# Database
By default, n8n uses SQLite to save credentials, past executions, and workflows. However, 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) — a path to the server's CA certificate to use to validate the connection (opportunistic encryption is not supported)DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_CERT
(default: undefined) — a path to the client's TLS certificate to authenticate withDB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_KEY
(default: undefined) — a path to the client's private key corresponding to the its certificateDB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED
(default: true) — if TLS connections that fail validation should be rejected
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
# TLS
A note on TLS certificates — you can choose between these configurations:
- not declaring (default) — in which case you'll connect with SSL=off
- declaring only the CA + unauthorized flag — in which case you'll connect with SSL=on and verify the server's signature
- declaring
_{CERT,KEY}
as well as the above — in which case you'll use the cert and key for client TLS authentication
# MySQL / MariaDB
The compatibility with MySQL/MariaDB has been tested. Even then, it is advisable to observe the operation of the application with this database as this option has been recently added. If you spot any problems, feel free to submit a burg report or a pull request.
To use MySQL as database you can provide the following environment variables:
DB_TYPE=mysqldb
orDB_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)
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
Currently, only the databases mentioned above are supported. n8n internally uses TypeORM (opens new window), so adding support for the following databases should not be too much work:
- CockroachDB
- Microsoft SQL
- Oracle
If you cannot use any of the currently supported databases for some reason and you can code, we'd appreciate your support in the form of a pull request. If not, you can request for support here:
https://community.n8n.io/c/feature-requests/cli (opens new window)