# N8n Self Host

> n8n Self-Host

- Skill: `comeonoliver/n8n-self-host` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add comeonoliver/n8n-self-host`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/comeonoliver/n8n-self-host/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner WARNING, skillspector CAUTION)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: ComeOnOliver (https://skillmd.com/u/comeonoliver)
- Updated: 2026-09-21
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/comeonoliver/n8n-self-host

---

# n8n Self-Host

## Overview

Install, configure, scale, and operate self-hosted n8n instances. Covers Docker Compose production setups, CLI administration, REST API automation, queue-mode scaling with Redis workers, backup/restore, monitoring, and troubleshooting. For building n8n workflows and configuring nodes, see the `n8n-workflow` skill.

## Instructions

### Task A: Production Docker Compose Setup

Basic setup with PostgreSQL (recommended over default SQLite):

```yaml
# docker-compose.yml
services:
  postgres:
    image: postgres:16
    restart: always
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: ${POSTGRES_USER}
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
      POSTGRES_DB: ${POSTGRES_DB}
    volumes:
      - db_storage:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    healthcheck:
      test: ['CMD-SHELL', 'pg_isready -h localhost -U ${POSTGRES_USER} -d ${POSTGRES_DB}']
      interval: 5s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 10

  n8n:
    image: docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      - DB_TYPE=postgresdb
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgres
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT=5432
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=${POSTGRES_DB}
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=${POSTGRES_USER}
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
      - N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=${ENCRYPTION_KEY}
      - WEBHOOK_URL=${WEBHOOK_URL}
      - GENERIC_TIMEZONE=${GENERIC_TIMEZONE:-UTC}
      - N8N_ENFORCE_SETTINGS_FILE_PERMISSIONS=true
      - N8N_RUNNERS_ENABLED=true
    volumes:
      - n8n_storage:/home/node/.n8n
    depends_on:
      postgres:
        condition: service_healthy

volumes:
  db_storage:
  n8n_storage:
```

Create a `.env` alongside with `POSTGRES_USER`, `POSTGRES_PASSWORD`, `POSTGRES_DB`, `ENCRYPTION_KEY` (generate with `openssl rand -hex 24`), `WEBHOOK_URL`, and `GENERIC_TIMEZONE`. Start with `docker compose up -d`.

### Task B: Scale with Queue Mode (Redis + Workers)

For high-volume workloads, add Redis and worker processes:

```yaml
# Add to docker-compose.yml
x-n8n-shared: &n8n-shared
  image: docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
  restart: always
  environment:
    - DB_TYPE=postgresdb
    - DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgres
    - DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=${POSTGRES_DB}
    - DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=${POSTGRES_USER}
    - DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
    - EXECUTIONS_MODE=queue
    - QUEUE_BULL_REDIS_HOST=redis
    - QUEUE_HEALTH_CHECK_ACTIVE=true
    - N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=${ENCRYPTION_KEY}
  volumes:
    - n8n_storage:/home/node/.n8n
  depends_on:
    postgres:
      condition: service_healthy
    redis:
      condition: service_healthy

services:
  redis:
    image: redis:7-alpine
    restart: always
    volumes:
      - redis_storage:/data
    healthcheck:
      test: ['CMD', 'redis-cli', 'ping']
      interval: 5s

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

  n8n-worker:
    <<: *n8n-shared
    command: worker
    # Scale with: docker compose up -d --scale n8n-worker=3
```

### Task C: CLI Administration

Run CLI commands inside Docker: `docker exec -u node -it n8n n8n <command>`.

```bash
# Export/import workflows
n8n export:workflow --backup --output=backups/
n8n export:workflow --id=<ID> --output=workflow.json
n8n import:workflow --input=workflow.json
n8n import:workflow --separate --input=backups/

# Export/import credentials (--decrypted for cross-instance migration)
n8n export:credentials --backup --output=backups/
n8n export:credentials --all --decrypted --output=creds.json
n8n import:credentials --input=creds.json

# Full database backup/restore
n8n export:entities --outputDir=./backup --includeExecutionHistoryDataTables=true
n8n import:entities --inputDir=./backup --truncateTables=true

# Execute a workflow by ID
n8n execute --id=<ID>

# Activate/deactivate workflows
n8n update:workflow --id=<ID> --active=true
n8n update:workflow --all --active=false

# User management
n8n user-management:reset          # Reset to setup state (forgot password)
n8n mfa:disable --email=user@x.com # Disable MFA for locked-out user

# Security audit
n8n audit

# Database migration rollback
n8n db:revert
```

