How to install n8n in Linux using Docker-Compose

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:

1. Access the n8n project on GitHub Repository
2. Navigate to the docker/compose directory within the repository.
3. 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.
4. Open “docker-compose.yml” delete all existing code and paste the below code.
5. 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:

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