What is n8n?

n8n gives you a ready-to-use automation platform for connecting apps and services - no complicated setup required. Build custom workflows that automate tasks between hundreds of applications and services without writing a single line of code and deploy everything through an intuitive visual interface. Create, test and run workflows directly from your server without the hassle of manual setups! Each workflow in n8n runs independently for easy isolation, ensuring stability, flexibility and smooth scaling for your projects! A self-hosted n8n server allows you to keep sensitive information strictly within your infrastructure without the risk of leaks or external access. You can also customize your environment settings as you like for maximum comfort.

What you get with a n8n VPS

  • Easy automation creation

  • No-code setup

  • Intuitive user interface

  • Automation isolation

  • Scalability and security

  • No manual setups

Pre-Requisites

In order to get started with n8n, you are going to need the following:

  • A domain name that you own (e.g., "example.com").

  • A subdomain named "n8n" for that domain (e.g., "n8n.example.com").

Initial Setup

When you purchase your cloud server, you will need to set up an A record in your DNS settings that points your "n8n.yourdomain.com" subdomain to your server's IP address. To do this, log into the VPSBG Console and copy the IP of your n8n server. Next, visit your domain registrar, look for DNS settings and create a new A record. Simply paste your server’s IP address and save the changes. It is important to mention that these changes can propagate in a few hours.

When everything has been set up, you can run n8n. You will be asked to enter your full n8n domain so make sure to add the prefix to the URL (e.g. n8n.example.com). A confirmation screen will appear. Simply type Yes and hit Enter. If everything has been successfully set up and your DNS settings have been done, a Docker image will start to download. If it doesn’t, it’s important to say that sometimes DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to become effective. If still unsuccessful, please contact our support team.

Next, you will need to set up your owner account. Simply open up your browser and go to your URL. This is where you will create your owner account. Once done, your n8n installation will be up and running.

How to start and stop n8n

If you need to stop n8n from running, you can use:

docker compose down

If you need to start n8n again, you can do so with:

docker compose up -d

How to update n8n

To ensure that n8n is always up to date, you can run:

docker compose pull

Once downloaded, run the same two commands above to restart the application.

Useful resources

How to manage a cloud server with n8n

n8n installation script

Deploy a powerful and secure n8n VPS and start automating!