Summary:  This blog is powered by Net2Secure, which introduces n8n, an open-source workflow automation tool. It describes how it works using nodes, details the installation process on VPS and Docker, and presents its key features like self-hosting, flexibility, and community support.

How many times have you heard the statement,” Time is money?” I hope several times. And it’s completely true. As the competition is at its peak, everyone wants to be more productive and manage their time. Each day, we all get caught up doing the same small, regular tasks, sending out emails, copying information from one place to another, saving files, or even moving data between applications. It sounds normal, but when you add them up, these minor tasks significantly consume a massive amount of your time and energy.

Now, come to another aspect where all these tasks could happen automatically, without you needing to click, copy, paste, or even remember to do them. Sounds interesting? Isn’t it? Yes, it is possible with Workflow automation.

One great tool that makes it easy and flexible is n8n. In this blog post, we are going to discuss what n8n is, how it works, and why several people prefer it over other AI automation tools. So, before wasting a minute, let’s get started.

What is it n8n?

N8n refers to an automation tool that enables you to create custom workflows. Think of it as a digital assistant that manages regular work for you by managing tasks, utilizing n8n integrations to connect disparate systems, or automatically moving data between different applications that don’t normally communicate with each other out of the box. 
Generally, setting up workflow automation needs extensive coding know-how, but that’s where n8n comes in. It offers a visual interface with templates for common workflows so you can save time and concentrate on productivity without having to create a custom automation tool.

How does it work?

Suppose connecting multiple applications is like puzzle pieces. In n8n, those pieces are known nodes. Each node tells a specific action, such as sending an email, updating a spreadsheet, or fetching data from an application programming interface.

When put together, all the nodes from a workflow, a set of actions based on a trigger. As this is a no-code workflow automation platform, the nodes are configured through a visual interface, making it easy to build workflows without writing custom code.

Moreover, when it comes to the flexibility of n8n, it goes further its core features, allowing you to automate everything from simple tasks to challenging ones. It represents what can be automated with n8n across different platforms.

Steps to Install n8n

You need to install the n8n dependencies on your VPS hosting. Begin by connecting to your VPS through SSH or a web-based console.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y

Executing the above command verifies that your system has the updated security patches and software versions before proceeding. After installing dependencies, you can directly install n8n in a Node.js environment. 
Follow the command below:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash –

Install Node.js and npm

sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

Now, verify the installation.

node -v

npm –v

Now, select the container on which you want to run n8n.
Containerized installation
Install Docker first if you want to operate n8n on it.

Install required dependencies:

Sudo apt-get install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common

Add Docker’s official GPG Key:

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg

Install Docker and the Docker repository:

echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

Let’s verify your Docker installation.

docker –version

Set up n8n
After installing dependencies, you set up n8n.
If Node.js is pre-installed, utilize npm to install n8n.

npm install -g n8n

Inside the n8n screen session, run the command below:

screen -S n8n

n8n

CTRL+A then D will detach you from the screen session. To re-attach to n8n, follow:

screen -R n8n

n8n runs by default on port 5678. Now you can access it at:

http://your-server-ip:5678

Significant Benefits of n8n

• Self-Hosting Data Control: You can either pick n8n web hosting infrastructure or host on your own. Both offer full data control, privacy, and deployment, not similar several cloud-based substitutes.
• Flexibility Customization: Users receive enough flexibility and customization options. In this, you get the speed of no-code with the flexibility of code. It enables you to build custom extensions and integrate JavaScript snippets directly into workflows when needed.
• Affordable: There are no extra licensing costs involved in n8n. It is an open-source tool, and self-hosting is affordable than subscription-based services.
• Supportive and Proactive Community: It holds a very dynamic community that participates in documentation, templates, plugins, and shared workflows. It searches for help and best practices more comfortably.

Final Thoughts

n8n is indeed easy to deploy to your VPS as long as the complete dependencies can be established. It can be set up using Node.js or deployed on a Docker container, but in any case, you have better control over all of your processes and data. You can utilize your own automation server and start integrating applications, services, and your own logic in a few commands.

Hosting n8n yourself is not only easy and cost-effective compared to a third-party, but it also offers the option to fulfill workflows to your own business's needs. It allows you to operate with the speed of no-code, yet the power of code, all in a secure, self-managed setting, whether it’s automating a simple task or creating a tough data pipeline.