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Understanding n8n: What This Open-Source Automation Platform Does

n8n is a workflow automation tool that lets organizations connect different software applications and automate repetitive tasks. The name "n8n" is a numeronym that stands for "node to node," which describes how the platform works by connecting different applications together in sequence. Unlike some other automation platforms, n8n is open-source software, meaning its code is publicly available and can be modified by users or developers.

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The platform operates by creating workflows—a series of connected steps that move data or trigger actions between applications. For example, a workflow might take new customer information from a web form, add it to a spreadsheet, and simultaneously send a welcome email. Each step in this chain is called a "node," and nodes are connected to form the complete workflow.

n8n offers two main ways to use the platform. The cloud version runs on n8n's servers, and users access it through a web browser without installing anything on their computers. The self-hosted version requires organizations to run n8n on their own servers or infrastructure. The self-hosted option is what most guides focus on when discussing installation, since it requires more technical setup than the cloud version.

Understanding what n8n does and how it works forms the foundation for learning about installation options. The platform integrates with over 400 different applications including popular tools like Slack, Gmail, Zapier, Stripe, and thousands of others. This broad compatibility makes it useful for many different business processes across various industries.

Practical Takeaway: Before installing n8n, determine whether your organization needs the cloud version (minimal setup) or self-hosted version (more control but more technical requirements). This decision shapes which installation guide information will be most relevant to your situation.

System Requirements and Prerequisites for Installing n8n

Installing n8n on your own servers requires understanding the technical foundation needed. The most basic requirement is having a server or computer that can run Node.js, which is the JavaScript runtime that n8n operates on. Node.js is freely available software that can run on Windows, macOS, Linux, and other operating systems.

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For the operating system, n8n supports Linux distributions (such as Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian), Windows Server, and macOS. Most organizations deploying n8n use Linux servers because they tend to be more stable for continuous applications and are widely available through cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. A basic installation might run on a single server, but larger deployments often use multiple servers for reliability and performance.

The hardware specifications depend on how many workflows will run and how often they execute. For testing or small-scale use, a server with 2 CPU cores, 4GB of RAM, and 20GB of storage can work. For production environments handling many workflows, organizations typically use servers with 4-8 CPU cores, 8-16GB of RAM, and sufficient storage based on database needs. The database stores information about workflows, execution history, and configuration settings.

n8n uses a database to store its data, and installation guides address two common options: PostgreSQL and MySQL. PostgreSQL is frequently recommended because n8n developers test extensively with it. SQLite, a simpler database format, works for single-instance testing but is not recommended for production use because it cannot handle multiple concurrent connections reliably.

Network access is another important prerequisite. The server running n8n needs outgoing internet access to connect to the external services that workflows will interact with (like email services, cloud storage, or APIs). Many organizations also set up firewalls to control who can access the n8n interface itself, restricting it to internal users or specific IP addresses.

Practical Takeaway: Create a checklist of your current infrastructure before starting installation: identify available servers, confirm Node.js support capability, choose a database system (PostgreSQL recommended), and verify network connectivity for the intended integrations.

Step-by-Step Installation Process for Self-Hosted n8n

The actual installation process follows a logical sequence that most installation guides outline in similar ways. The first step involves preparing the server environment, which includes updating the operating system, installing Node.js (typically version 18 or later), and installing npm (Node Package Manager), which is included with Node.js and manages software packages.

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After the basic environment is ready, the next step involves installing the database. If using PostgreSQL, this typically involves running the appropriate installation command for the operating system, then creating a new database and user specifically for n8n. The installation guide will include the exact connection information (hostname, database name, username, password) that n8n will use to store its data.

With the database ready, the actual n8n installation begins by downloading the n8n package from npm using a command like "npm install -g n8n." The "-g" flag installs it globally, making it available as a command across the entire system. Once installed, the server needs configuration files that specify details like the database connection information, the port where n8n will run (typically port 5678), and encryption keys for securing sensitive data.

Starting n8n for the first time involves running a command that launches the application and connects it to the configured database. Initial startup may take several minutes as the database schema is created. After startup, accessing the n8n interface requires opening a web browser and navigating to the server address (for example, http://localhost:5678 for local testing or http://your-server-address:5678 for remote servers).

Installation guides also address important configuration decisions during or after installation. These include setting up user accounts and authentication methods, configuring SSL/TLS certificates for encrypted connections, and setting up backup procedures for the database. Some organizations use Docker, a containerization technology, to package n8n with all its dependencies, which can simplify installation by handling environment setup automatically.

Practical Takeaway: Follow installation instructions in order without skipping steps, keeping detailed records of passwords, usernames, and configuration choices made during setup. These details become necessary later for troubleshooting or maintenance.

Configuration Options and Security Considerations

After n8n is installed and running, configuration choices significantly affect how the platform operates and how secure it is. One of the first configuration decisions involves setting up authentication, which controls who can access the n8n interface. By default, n8n can run with no authentication for testing, but production installations should enable user authentication and strong passwords.

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Security considerations extend to how n8n handles credentials for external services. When workflows need to send emails through Gmail, post messages to Slack, or interact with other APIs, they require authentication credentials (usernames, passwords, API keys). n8n stores these credentials encrypted, and configuration choices determine how encryption keys are managed and who on your team can view or modify stored credentials.

Network security represents another important configuration area. Many organizations place n8n behind a reverse proxy (software that manages incoming requests and forwards them to n8n), which can enforce additional security restrictions. Some use a Web Application Firewall to monitor and block suspicious traffic patterns. Installation guides often include recommendations for these configurations, though specific setup depends on each organization's security requirements and existing infrastructure.

Environment variables are configuration settings that n8n reads from the server when it starts. Rather than editing configuration files directly, many installations use environment variables to specify the database connection, port number, encryption keys, and other settings. This approach is considered more secure because sensitive information isn't stored in text files that might accidentally be shared or committed to version control systems.

Backup and recovery configuration ensures that workflow definitions and execution history can be restored if something fails. This typically involves regular backups of the database where n8n stores its data. Installation guides usually recommend setting up automated daily backups and testing the restoration process to confirm backups work correctly.

Practical Takeaway: Establish security practices during initial configuration rather than adding them later. Create strong, unique passwords for the database and n8n administrative accounts, enable encryption for stored credentials, and schedule regular database backups immediately after installation.

Monitoring, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting Common Issues

Once n8n is running, installation guides typically address how to maintain the installation and handle problems that may arise. Monitoring involves checking system resources like CPU usage, memory consumption, and disk space to ensure n8n has adequate resources. Many organizations set up alerts that notify administrators if resource usage exceeds normal levels, which can indicate a problem with a workflow or increasing usage that requires hardware upgrades.

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