> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://wiki.lumiweb.cc/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# n8n (automation)

> No-code process automation

n8n is a visual automation builder. You wire services, APIs, and bots into a chain with your mouse: "an email arrives → create a task → send a Telegram message." It's like Zapier or Make, but it runs on your own server: your data stays with you, and you don't pay extra for the number of workflows.

<Note>
  Commands are current as of writing. Before installing, check the official site [docs.n8n.io](https://docs.n8n.io/hosting/installation/docker/) — the image and parameters change from time to time.
</Note>

## What you'll need

* A Lumi server (Ubuntu 22.04 by default). Take the IP, the `root` login, and the password from the server card in [@lumivps\_bot](https://t.me/lumivps_bot).
* An SSH connection as `root`: [Connecting to the server](/en/vps/connect).
* Docker installed: [Docker](/en/vps/docker).

## Installation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a data volume">
    So your workflows don't vanish on restart:

    ```bash theme={"system"}
    docker volume create n8n_data
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run n8n">
    ```bash theme={"system"}
    docker run -d --restart unless-stopped \
     --name n8n \
     -p 5678:5678 \
     -e GENERIC_TIMEZONE="Europe/Moscow" \
     -e TZ="Europe/Moscow" \
     -e N8N_ENFORCE_SETTINGS_FILE_PERMISSIONS=true \
     -e N8N_RUNNERS_ENABLED=true \
     -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n \
     docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
    ```

    What's what here: `-d` is background mode, `--restart unless-stopped` brings the container back up automatically when the server reboots, `-p 5678:5678` is the panel port, `-v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n` is the workflow storage, `GENERIC_TIMEZONE` and `TZ` are the time zone (set your own), and the rest of the variables enable the secure settings-file mode and the task runner.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the port in the firewall">
    ```bash theme={"system"}
    ufw allow 5678/tcp
    ```

    Firewall setup: [Firewall (ufw)](/en/vps/firewall).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the panel in your browser">
    ```text theme={"system"}
    http://SERVER_IP:5678
    ```

    On first login, n8n asks you to create an owner account. Set a password right away — the panel shouldn't sit open on the internet with no protection.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Workflows aren't lost when the container restarts — they're stored in the `n8n_data` volume. The key thing is: don't delete the volume.
</Warning>

<Accordion title="Quick test (without persisting data)">
  Want to just try n8n quickly and tear it down right after? Use the `--rm` variant:

  ```bash theme={"system"}
  docker run -it --rm \
   --name n8n \
   -p 5678:5678 \
   -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n \
   docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
  ```

  The `--rm` flag removes the container when it stops. For ongoing use, go with the main command above.
</Accordion>

## For production

Don't expose the panel on a bare IP with a port. Set up a domain, put a reverse proxy (Nginx) in front, and add HTTPS — you'll get an address like `https://n8n.yourdomain`: secure and clean. That's also where you set the time zone and basic auth through environment variables.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Web server" icon="server" href="/en/vps/webserver">
    Set up Nginx as a reverse proxy in front of n8n.
  </Card>

  <Card title="SSL certificate" icon="certificate" href="/en/vps/ssl">
    Add HTTPS to your n8n domain.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Lumi handles the server and network; software setup is on you. Network or port issues — [@lumisup\_robot](https://t.me/lumisup_robot).

## Where to next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Docker" icon="box" href="/en/vps/docker">
    How Docker works and the core commands.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Web server" icon="server" href="/en/vps/webserver">
    Set up Nginx for a production n8n deployment.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>