How to Install n8n on Rocky Linux 9

n8n on Rocky Linux 9 (Docker Compose + Nginx + SSL)

n8n is an open-source workflow automation and integration platform that allows users to connect APIs, services, and databases through an intuitive visual workflow builder. Similar to Zapier or Make (Integromat), n8n lets you automate complex tasks without coding — but unlike those cloud tools, n8n is self-hosted, giving you full control over data, security, and infrastructure.

Running n8n on Rocky Linux 9, a RHEL-compatible enterprise-grade operating system, provides stability, long-term support, and strong security. With SELinux, systemd 252, OpenSSL 3, and modern Docker Compose support, Rocky Linux 9 is ideal for deploying n8n behind Nginx with SSL encryption for production environments.

Architecture Overview

Layer	Component	Role
OS	Rocky Linux 9	Enterprise-grade, RHEL-compatible base OS
Runtime	Docker Engine + Compose	Runs n8n and its supporting containers
Database	PostgreSQL / SQLite	Stores workflow configurations, executions, and user data
Application	n8n Server (Node.js)	Provides automation logic and the web-based editor
Reverse Proxy	Nginx / Traefik	Manages HTTPS termination, caching, and request routing
TLS	Let’s Encrypt / PKI	Enables SSL encryption for secure connections

Why Use n8n?

Open-source Zapier alternative – full control and no recurring fees.
Visual workflow designer – create complex automations with drag-and-drop blocks.
Self-hosted – maintain privacy and compliance with your own infrastructure.
400+ built-in integrations – connect with CRMs, APIs, databases, and services.
Custom node development – extend functionality using JavaScript or TypeScript.
Scalable architecture – easily scale horizontally with Docker and PostgreSQL.

n8n vs Other Workflow Automation Platforms

Feature/Capability	n8n (Self-hosted)	Zapier (Cloud)	Make (Cloud)	Node-RED (Self-hosted)
Hosting	Self-hosted	SaaS only	SaaS only	Self-hosted
Cost	Free, open-source	Subscription	Subscription	Free, open-source
Integrations	400+	5000+	1500+	100+
Extensibility	High (custom nodes)	Low	Moderate	High (custom JS)
Privacy	Full control	Cloud-based	Cloud-based	Local only
Ideal for	DevOps / SMEs	Non-tech users	SMBs	Developers

n8n stands out for its flexibility, data control, and extensibility, making it ideal for developers, DevOps engineers, and teams looking for a powerful, self-hosted automation solution.

Security & Best Practices

Deploy behind Nginx or Traefik with HTTPS enabled.
Store credentials in environment variables or Docker secrets, not code.
Run containers as non-root users for better isolation.
Enable SELinux enforcement and configure firewalld to allow only 80/443.
Keep Docker, n8n, and Rocky Linux updated regularly.
Set up automatic database backups (PostgreSQL or SQLite).
Restrict access to webhook endpoints to trusted IPs only.
Automate SSL certificate renewals using Certbot or ACME integrations.

Typical Use Cases

Business process automation – connect CRMs, email services, and APIs.
DevOps automation – trigger CI/CD jobs, deploy code, or manage alerts.
Data synchronization – integrate data between databases and SaaS tools.
Webhook orchestration – automate API-driven workflows.
AI-powered workflows – connect OpenAI, Hugging Face, or local LLM APIs.
Marketing and sales automation – manage campaigns and lead tracking.

Deploying n8n on Rocky Linux 9 with Docker Compose and Nginx provides a secure, scalable, and production-ready automation environment, giving your organization full control over integrations, workflows, and data privacy — all powered by open-source flexibility.

Step 1: Create a Shape.Host Cloud Instance

Visit Shape.Host and sign in.

Click Create → Instance.

Choose your preferred server location.

Shape.host instance form with the data center location selector highlighted.

Select a plan with at least 2 CPUs, 4 GB RAM, and 20 GB SSD.

Choose Rocky Linux 9 (64-bit) as your operating system.

Shape.host instance form with the operating system image selector highlighted.

Click Create Instance.

Shape.host instance form with the Create Instance button highlighted.

Copy the public IP address from the “Resources” section — you’ll use it to connect via SSH.

