D:
🚀 Want to automate workflows without coding? n8n + Docker is your golden ticket! This step-by-step guide will have your self-hosted automation server running in under 15 minutes. Perfect for beginners and pros alike!
Why n8n with Docker? 🤔
Docker containers make n8n deployment:
- 💡 Isolated (no dependency conflicts)
- ⚡ Portable (runs anywhere Docker does)
- 🔄 Version-controlled (easy rollbacks)
- 🔒 Secure (limited host system access)
Prerequisites Checklist ✅
Requirement | Details |
---|---|
Docker Engine | v20.10+ (Install via curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh ) |
Docker Compose | v2.2.3+ (Included with Docker Desktop) |
Resources | 2GB RAM, 2vCPU, 10GB storage minimum |
Installation Steps 🛠️
- Create docker-compose.yml:
version: '3' services: n8n: image: n8nio/n8n restart: unless-stopped ports: - "5678:5678" volumes: - ./.n8n:/home/node/.n8n environment: - N8N_HOST=yourdomain.com - N8N_PORT=5678
- Launch with
docker-compose up -d
- Access at
http://localhost:5678
Pro Configuration Tips 🔧
For production use:
- 🔐 Add
- VUE_APP_URL_BASE_API=https://yourdomain.com
for HTTPS - 📈 Include
- DB_TYPE=postgresdb
for persistent database - 🛡️ Set
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER
and_PASSWORD
for security
Troubleshooting Common Issues 🚨
Port already in use? Change the first port number (e.g., "5679:5678"
)
Permission errors? Run sudo chown -R $USER:$USER ./.n8n
Slow performance? Add deploy: resources: limits: cpus: '2' memory: 2G
Next Steps After Installation 🚀
1. Connect your first app (Slack/Google Sheets/Telegram)
2. Explore pre-built templates in Community Nodes
3. Set up backups with
docker-compose exec n8n n8n export:workflow --all
Conclusion
You’ve now got a powerful automation engine ready 24/7! 🎉 Try creating your first workflow today – maybe auto-save Gmail attachments to Dropbox? The possibilities are endless!
Pro Tip: Bookmark the official n8n docs for advanced features.