Install n8n on raspberry pi (natively)

n8n-install-pi.sh

#!/bin/bash

# updating repositories
sudo apt update

# installing build tools and python
sudo apt install build-essential python

# installing nodejs
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install nodejs

# install n8n globally
npm install n8n -g

# adding systemd entry
sudo echo "[Unit]
Description=n8n - Easily automate tasks across different services.
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=pi
ExecStart=/usr/bin/n8n start --tunnel
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target" > /etc/systemd/system/n8n.service

# reloading, enabling on boot and starting n8n
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable n8n
sudo systemctl start n8n

Hello @caldeusrp 👋

Failed to enable unit: Unit file n8n.service does not exist.
Failed to start n8n.service: Unit n8n.service not found.

The echo command from line 17 to 29 may have failed, are you running it with sudo? Looks like a permission error to redirect the output to /usr/...

on line 8 it would be: build-essential without the S

You are right indeed, I will correct it, thanks.

on line 15 the command did not work, running sudo npm install -g [email protected]

That's pretty odd, have you tried running it without sudo?

Why are you placing the systemd unit directly into /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/? Shouldn't it be in /lib/systemd/system/ so that it will be symlinked there when you systemctl enable it?

Hey @MarioKart7z, it should actually be in /etc/system/systemd since n8n is installed outside of apt package manager.
I updated the script to use node 18 and updated the location of the systemd unit. Thanks for the report!