allows automation even without a lot of coding.
5. Supportive and Proactive Community
It possesses a very dynamic community which participates in documentation, templates, plugins and shared workflows. It searches for help and best practices more easily.
6. Error Handling and Debugging
n8n has powerful debugging features, enabling you to view the raw JSON data passing through your workflow to troubleshoot intuitively at any point along the process.
Finally, n8n is relatively easy to deploy to your VPS as long as the proper dependencies can be established. It can be set up using Node.js or deployed on a Docker container, but in any case, you have control over all of your processes and data. You can use your own automation server and begin adding apps, services, and your own logic in a few commands.
Hosting n8n yourself is not only more flexible, affordable, and secure than a third-party, but it also provides the option to tailor workflows to your own business requirements. N8n enables you to operate with the speed of no-code, yet the power of code, all in a secure, self-managed setting, whether it’s automating a simple task or creating a complex data pipeline. At this point, you are now prepared to unleash the full potential of automation at your level.
FAQs
1. How to install n8n using npm?
To install n8n globally, run npm install n8n -g in your terminal after ensuring you have Node.js and npm installed.
2. How to install n8n in Windows?
Installing n8n on Windows can be done by either using npm after installing Node.js or by installing Docker Desktop, which provides an isolated containerized environment.
3. Can I get n8n for free?
Yes, n8n is open source, you can host it freely under the fair-code licence. They also have a subscription-based cloud service.
4. How to install n8n in Linux?
On Linux, n8n may be installed with npm by typing sudo npm install -g n8n or can be used inside a container and installed n8n with Docker.
5. Can n8n be used locally?
Yes, n8n is open source, and can be hosted locally and operated on your own machine, where you have direct control over your data and workflows.
6. How to create an n8n node?
To design an n8n node yourself, you can install a new project, configure the properties of the node, write the code that manages its logic, and then install it to make it available on your machine.
