Making your n8n workflows accessible from the outside: A comprehensive guide

n8n is an open source workflow automation tool that allows you to connect different services and automate tasks without writing any code. While n8n is powerful on its own, making your workflows accessible from outside your local environment opens up a world of possibilities. This guide will walk you through several methods for exposing your n8n workflows externally, along with important security considerations and configuration tips.

Why expose n8n workflows?

By exposing your n8n workflows, you can

• Trigger workflows remotely: Launch workflows based on external events or triggers.
• Integrate with external services: Allow third-party applications to interact with your workflows.
• Build APIs: Create custom API endpoints for your applications.
• Enhance Automation: Automate tasks that require external data or input.

Methods for exposing n8n workflows

1. Using Webhook Nodes

How it works

The Webhook node in n8n acts as an HTTP endpoint that can trigger workflows when it receives a request.

Steps to implement

• Add a webhook node: Place the Webhook node at the start of your workflow.
• Configure the webhook URL:
  • By default, n8n generates a webhook URL.
  • If you are running behind a reverse proxy, set the WEBHOOK_URL' environment variable to reflect your domain. bash export WEBHOOK_URL=https://n8n.example.com/ `
• Set the HTTP method: Choose between GET, POST, etc. according to your needs.
• Enable the workflow: Make sure the workflow is active to receive external requests.

Use cases

• Receive data from web forms.
• Integrate with services that support webhooks (e.g. GitHub, Stripe).

2. Using the HTTP request node

How it works

The HTTP Request Node allows your workflows to send and receive HTTP requests, effectively allowing you to create REST API endpoints.

Steps to implement

• Add an HTTP Request Node: Include it in your workflow where you need to interact with external services.
• Configure the request:
  • Specify the HTTP method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.).
  • Specify the URL and any necessary headers or parameters.
• Process the response: Use subsequent nodes to process the response data.

Use Cases

• Use external APIs within your workflows.
• Sending data to external services.

3. Using the n8n API

How it works

n8n provides an integrated REST API that allows you to programmatically manage and execute workflows.

Steps to implement

• Activate the API: Ensure that the API is enabled and properly configured in your n8n instance.
• Authenticate:
  • Use API keys or JWT for authentication.
  • Configure authentication methods in your n8n settings.
• Make API calls:
  • Use HTTP clients such as cURL, Postman or integrate into applications.
  • Perform actions such as triggering workflows, retrieving execution data, etc.

Use cases

• Automation of workflow management tasks.
• Integrate n8n programmatically with other applications.

4. Configure webhook URLs using a reverse proxy.

How it works

If you are running n8n behind a reverse proxy (such as Nginx or Traefik), you will need to manually configure webhook URLs to ensure they are exposed correctly.

Steps to implement

• Set environment variables:
  • N8N_PROTOCOL: Set to https if using SSL/TLS.
  • N8N_HOST: Your domain name (e.g. n8n.example.com).
  • N8N_PORT: Port number if you are not using standard ports.
• Configure the reverse proxy:
  • Set up SSL/TLS termination.
  • Forward requests to your n8n instance.
• Update Webhook URLs:
  • Ensure that the webhook URLs generated in the editor UI match your public facing URLs.

Use Cases

• Use n8n in production environments.
• Integrate with services that require public-facing endpoints.

Security considerations

Exposing your workflows externally introduces security risks. Here are some best practices for securing your n8n instance:

• Use SSL/TLS (HTTPS): Always encrypt data in transit by enabling SSL/TLS.
• Authentication:
  • Protect endpoints with authentication mechanisms such as API keys or JWT.
  • Restrict access to trusted parties.
• Implement security best practices:
  • Update n8n regularly to patch vulnerabilities.
  • Use firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
  • Review n8n's security guidelines.

Configuration Tips

Optimising your n8n instance ensures reliability and performance when handling external requests.

Timeout settings

• Long running workflows: Set appropriate timeouts using the `EXECUTIONS_TIMEOUT' environment variable.

  export EXECUTIONS_TIMEOUT=3600 # Timeout after 1 hour

Scalability with Queue Mode

• Enable queue mode: Use queue mode for better scalability, especially when handling multiple concurrent requests.
• Configure with Redis: Queue mode requires a Redis instance to manage the queues.
• Benefits:
  • Improved performance.
  • Better resource management.

Error handling

• Implement error nodes: Use the error trigger node to catch and handle errors gracefully.
• Logging:
  • Enable detailed logging for troubleshooting.
  • Monitor logs for unusual activity.

Monitoring and Logging

• External access monitoring: Track who is accessing your workflows.
• Leverage monitoring tools: Integrate with tools such as Prometheus or Grafana for real-time monitoring.
• Audit logs: Review logs regularly for security and troubleshooting purposes.

Useful documentation links

• Webhook Configuration: n8n Webhook URL Configuration
• Security Settings: n8n Security Environment Variables
• Scaling & Performance: n8n Scaling Overview
• Queue Mode: n8n Execution Modes and Processes

Happy Automation with n8n!