Create restorable n8n Docker backups in Google Drive via SSH

by Hồ Đình Huy ✓ · 14 views · created 2026-06-28 · DevOps

What this workflow does

This workflow has 44 nodes and runs on a schedule (cron 0 10,22 * * *) (plus 1 other trigger). Along the way it connects Google Drive.

How it runs

Trigger: On a schedule (cron 0 10,22 * * *) (plus 1 other trigger).

1. Set Backup Configuration (Edit Fields (Set)): sets 2 fields: dockerContainer, date
2. Set Restore Configuration (Edit Fields (Set)): sets 1 field: dockerContainer
3. Create Backup Folder (Google Drive): work with folder
4. Split Uploaded Backup Files (Code): runs custom JavaScript code
5. Create Credentials Folder (Google Drive): work with folder
6. Create Workflows Folder (Google Drive): work with folder
7. Parse Uploaded JSON Files (Extract from File): extracts data from a file (from json)
8. Export Credentials via SSH (SSH): uses SSH
9. Export Workflows via SSH (SSH): uses SSH
10. Detect Backup Record Types (Code): runs custom JavaScript code

…plus 32 more steps. See the full node list below.

Services it uses

Google Drive

Before you upgrade to n8n 3.0

Nodes used (12)

• Loop Over Items (Split in Batches)n8n-nodes-base.splitInBatches
• Schedule Triggern8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger
• SSHn8n-nodes-base.ssh
• Coden8n-nodes-base.code
• Split Outn8n-nodes-base.splitOut
• Convert to Filen8n-nodes-base.convertToFile
• Mergen8n-nodes-base.merge
• Extract from Filen8n-nodes-base.extractFromFile
• Switchn8n-nodes-base.switch
• Edit Fields (Set)n8n-nodes-base.set
• n8n Form Triggern8n-nodes-base.formTrigger
• Google Driven8n-nodes-base.googleDrive

From the author

Quick overview This workflow backs up n8n workflows and encrypted credentials from a self-hosted Docker instance via SSH, stores the exports as JSON files in structured Google Drive folders, and provides a Basic Auth–protected form to restore uploaded backups…

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