HL N8n
FreeNot checkedConfiguration for deploying n8n in a homelab environment with an integrated MCP server.
About
Configuration for deploying n8n in a homelab environment with an integrated MCP server.
README
This setup provides n8n with integrated MCP (Model Context Protocol) support for AI assistants like Claude.
Services
- PostgreSQL: Database backend for n8n
- n8n: Workflow automation platform
- n8n-mcp: MCP server providing AI assistants with n8n integration capabilities
Quick Start
Option 1: Komodo Deployment (Recommended for Homelab)
For detailed Komodo deployment instructions, see KOMODO_DEPLOYMENT.md.
Quick Steps:
- Push this repo to your Git provider
- Create a new Stack in Komodo pointing to your repository
- Set environment variables in Komodo (use
.env.exampleas reference) - Deploy and follow post-deployment configuration steps
Option 2: Direct Docker Compose
1. Environment Setup
First, configure your environment variables in .env:
# Update these values in .env file:
POSTGRES_USER=your_postgres_admin_user
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=your_secure_postgres_password
POSTGRES_DB=your_database_name
POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_USER=your_n8n_user
POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_PASSWORD=your_n8n_user_password
N8N_API_KEY=your_n8n_api_key_here
2. Generate n8n API Key
- Start the services:
docker compose up -d - Access n8n at http://localhost:5678
- Complete the initial setup
- Go to Settings → API Keys
- Create a new API key
- Update the
N8N_API_KEYin your.envfile
3. Start All Services
docker compose up -d
4. Verify n8n-MCP Integration
Check the health endpoint:
curl http://localhost:3000/health
Service URLs
- n8n: http://localhost:5678
- n8n-MCP: http://localhost:3000
- n8n-MCP Health Check: http://localhost:3000/health
n8n-MCP Features
The n8n-MCP integration provides AI assistants with:
Documentation Tools (Always Available)
- get_node_info: Get detailed information about any n8n node
- search_nodes: Search for nodes by functionality
- validate_node_operation: Validate node configurations
- get_workflow_examples: Find example workflows
Workflow Management Tools (Requires N8N_API_KEY)
- create_workflow: Create new n8n workflows
- update_workflow: Modify existing workflows
- execute_workflow: Run workflows
- get_workflow: Retrieve workflow details
- list_workflows: Browse all workflows
- delete_workflow: Remove workflows
- And 10+ additional management tools
Claude Desktop Integration
To use with Claude Desktop, add this configuration to your Claude config file:
Basic Configuration (Documentation Only)
{
"mcpServers": {
"n8n-mcp": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run", "-i", "--rm",
"-e", "MCP_MODE=stdio",
"-e", "LOG_LEVEL=error",
"-e", "DISABLE_CONSOLE_OUTPUT=true",
"ghcr.io/czlonkowski/n8n-mcp:latest"
]
}
}
}
Full Configuration (Documentation + Workflow Management)
{
"mcpServers": {
"n8n-mcp": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run", "-i", "--rm",
"-e", "MCP_MODE=stdio",
"-e", "LOG_LEVEL=error",
"-e", "DISABLE_CONSOLE_OUTPUT=true",
"-e", "N8N_API_URL=http://host.docker.internal:5678",
"-e", "N8N_API_KEY=YOUR_N8N_API_KEY_HERE",
"ghcr.io/czlonkowski/n8n-mcp:latest"
]
}
}
}
HTTP Mode Configuration (Alternative)
{
"mcpServers": {
"n8n-remote": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/mcp-remote@latest",
"connect",
"http://localhost:3000/mcp"
],
"env": {
"MCP_AUTH_TOKEN": "YfmS1qI0wwxe+tN2JLObmxACjOG0NrZRVbV2aMzpt/g="
}
}
}
}
Management Commands
# Start services
docker compose up -d
# View logs
docker compose logs -f
# Stop services
docker compose stop
# Update services
docker compose pull
docker compose up -d
# Remove everything (including volumes)
docker compose down -v
Troubleshooting
n8n-MCP Health Check Fails
- Check if the service is running:
docker compose ps - Check logs:
docker compose logs n8n-mcp - Verify the AUTH_TOKEN is correctly set
Cannot Connect to n8n API
- Ensure n8n is accessible at http://localhost:5678
- Verify your N8N_API_KEY is correct
- Check n8n API key permissions in n8n settings
Database Connection Issues
- Check PostgreSQL logs:
docker compose logs postgres - Verify database credentials in
.envfile - Ensure the init-data.sh script executed successfully
Security Notes
- The generated
N8N_MCP_AUTH_TOKENis used to secure the MCP HTTP endpoint - Keep your
N8N_API_KEYsecure and rotate it regularly - The n8n-mcp service is configured with health checks and proper resource limits
- Database credentials should be changed from defaults in production
Data Persistence
- Database data:
db_storagevolume - n8n data:
n8n_storagevolume - n8n-MCP data:
n8n_mcp_storagevolume
All volumes are automatically managed by Docker Compose.
Installing HL N8n
This server has no published package — it is built from source. Open the repository and follow its README.
▸ github.com/mdlmarkham/HL_n8nFAQ
Is HL N8n MCP free?
Yes, HL N8n MCP is free — one-click install via Unyly at no cost.
Does HL N8n need an API key?
No, HL N8n runs without API keys or environment variables.
Is HL N8n hosted or self-hosted?
Self-hosted: the server runs locally on your machine via the install command above.
How do I install HL N8n in Claude Desktop, Claude Code or Cursor?
Open HL N8n on unyly.org, pick your client tab (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor) and press Install — the config is generated automatically, no JSON editing.
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