How to Install n8n on Ubuntu 24.04

n8n on Ubuntu 24.04 (Docker Compose + Nginx + SSL)

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that allows you to connect APIs, databases, and applications with a powerful no-code / low-code interface. Similar to tools like Zapier or Make (Integromat), n8n gives you full control to automate repetitive tasks, integrate cloud services, or orchestrate complex backend processes — all within a self-hosted, privacy-respecting environment.

Running n8n on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) ensures a secure, stable, and modern foundation for automation workflows. Ubuntu 24.04 provides systemd 255, OpenSSL 3, and up-to-date Docker Engine packages, making it ideal for deploying n8n with Docker Compose, Nginx reverse proxy, and SSL encryption.

Architecture Overview

Layer	Component	Role
OS	Ubuntu 24.04 LTS	Stable, long-term supported Linux base for production use
Runtime	Docker Engine + Compose	Manages n8n and related service containers
Database	PostgreSQL / SQLite	Stores workflow configurations, executions, and user data
Application	n8n Server (Node.js)	Core workflow engine and web interface
Reverse Proxy	Nginx	Handles HTTPS termination, routing, compression, and caching
TLS	Let’s Encrypt / PKI	Provides secure HTTPS for the n8n dashboard and webhooks

Why Use n8n?

Open-source Zapier alternative – build and host your own automation platform.
Over 400 integrations – connect APIs, databases, cloud services, and custom webhooks.
Visual workflow builder – drag-and-drop interface for creating complex automations.
Self-hosted – retain full control over data and credentials.
Extendable – write custom nodes and logic in JavaScript or TypeScript.
Webhooks and triggers – integrate real-time events from other systems.

n8n vs Other Automation Tools

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 code)	Limited	Limited	High (custom JS)
Privacy	Full data control	Cloud only	Cloud only	Local only
Target users	Developers / DevOps	Non-technical	SMBs	Developers

n8n is the perfect choice for teams that need automation freedom, data ownership, and full customization — without paying for proprietary cloud tools.

Security & Best Practices

Deploy n8n behind Nginx with HTTPS (using Let’s Encrypt).
Store environment variables (like credentials, webhook URLs, and JWT secrets) securely in .env.
Use strong authentication and enable basic auth or reverse proxy protection.
Keep Ubuntu, Docker, and n8n images regularly updated.
Restrict webhook ports and firewall all unnecessary traffic (allow only 80/443).
Regularly back up PostgreSQL or SQLite data and encryption keys.
Avoid running as root inside containers unless required.
Automate SSL renewal with Certbot or Traefik’s ACME integration.

Typical Use Cases

Automating business workflows (e.g., syncing CRM, Slack, and Google Sheets).
API orchestration and backend logic automation.
Webhook automation – responding to real-time events.
Data processing pipelines – transform, store, and forward data between services.
DevOps automation – deploy CI/CD tasks, monitoring alerts, and cloud integrations.
Marketing automation – manage email lists, campaigns, and social media APIs.

Deploying n8n on Ubuntu 24.04 with Docker Compose and Nginx gives you a secure, scalable, and fully self-hosted automation platform — offering the flexibility of open-source with the power of enterprise-grade workflow orchestration.

Step 1: Create a Shape.Host Instance

Go to Shape.Host and log in.

Click Create → Instance.

Choose your desired location.

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

Choose Ubuntu 24.04 (64-bit) as the operating system.

Click Create Instance.

Once deployed, copy your IP address from the “Resources” section — you’ll use it to connect via SSH.

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

Use SSH to connect as root:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Step 3: Update Your Server

Always start with an update:

apt update

This ensures all repositories and system packages are up to date.

Step 4: Install Docker and Dependencies

Install required dependencies:

apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common

Add the Docker GPG key:

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

Add the Docker repository:

echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] \
https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list

Update the package index again:

apt update

Install Docker and Docker Compose:

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

Enable Docker for your user:

usermod -aG docker $USER

Apply group changes:

newgrp docker

Check Docker version to confirm installation:

docker --version

Step 5: Set Up n8n Directory Structure

Create a working directory for n8n:

mkdir ~/n8n
cd ~/n8n

Create directories for persistent storage:

mkdir n8n-data
mkdir local-files

Set proper permissions for the n8n Docker user (ID 1000):

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

Step 6: Create Docker Compose File

Create the Docker Compose configuration:

nano docker-compose.yml

Paste the following content:

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 n8n.example.com with your domain name (or use your server IP for testing).

Step 7: Install and Configure Nginx

Install Nginx:

apt install nginx

Create a configuration file for your n8n domain:

nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/n8n.example.com

Paste this configuration:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name n8n.example.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;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Port $server_port;

        # WebSocket support
        proxy_buffering off;

        # Timeout settings for long-running workflows
        proxy_read_timeout 300s;
        proxy_connect_timeout 75s;
    }
}

Enable the configuration by creating a symbolic link:

ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/n8n.example.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

Test for syntax errors:

nginx -t

Reload Nginx:

systemctl reload nginx

Step 8: Configure the Firewall

Allow necessary ports:

ufw allow 80/tcp
ufw allow 443/tcp
ufw allow ssh
ufw enable

Step 9: Enable HTTPS (SSL) with Certbot

Install Certbot for automatic SSL certificates:

apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Generate and apply an SSL certificate:

certbot --nginx -d n8n.example.com --email contact@shape.host --agree-tos --non-interactive

Replace n8n.example.com and email with your actual domain and contact address.

Step 10: Start n8n

Navigate to the project directory:

cd ~/n8n

Pull the Docker image and start the container:

docker compose up -d

Check running containers:

docker compose ps

View n8n logs:

docker logs n8n

Step 11: Access the n8n Dashboard

Open your web browser and go to:

https://n8n.example.com

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:5678

You’ll now see the n8n visual workflow builder interface.

You installed n8n on Ubuntu 24.04 with Docker, Nginx, and SSL via Certbot.
Your n8n instance is now ready to build and automate complex workflows securely.

For optimal performance, run n8n on a Shape.Host Linux SSD VPS — optimized for Docker-based applications with root-level access and scalable SSD infrastructure.

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