### Task D: REST API Automation

Enable the API at `/api/v1/docs`. Authenticate with `X-N8N-API-KEY` header.

```bash
# List all workflows
curl -s -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows | jq '.data[].name'

# Activate a workflow
curl -X POST -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows/<ID>/activate

# Deactivate a workflow
curl -X POST -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows/<ID>/deactivate

# Retry a failed execution
curl -X POST -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" http://localhost:5678/api/v1/executions/<ID>/retry

# List failed executions
curl -s -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" "http://localhost:5678/api/v1/executions?status=error" | jq '.data[] | {id, workflowId, status}'

# Create a variable
curl -X POST -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"key":"ENV","value":"production"}' http://localhost:5678/api/v1/variables
```

### Task E: Key Environment Variables

| Variable | Default | Purpose |
|----------|---------|---------|
| `DB_TYPE` | `sqlite` | `sqlite` or `postgresdb` |
| `N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY` | random | Credential encryption (preserve across restarts) |
| `WEBHOOK_URL` | auto | Public URL for webhooks behind reverse proxy |
| `EXECUTIONS_MODE` | `regular` | `regular` or `queue` (for scaling) |
| `EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE` | `true` | Auto-prune old execution data |
| `EXECUTIONS_DATA_MAX_AGE` | `336` | Max execution age in hours |
| `N8N_METRICS` | `false` | Enable Prometheus `/metrics` endpoint |
| `N8N_LOG_LEVEL` | `info` | `error`, `warn`, `info`, `debug` |
| `N8N_LOG_OUTPUT` | `console` | `console`, `file` (comma-separated) |
| `N8N_CONCURRENCY_PRODUCTION_LIMIT` | `-1` | Max concurrent production executions |
| `N8N_RUNNERS_ENABLED` | `false` | Enable task runners for Code nodes |
| `GENERIC_TIMEZONE` | `America/New_York` | Timezone for schedule triggers |

Use `_FILE` suffix for Docker Secrets (e.g., `DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD_FILE=/run/secrets/db_pass`).

## Examples

### Example 1: Deploy n8n with PostgreSQL in production

**User request:** "Set up n8n in production with Docker Compose"

**Actions taken:**

```bash
$ mkdir n8n-production && cd n8n-production

# Generate secrets
$ openssl rand -hex 24
> a1b2c3d4e5f6...

# Create .env with POSTGRES_USER, POSTGRES_PASSWORD, POSTGRES_DB,
# ENCRYPTION_KEY, WEBHOOK_URL, GENERIC_TIMEZONE

# Create docker-compose.yml (Task A template)

$ docker compose up -d
> [+] Running 3/3
>  ✔ Network n8n-production_default   Created
>  ✔ Container postgres               Started
>  ✔ Container n8n                     Started

$ docker compose logs n8n --tail 5
> n8n  | Editor is now accessible via: http://localhost:5678
```

### Example 2: Back up and restore workflows

**User request:** "Back up all my n8n workflows and credentials"

**Actions taken:**

```bash
$ docker exec -u node n8n n8n export:workflow --backup --output=/home/node/.n8n/backups/
> Successfully exported 12 workflows

$ docker exec -u node n8n n8n export:credentials --backup --output=/home/node/.n8n/backups/
> Successfully exported 8 credentials

# Copy backups out of the container
$ docker cp n8n:/home/node/.n8n/backups/ ./n8n-backups/

# Restore on a new instance
$ docker cp ./n8n-backups/ n8n-new:/home/node/.n8n/backups/
$ docker exec -u node n8n-new n8n import:workflow --separate --input=/home/node/.n8n/backups/
> Successfully imported 12 workflows
```

### Example 3: Troubleshoot a failing instance

**User request:** "My n8n instance is crashing after update"

**Actions taken:**

```bash
$ docker compose logs n8n --tail 30
> error: Migration failed: column "x" already exists

# Rollback the last migration
$ docker exec -u node n8n n8n db:revert
> Reverted migration: AddColumnX1234567890

# Pin to previous working version in docker-compose.yml
# image: docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n:1.80.0

$ docker compose up -d
> n8n  | Editor is now accessible via: http://localhost:5678
```

## Guidelines

- Always set `N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY` explicitly and back it up. Without it, credentials cannot be decrypted on a new instance.
- Use PostgreSQL for any instance running more than a few workflows. SQLite doesn't handle concurrent writes well.
- Set `WEBHOOK_URL` when behind a reverse proxy — webhooks fail silently without it.
- Use `n8n export:credentials --decrypted` when migrating between instances with different encryption keys.
- Enable execution pruning (`EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE=true`) to prevent database bloat.
- In queue mode, all instances must share the same `N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY` and PostgreSQL database.
- Scale workers with `docker compose up -d --scale n8n-worker=N`.
- Run `n8n audit` periodically to detect security issues in your instance configuration.
- For health checks, use `/healthz` (basic) and `/healthz/readiness` (DB-aware).
- Use `N8N_LOG_LEVEL=debug` temporarily when troubleshooting, then revert to `info`.