How to install n8n in Linux using Docker-Compose

Article Contents

Introduction

n8n.io is your secret weapon for workflow automation! It’s a user-friendly platform that lets you automate tasks across different tools and platforms you already use, saving you time and effort.

Here’s what makes n8n.io so awesome:

Effortless Automation: No coding needed! n8n.io’s drag-and-drop interface lets anyone build automated workflows, even beginners.
Mega-Flexible: With a huge variety of pre-built “nodes,” you can connect any tools you need to create custom workflows for your specific tasks.
Plays Well with Others: Integrate n8n.io with all your favorite tools, finally breaking down those information silos!
Fort Knox for Your Data: Security is a top priority, so n8n.io keeps your data safe and sound.
Built to Scale: Whether you’re a startup or a giant corporation, n8n.io scales with your needs to keep your workflows efficient.

Supercharge Your Processes with Real-World Examples:

Marketing Magic: Automatically schedule social media posts, send personalized emails, and track campaign results – all on autopilot!
HR Hero: Streamline employee onboarding, automate leave requests, and free up HR for more strategic work.
E-commerce Edge: Boost your online store with automated order confirmations, inventory updates, and customer feedback requests.
Finance Force: Simplify tasks like transaction categorization, invoice processing, and financial reporting for a smoother financial flow.
Customer Champion: Deliver exceptional customer service with automated ticket assignments, response emails, and feedback tracking.
Data Dream Team: Synchronize data across different platforms to eliminate redundancy and errors, keeping your information clean and organized.

Not Sure if n8n.io is Right for You?

Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons:

Pros:

Easy to use, even for beginners
Ultra-flexible with tons of pre-built options
Integrates with all your favorite tools
Keeps your data safe and secure
Grows with your business

Cons:

There’s a bit of a learning curve for new users
Might not have all the super advanced features for complex workflows
Needs a stable internet connection to run smoothly
Regular updates might require adjustments to your workflows

The Takeaway:

n8n.io is a powerful tool that can transform the way you work. If you’re looking to automate tasks, improve efficiency, and boost productivity, n8n.io is definitely worth checking out!https://n8n.io/

Install n8n with Docker-Compose

This guide walks you through installing n8n with Docker-compose, leveraging the efficiency of containerization.

Prerequisites:

Docker installed and running on your system.
Docker-compose installed and configured.
Ubuntu Server (Latest version) with minimum 2 CPU Core and 4GB Ram.
One “Fully Qualified Domain Name”

Let’s Dive In!

Docker and Docker-Compose Installation with script

## paste this below script in terminal
apt update && 
apt upgrade -y &&
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh &&
sudo sh get-docker.sh &&
curl -SL https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/v2.13.0/docker-compose-linux-x86_64 -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose &&
chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose &&
apt-get install docker-compose-plugin

Clone Git Repository:

Access the n8n project on GitHub Repository
Navigate to the docker/compose directory within the repository.
Locate the withPostgresAndWorker folder. This folder contains the configuration file specifically designed for deploying n8n with Docker-Compose, alongside a worker container for enhanced performance.
Open “docker-compose.yml” delete all existing code and paste the below code.
Configure Environments Variable

## Clone the n8n repository
git clone https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n.git

## Navigate the "withPostgresAndWorker" folder
cd n8n/docker/compose/withPostgresAndWorker

## edit the docker-compose.yml file
nano docker-compose.yml

##Replace all existing code with below code

version: '3.8'

volumes:
  db_storage:
  n8n_storage:
  redis_storage:

x-shared: &shared
  restart: always
  image: docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
  environment:
    - DB_TYPE=postgresdb
    - DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgres
    - DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT=5432
    - DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=${POSTGRES_DB}
    - DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=${POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_USER}
    - DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=${POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_PASSWORD}
    - EXECUTIONS_MODE=queue
    - QUEUE_BULL_REDIS_HOST=redis
    - QUEUE_HEALTH_CHECK_ACTIVE=true
    - N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=${N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY}
    - WEBHOOK_URL=${WEBHOOK_URL}
  links:
    - postgres
    - redis
  volumes:
    - n8n_storage:/home/node/.n8n
  depends_on:
    redis:
      condition: service_healthy
    postgres:
      condition: service_healthy

