Install N8N on Ubuntu VPS 22.04

gistfile1.txt

# Check if Docker is already installed
docker --version

# If not installed, install Docker
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sudo sh get-docker.sh

# Start Docker
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

# Verify Docker is running
sudo docker ps

# Create n8n directory
mkdir -p ~/n8n
cd ~/n8n
# Fix permissions on the data directory
# The n8n container runs as user 'node' with UID 1000
sudo chown -R 1000:1000 ./data

mkdir -p data
sudo chown -R 1000:1000 data
sudo chmod -R 755 data


# Create docker-compose.yml
cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n
    container_name: n8n
    restart: always
    user: "1000:1000"
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=ChangeThisPassword123!
      - N8N_HOST=0.0.0.0
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=http
      - NODE_ENV=production
      - WEBHOOK_URL=http://74.208.132.120:5678/
      - GENERIC_TIMEZONE=Asia/Dhaka
      - TZ=Asia/Dhaka
      - DB_SQLITE_POOL_SIZE=3
      - N8N_RUNNERS_ENABLED=true
      - N8N_BLOCK_ENV_ACCESS_IN_NODE=false
      - N8N_GIT_NODE_DISABLE_BARE_REPOS=true
    volumes:
      - ./data:/home/node/.n8n
EOF
# Start n8n
sudo docker compose up -d

# View logs
sudo docker compose logs -f

You should now see n8n starting up successfully without permission errors or warnings. The logs should show something like:
```
n8n  | Editor is now accessible via:
n8n  | http://0.0.0.0:5678/


Once it's running, you can access n8n at http://your-server-ip:5678 with:

Username: admin
Password: ChangeThisPassword123!

#DEBUG Commands, Skip if running fine
.............................................................................................
# Check if UFW is active
sudo ufw status

# If UFW is active, allow port 5678
sudo ufw allow 5678/tcp

# Or check iptables
sudo iptables -L -n | grep 5678


# Check if n8n container is running
docker ps

# Check if port 5678 is listening
netstat -tulpn | grep 5678
# OR
ss -tulpn | grep 5678


# Check UFW status
sudo ufw status

# Allow port 5678
sudo ufw allow 5678/tcp

# Reload UFW
sudo ufw reload

# Verify the rule was added
sudo ufw status numbered

# Check current iptables rules ||||||| Check iptables (if UFW isn't active)
sudo iptables -L -n

# Allow port 5678
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 5678 -j ACCEPT

# Save iptables rules
sudo netfilter-persistent save
# OR
sudo iptables-save > /etc/iptables/rules.v4


VPS Firewall (Cloud Panel)
Since you're using VPS, you may also need to allow port 5678 in the Cloud Panel:

Log in to your  account
Go to your VPS management panel
Find Firewall or Security settings
Add a rule to allow TCP port 5678 from all sources (0.0.0.0/0)
.............................................................................................
OPTIONAL: Use Nginx Reverse Proxy on Port 80

# Install Nginx
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx -y

# Create Nginx configuration
sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/n8n

Add this configuration: Give just IP replacing YOUR_SERVER_IP x.x.x.x like this

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name YOUR_SERVER_IP;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:5678;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
        
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }
}


# Enable the site
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/n8n /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

# Remove default site if it conflicts
sudo rm /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default

# Test Nginx configuration
sudo nginx -t

# Restart Nginx
sudo systemctl restart nginx

# Make sure port 80 is allowed
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp

Then access n8n at: http://YOURSERVERIP (no port needed), NOW it will use port 80

Production Setup with SSL/HTTPS (Recommended)

Production Setup with SSL/HTTPS (Recommended)
If you have a domain name, let's set up proper HTTPS:
Step 1: Point Domain to Your Server
First, create an A record for your domain pointing to 74.208.132.120
Example: n8n.yourdomain.com → 74.208.132.120
Step 2: Install Nginx and Certbot
bash# Install Nginx and Certbot
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
Step 3: Create Nginx Configuration
bash# Create Nginx config (replace n8n.yourdomain.com with your actual domain)
sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/n8n
Add this configuration:
nginxserver {
    listen 80;
    server_name n8n.yourdomain.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:5678;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
        
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }
}
bash# Enable the site
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/n8n /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

# Test Nginx configuration
sudo nginx -t

# Restart Nginx
sudo systemctl restart nginx

# Allow HTTP and HTTPS in firewall
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw allow 443/tcp
Step 4: Get SSL Certificate
bash# Get SSL certificate (replace with your domain)
sudo certbot --nginx -d n8n.yourdomain.com
Step 5: Update n8n Configuration for HTTPS
cd ~/n8n

cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n
    container_name: n8n
    restart: always
    user: "1000:1000"
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=ChangeThisPassword123!
      - N8N_HOST=n8n.yourdomain.com
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=https
      - NODE_ENV=production
      - WEBHOOK_URL=https://n8n.yourdomain.com/
      - GENERIC_TIMEZONE=Asia/Dhaka
      - TZ=Asia/Dhaka
      - DB_SQLITE_POOL_SIZE=3
      - N8N_RUNNERS_ENABLED=true
      - N8N_BLOCK_ENV_ACCESS_IN_NODE=false
      - N8N_GIT_NODE_DISABLE_BARE_REPOS=true
    volumes:
      - ./data:/home/node/.n8n
EOF

# Restart n8n
docker compose down
docker compose up -d
Now access n8n at: https://n8n.yourdomain.com