Shape.host Resources dashboard with the server IP address highlighted.

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

Use SSH to log in as root:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Step 3: Update Your System

Make sure all system packages are up to date:

dnf update

Keeping the system updated ensures better security and stability.

Terminal showing DNF/YUM package management commands and output.

Step 4: Install Docker and Dependencies

Install essential dependencies first:

dnf install curl ca-certificates gnupg2 yum-utils

Add the official Docker repository for CentOS-compatible systems:

dnf config-manager --add-repo https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/docker-ce.repo

Terminal showing dnf commands or output during Install Docker and Dependencies.

Now install Docker and the Docker Compose plugin:

dnf install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin

Enable and start the Docker service:

systemctl enable --now docker

Check if Docker and Docker Compose are installed successfully:

docker --version
docker compose version

Terminal showing systemd service management commands or output.

Step 5: Set Up the n8n Directory Structure

Create a directory for n8n:

mkdir -p /opt/n8n
cd /opt/n8n

Create folders for persistent storage:

mkdir n8n-data local-files

Assign correct ownership so Docker containers can write to them:

chown -R 1000:1000 n8n-data local-files

Terminal showing file ownership or permission commands.

Step 6: Create the Docker Compose File

Create the configuration file:

nano docker-compose.yml

Paste the following configuration:

services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n:latest
    container_name: n8n
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_HOST=n8n.example.com
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=https
      - WEBHOOK_URL=https://n8n.example.com
      - N8N_EDITOR_BASE_URL=https://n8n.example.com
      - GENERIC_TIMEZONE=UTC
      - N8N_USER_FOLDER=/home/node/.n8n
    volumes:
      - ./n8n-data:/home/node/.n8n
      - ./local-files:/files
    networks:
      - n8n-network

networks:
  n8n-network:
    driver: bridge

Replace all instances of n8n.example.com with your actual domain name.

Save and exit (CTRL + O, ENTER, CTRL + X).

Terminal showing docker commands or output during Create the Docker Compose File.

Step 7: Start n8n Using Docker Compose

Download the n8n image and run it as a container:

docker compose up -d

Terminal showing container image download progress.

Check container status:

docker compose ps

Terminal showing docker commands or output during Start n8n Using Docker Compose.

View logs to ensure n8n started correctly:

docker logs -f n8n

Terminal showing git commands or output during Start n8n Using Docker Compose.

Step 8: Install and Configure Nginx

Install Nginx web server:

dnf install nginx

Enable and start Nginx:

systemctl enable --now nginx

Create an Nginx configuration for n8n:

nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/n8n.conf

Paste this configuration:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name n8n.example.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:5678;
        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;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Port $server_port;

        proxy_buffering off;
        proxy_read_timeout 300s;
        proxy_connect_timeout 75s;
    }
}

Terminal showing web server configuration text.

Test Nginx syntax:

nginx -t

Reload Nginx:

systemctl reload nginx

Step 9: Secure n8n with HTTPS (SSL)

Install Certbot and the Nginx plugin:

dnf install certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Run Certbot to generate and apply an SSL certificate automatically:

certbot --nginx -d rockylinux-tutorials.shape.host --email contact@shape.host --agree-tos --non-interactive

Terminal showing Certbot certificate commands and messages.

Reload Nginx to activate SSL:

systemctl reload nginx

Step 10: Restart n8n

Restart the n8n container to ensure all environment changes are applied:

docker compose restart

Step 11: Access Your n8n Dashboard

Open your web browser and visit:

https://n8n.example.com

or for local testing:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:5678

You’ll now see the n8n workflow editor, ready for automation setup.

n8n setup form for creating the owner account.

n8n overview with options to create or import a workflow.

Step 12: (Optional) Configure Firewall

Allow HTTP, HTTPS, and SSH traffic:

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=ssh
firewall-cmd --reload

You have installed n8n on Rocky Linux 9 using Docker Compose, Nginx reverse proxy, and SSL via Certbot.
Your instance is now production-ready, secure, and optimized for automation workflows.

Run it confidently on a Shape.Host Cloud VPS for maximum uptime, SSD speed, and root-level control of your automation stack.