Migration from SaaS-based automation to a self-hosted, Docker-orchestrated n8n cluster to ensure 100% data sovereignty, custom binary execution, and eliminated task-based scaling costs.
Standard SaaS automation platforms (n8n Cloud/Make) introduced significant limitations: restricted access to the underlying filesystem, high latency for local database operations, and 'per-execution' pricing that penalized high-frequency RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) workflows. We needed an 'Engine Room' that provided full sovereignty over business logic and data.
Architected a self-hosted n8n instance using Docker Compose on a hardened Linux VPS. The system utilizes a decoupled PostgreSQL database for execution persistence and is shielded behind a Cloudflare Zero Trust perimeter. This setup allows for custom Node.js/Python library injections and high-concurrency processing without external API overhead.
Achieved 99.9% uptime with 0% external data leakage. The shift reduced operational overhead by 70% for high-volume tasks and enabled complex mechatronics-grade logic (idempotent loops and deep error handling) that SaaS environments could not support. The system currently processes 50,000+ monthly executions with near-zero latency.
The cluster is deployed on a dedicated Ubuntu node, utilizing Docker for service isolation. To ensure 'The Floor'—our standard for production stability—we separated the n8n application from the database layer. This prevents data corruption during container updates and allows for independent scaling of the PostgreSQL persistence layer.
Security is managed via a 'Zero-Visibility' protocol. The n8n dashboard is not exposed to the public internet. Instead, it is routed through a Cloudflare Tunnel with Zero Trust Access requirements. We also implemented Cloudflare WAF rules to challenge non-human traffic, resulting in the successful blocking of 140+ malicious probes in the first 30 days of operation.
To maintain mechatronics-grade reliability, the cluster features a 'Self-Healing' sub-routine. A secondary n8n worker monitors the primary container's health; if heartbeat signals fail, it triggers an automated restart and alerts the system administrator via an encrypted Telegram webhook. This ensures that critical business workflows resume immediately without manual intervention.