Solved Using the n8n CLI

[sparkwise]

n8n ships with a n8n CLI (found on Cloudron at /app/code/node_modules/.bin/n8n.) When I try to use it to export a workflow, I run into this...

/app/code/node_modules/.bin/n8n export:workflow --backup --output=/tmp/n8n/

Error exporting workflows. See log messages for details.
EROFS: read-only file system, mkdir '/root/.n8n'

Is there a different way to invoke the command that works on Cloudron?

[robi]

looks at the command options and see if there's a way to specify the configuration directory, since it seems it is failing trying to create one.

[JOduMonT]

@sparkwise said in Using the n8n CLI:

Is there a different way to invoke the command that works on Cloudron?

I exactly encounter the same error on the same command

Personally I thought to run the command with as user cloudron (1000)
but then I have another issue

su -c '/app/code/node_modules/n8n/bin/n8n export:workflow --backup --output=/app/data/user/backups/' cloudron

/usr/bin/env: ‘node’: No such file or directory

PS: I also tried your variation but end with the same issue

su -c '/app/code/node_modules/.bin/n8n export:workflow --backup --output=/app/data/user/backups/' cloudron

UPDATE

This work'ish

su -c '/usr/local/node-16.15.0/bin/node /app/code/node_modules/n8n/bin/n8n export:workflow --backup --output=/app/data/user/backups/' cloudron

but it came with the almost with the same error then you

Error exporting workflows. See log messages for details.
EROFS: read-only file system, mkdir '/home/cloudron/.n8n'

also it is not really sustainable since the node version is hard-coded in my command.

[JOduMonT]

@robi said in Using the n8n CLI:

looks at the command options and see if there's a way to specify the configuration directory, since it seems it is failing trying to create one.

sadly, the command is not very voluble on that information

/app/code/node_modules/.bin/n8n --help                                                             
n8n Workflow Automation Tool

VERSION
  n8n/0.179.0 linux-x64 node-v16.15.0

USAGE
  $ n8n [COMMAND]

TOPICS
  db               Revert last database migration
  export           Export credentials
  import           Import credentials
  list
  update           Update workflows
  user-management

COMMANDS
  execute
  executeBatch
  start         Starts n8n. Makes Web-UI available and starts active workflows
  webhook       Starts n8n webhook process. Intercepts only production URLs.
  worker

• I asked them n8n community

[robi]

This may be the way, setting it via an environment variable since it doesn't appear to have a CLI parameter:
https://docs.n8n.io/hosting/configuration/

[girish]

@JOduMonT @sparkwise the n8n user directory has to be set.

# export N8N_USER_FOLDER="/app/data/user"
# export N8N_CONFIG_FILES="/app/data/configs/default.json"
# gosu cloudron /app/code/node_modules/.bin/n8n export:workflow --backup --output=/tmp/n8n/

Loading configuration overwrites from:
 - /app/data/configs/default.json

Error exporting workflows. See log messages for details.
No workflows found with specified filters.

I will move the env vars into the Dockerfile, so this will work out of the box.

[girish]

Please try in the latest package. I put this in the docs as well - https://docs.cloudron.io/apps/n8n/#cli

[sparkwise]

@girish That worked perfectly! Thank you.

[sparkwise]

@girish said in Using the n8n CLI:

I put this in the docs as well - https://docs.cloudron.io/apps/n8n/#cli

In the docs, it could be helpful to linking "n8n CLI" to the documentation link: https://docs.n8n.io/reference/cli-commands/

[JOduMonT]

@girish + @nebulon it is very nice to have access to you; you are very responsive and highly competent
thank you!