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Deploying n8n to AWS with Defang

· 5 min read
Defang Team

Introduction​

n8n is a powerful open-source workflow automation tool that allows you to connect various applications and services together. Defang is your DevOps agent that can deploy any app to any cloud in a single step. In this guide, we'll walk through the process of deploying n8n to your AWS account using Defang.

Prerequisites​

Before getting started, make sure you have:

  • A Defang account (sign up at defang.io)
  • An AWS account
  • Basic knowledge of command-line interface

Step 1: Install Defang CLI​

First, install the Defang CLI tool on your system:

eval "$(curl -fsSL s.defang.io/install)"

Verify the installation:

defang version

Step 2: Clone the n8n Sample on Defang​

Clone the n8n sample to your directory:

defang new n8n
cd n8n

Once you choose the n8n sample, it'll create the n8n sample for you.

Step 3: Setup Defang for AWS​

Please follow step #1 and step#2 in the guide to setup your environment so defang can use your AWS credentials.

Step 4: Configure your Credentials​

For this sample, you will need to provide the following configuration. Note that if you are using the 1-click deploy option, you can set these values as secrets in your GitHub repository and the action will automatically deploy them for you.

POSTGRES_PASSWORD

The password for your Postgres database. You need to set this before deploying for the first time.

You can easily set this to a random string using defang config set POSTGRES_PASSWORD --random -Paws

N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY

The encryption key for your n8n instance. This is used to encrypt sensitive data in the database.

You can easily set this to a random string using defang config set N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY --random -Paws

DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_ENABLED

Set to true to enable SSL. Set to false to disable SSL.

It is recommended that you deploy your N8N instance with SSL enabled so it would be a managed version of Postgres.

Please enable SSL by using defang config set DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_ENABLED=true -Paws

DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED

Set to true to reject unauthorized certificates. Set to false to accept unauthorized certificates. Counterintuitive, but leave this as false to allow managed Postgres to work.

It is recommended that you deploy your N8N instance to accept unauthorized certificates so it would allow managed version of Postgres to work. Please accept unauthorized certificates by using defang config set DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false -Paws

Step 5: Deploy with Defang​

Deploy your n8n instance using Defang:

defang compose up -Paws

Defang will:

  • Build and package your application
  • Create the necessary cloud resources
  • Deploy your n8n instance
  • Provide you with a public URL

Step 6: Configure n8n Settings​

Once deployed, Defang will provide you with a URL where your n8n instance is running. Access it through your browser:

https://your-n8n-instance.defang.app

Log in using the credentials you set in the environment variables:

  • Username: admin
  • Password: changeme (remember to change this!)

Step 7: Set Up Your First Workflow​

After logging in:

  1. Click on "Create Workflow" to start building your automation
  2. Add nodes by clicking the "+" button
  3. Connect various applications and services
  4. Test your workflow using the "Execute Workflow" button
  5. Activate your workflow when ready

Post-Deployment Steps​

Security Configuration​

  • Change Default Credentials: Update your basic auth password immediately
  • Enable SSL: Defang automatically provides SSL certificates

Monitoring and Maintenance​

View Logs: View application logs using:

defang logs

Monitor Performance: Access Defang dashboard to monitor resource usage

Update n8n: To update to the latest version:

defang compose up

Integration Best Practices​

  • Use Webhooks: Configure webhook URLs for external service integrations
  • Set Up Credentials: Store API keys and credentials securely in n8n
  • Test Workflows: Always test workflows in a staging environment first
  • Enable Notifications: Set up error notifications for workflow failures

Backup Configuration​

Ensure your n8n data is backed up regularly:

  • Use Defang's volume backup features
  • Export important workflows regularly from the n8n UI
  • Store workflow JSON files in version control

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

Connection failures: Examine logs:

defang logs --follow

Port Issues: Ensure port 5678 is properly exposed in your compose file

Auth errors: Double-check your environment variables

Where to Get Help​

Conclusion​

Deploying n8n using Defang lets you bring up a robust, production-grade workflow automation system on AWS with minimal effort. You benefit from built-in SSL, scalable infrastructure, and a simple one-command deployment, while Defang handles provisioning and configuring AWS resources behind the scenes. This integration shifts your focus from managing servers, networking, and security to creating automations and business logic. The combination of n8n's versatile workflow engine, Defang's deployment automation, and AWS's reliable cloud platform forms a powerful and efficient automation stack. Happy automating!