services:
  postgres:
    image: postgres:16
    restart: always
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_USER
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD
      - POSTGRES_DB
      - POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_USER
      - POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_PASSWORD
    volumes:
      - db_storage:/var/lib/postgresql/data
      - ./init-data.sh:/docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/init-data.sh
    healthcheck:
      test: ['CMD-SHELL', 'pg_isready -h localhost -U ${POSTGRES_USER} -d ${POSTGRES_DB}']
      interval: 5s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 10

  redis:
    image: redis:6-alpine
    restart: always
    volumes:
      - redis_storage:/data
    healthcheck:
      test: ['CMD', 'redis-cli', 'ping']
      interval: 5s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 10

  n8n:
    <<: *shared
    ports:
      - 5678:5678

  n8n-worker:
    <<: *shared
    command: worker
    depends_on:
      - n8n

Press “Ctrl + X”, press “Y” and then press “Enter” key

Inside the .env file, define the following environment variables, replacing placeholders with your desired values:

POSTGRES_DB: Name of your PostgreSQL database (e.g., my_n8n_database).
POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_USER: Username for accessing the database (e.g., n8n_user).
POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_PASSWORD: Password for the database user.
WEBHOOK_URL: Your domain name or Your Server IP(https://your-domain-name.com)
N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY: A strong encryption key for n8n.

## Paste this below command in terminal for generating "N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY"
cat /dev/urandom | tr -dc 'a-zA-Z0-9' | fold -w 24 | head -n 1



########Example .env code########

POSTGRES_USER=root
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=dfjk395ASdkOwL45msk
POSTGRES_DB=n8n
POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_USER=n8n_user
POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_PASSWORD=395ASdkOr8jKgBnv
N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=abJkwiQPfg1Gr5Kd7890ABCdefG01xcdsk3iKefdjk3
WEBHOOK_URL=https://n8n8.gleeze.com/

#################################

Press “Ctrl + X”, press “Y” and then press “Enter” key.

Optional: Environment Variable Customization

n8n offers additional environment variables for fine-tuning its behavior. Explore the official documentation for a comprehensive list:

Start the n8n Services:

Execute the following command in your terminal to initiate the deployment using Docker-compose:

docker-compose up -d

The -d flag instructs Docker-compose to run the containers in detached mode, allowing you to continue using your terminal for other tasks.

Verify Installation:

After running the previous command, n8n, PostgreSQL (the database), and the worker container will launch in the background.

Check if the containers are running properly using the following command:

docker-compose ps

This will display the status of all containers associated with the docker-compose.yml file. Ensure the containers are listed as “Up and Running.”

Accessing Your n8n Instance:

By default, n8n is accessible through your web browser at http://localhost:5678. You’ll encounter the n8n setup wizard, guiding you through the initial configuration steps.

Key Considerations:

Port Mapping: The default port for n8n is 5678. If this port conflicts with another application, modify the ports section within the docker-compose.yml file to specify a different port.
Persistent Data: The data directory for n8n is not persisted by default within Docker containers. To ensure your workflows and data remain intact after container restarts, consider mounting a volume on the host system. Refer to the Docker documentation for volume mounting instructions

Securing Your Website with Nginx Proxy Manager

Nginx Proxy Manager is a user-friendly tool that lets you manage SSL certificates and secure your website traffic. For installation of please follow this blog-post

Access the Nginx Proxy Manager Web-UI

Open your web browser: Navigate to the IP address of your EC2 instance followed by :81. This will open the Nginx Proxy Manager web interface.
Log in: Use the email admin@example.com and the password is changeme

Create a Proxy Host for Your WordPress Website

Click on “Hosts” in the navigation menu.
Click on “Add Proxy Host.”
Enter the following information in the respective fields:
- Host Name: The domain name or subdomain you want your website to be accessible through.
- Scheme: Choose “HTTP.”
- Forward Hostname / IP : Paste your “Server IP” or “n8n Container Gateway IP” ( using this command: “docker inspect container-id“
- Forward Ports; 5678
Click on “Save.”

Request an SSL Certificate

Click on “SSL” in the navigation menu.
Click on “Let’s Encrypt” tab.
Click on “Request SSL Certificate.”
Select the domain name you created the proxy host for.
Click on “Request.”

Install the SSL Certificate

Wait for the certificate request to be processed. This might take a few minutes.
Once the certificate is issued,

Congratulations! Your website is now accessible securely through HTTPS with an SSL certificate issued by Let’s Encrypt.

Watch Video Tutorial:

Confused about setting up your own n8n? Ditch the dry guides and watch my video tutorial

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Visual demonstration makes every step crystal clear.
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