n8n : Automation With Self-Hosted Workflows
Automating Your Home with n8n
I've been exploring different ways to streamline my home server setup, and one tool that's been a game-changer is n8n. If you're like me—juggling family life while trying to optimise your home tech—this might be exactly what you need.
What is n8n?
n8n is a workflow automation tool. Think of it as the glue that connects different services and applications. It's similar to tools like Zapier or Make but with one massive advantage: you can self-host it.
This means:
- Your data stays on your own server
- No monthly subscription fees
- Complete control over your workflows
- The ability to connect to local services on your network
For into home automation, these benefits are huge. I can create workflows that connect my home server alerts to my phone, automate file backups for family photos.
The ability to connect different services without relying on cloud providers gives me peace of mind about where our family data is stored and processed.
Why I Chose to Self-Host n8n
There are plenty of automation services out there, but most require you to send your data through their servers. As someone who values control over my infrastructure, I prefer keeping things local when possible.
Self-hosting n8n gives me:
- Complete data ownership and privacy
- Integration with my other self-hosted services
- A chance to tinker and learn (during those precious late-night coding sessions)
- No limits on the number of workflows I can create
- Freedom from subscription fees
- The ability to customize and extend as needed
The self-hosted approach fits perfectly with my home server philosophy: why pay for a service when you can run it yourself and learn something in the process?
Setting Up n8n with Docker Compose
Let me walk you through how I set up n8n on my home server. It's surprisingly straightforward, especially if you're already using Docker.
Prerequisites
- A server running Docker and Docker Compose
- Basic understanding of networking (nothing too complex)
- A few minutes of quiet time (the hardest part to find!)
Step 1: Create Your Docker Compose File
First, create a new directory for your n8n configuration:
mkdir ~/n8n
cd ~/n8n
Then, create a docker-compose.yml file:
nano docker-compose.yml
Copy and paste this configuration:
version: "3"
services:
n8n:
image: n8nio/n8n:latest
container_name: n8n
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- 5678:5678
environment:
- N8N_SECURE_COOKIE=false
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=YourUsername
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=YourStrongPassword
- WEBHOOK_URL=https://your-cloudflare-tunnel-url.com
volumes:
- ~/Documents/n8n/n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
networks:
- my_custom_network
networks:
my_custom_network:
external: true
Step 2: Customize Your Configuration
Here's what each part of the configuration does:
- image: n8nio/n8n:latest - Uses the latest version of n8n
- restart: unless-stopped - Makes sure n8n starts after a reboot
- ports: - "5678:5678" - The default port for n8n's web interface
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE - Enables password protection
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER and N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD - Your login credentials
- WEBHOOK_URL - If you're using Cloudflare Tunnel to access n8n remotely, set this to your tunnel URL
- volumes - Maps a local folder to store your workflows and data
- networks - Connects to your existing Docker network (if you have one)
Make sure to replace YourUsername and YourStrongPassword with actual values. This is especially important if you plan to access n8n from outside your home network.
Step 3: Create the Data Directory
Before starting the container, create the data directory:
mkdir -p ~/Documents/n8n/n8n_data
Step 4: Launch n8n
Now, start up n8n with:
docker-compose up -d
The -d flag runs it in detached mode, so it continues running in the background.
Step 5: Access the n8n Dashboard
Once the container is running, you can access the n8n dashboard by opening:
If you're running it on the same machine, just use:
You'll be prompted for the username and password you set in the docker-compose file.
Setting Up Remote Access (Optional)
If you want to access n8n from outside your home network, I recommend using Cloudflare Tunnel (formerly Argo Tunnel). It's free, secure, and doesn't require opening ports on your router.
The WEBHOOK_URL environment variable in the docker-compose file should point to your Cloudflare Tunnel URL so that webhooks work properly when triggered from external services.
My First n8n Workflow: WebSecScan Security Auditor
One of my favorite workflows I've implemented with n8n is an AI-powered website security auditor called WebSecScan. It's a powerful tool that provides comprehensive security analysis for any website.
Here's what it does:
- Performs dual-layer security analysis using OpenAI models to detect vulnerabilities and misconfigurations
- Analyzes HTTP headers, CORS policies, CSP implementation, and cookie security
- Identifies potential XSS vectors, information disclosure risks, and client-side weaknesses
- Automatically calculates a security grade (A+ to F) based on findings severity
- Generates a professional HTML report and delivers it via email
The best part? The entire process is non-invasive, performing analysis without active scanning or exploitation attempts.
WebSecScan: AI-Powered Website Security Auditor
Setting this up was surprisingly straightforward. The workflow uses a multi-agent architecture with two specialized OpenAI instances running custom prompts tailored for security analysis. When someone submits a URL through the form, the workflow springs into action, generating a detailed report within minutes.
What I love about this implementation is how it demonstrates n8n's flexibility. By combining AI services with email delivery and custom HTML generation, I've created something truly useful that would typically require a dedicated SaaS subscription.
Tips for Setting Up n8n
If you're just getting started with n8n, here are a few recommendations:
- Start simple: Begin with basic workflows before tackling complex automations
- Use the schedule feature: Automate recurring tasks to run at optimal times
- Leverage the community: Browse the n8n workflow templates for inspiration
- Document as you go: Add notes to your nodes to remember your logic months later
- Test incrementally: Build and test your workflow in small chunks to easily identify issues
Conclusion
Setting up n8n has been one of the most satisfying additions to my home server setup. It strikes the perfect balance between being powerful enough for complex automations while remaining approachable for those late-night coding sessions when my brain is already half asleep.
If you're into home automation and self-hosting, I highly recommend giving n8n a try. The initial setup is quick, and the time you'll save through automation is invaluable—especially when you're trying to balance tech projects with other responsibilities.
Have you tried n8n or similar automation tools? What workflows have you created to make your digital life easier? I'd love to hear your experiences!