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Supported databases#

By default, n8n uses SQLite to save credentials, past executions, and workflows. n8n also supports PostgresDB.

Shared settings#

The following environment variables get used by all databases:

  • DB_TABLE_PREFIX (default: -) - Prefix for table names

PostgresDB#

To use PostgresDB as the database, you can provide the following environment variables:

  • DB_TYPE=postgresdb
  • DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE (default: 'n8n')
  • DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST (default: 'localhost')
  • DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT (default: 5432)
  • DB_POSTGRESDB_USER (default: 'root')
  • DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD (default: empty)
  • DB_POSTGRESDB_SCHEMA (default: 'public')
  • DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_CA (default: undefined): Path to the server's CA certificate used to validate the connection (opportunistic encryption isn't supported)
  • DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_CERT (default: undefined): Path to the client's TLS certificate
  • DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_KEY (default: undefined): Path to the client's private key corresponding to the certificate
  • DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED (default: true): If TLS connections that fail validation should be rejected
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export DB_TYPE=postgresdb
export DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=n8n
export DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgresdb
export DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT=5432
export DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=n8n
export DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=n8n
export DB_POSTGRESDB_SCHEMA=n8n

# optional:
export DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_CA=$(pwd)/ca.crt
export DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false

n8n start

Required permissions#

n8n needs to create and modify the schemas of the tables it uses.

Recommended permissions:

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CREATE DATABASE n8n-db;
CREATE USER n8n-user WITH PASSWORD 'random-password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON DATABASE n8n-db TO n8n-user;

TLS#

You can choose between these configurations:

  • Not declaring (default): Connect with SSL=off
  • Declaring only the CA and unauthorized flag: Connect with SSL=on and verify the server's signature
  • Declaring _{CERT,KEY} and the above: Use the certificate and key for client TLS authentication

MySQL / MariaDB#

Deprecated

n8n deprecated MySQL and MariaDB as backend databases in version 0.227.0.

n8n recommends using PostgreSQL.

Refer to how to export and import workflows and credentials for instructions.

To use MySQL or MariaDB, provide the following environment variables:

  • DB_TYPE=mysqldb or DB_TYPE=mariadb
  • DB_MYSQLDB_DATABASE (default: 'n8n')
  • DB_MYSQLDB_HOST (default: 'localhost')
  • DB_MYSQLDB_PORT (default: 3306)
  • DB_MYSQLDB_USER (default: 'root')
  • DB_MYSQLDB_PASSWORD (default: empty)
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export DB_TYPE=mysqldb
export DB_MYSQLDB_DATABASE=n8n
export DB_MYSQLDB_HOST=mysqldb
export DB_MYSQLDB_PORT=3306
export DB_MYSQLDB_USER=n8n
export DB_MYSQLDB_PASSWORD=n8n

n8n start

SQLite#

This is the default database that gets used if nothing is defined.

The database file is located at: ~/.n8n/database.sqlite

Other databases#

n8n officially supports SQLite and PostgresDB.

n8n internally uses TypeORM, so adding support for the following databases should be possible:

  • CockroachDB
  • Microsoft SQL
  • Oracle

If you can't use any of the supported databases for some reason and you can code, consider submitting a pull request. You can also request support here.