Install n8n on 9pods and Connect It to OpenAI

n8n is a visual workflow automation tool. This guide walks through installing it on your silo and wiring up an OpenAI node so you can build AI-powered workflows.

1. Install n8n

1. From your dashboard, go to Marketplace.
2. Search for "n8n" or find it under the Automation category.
3. Click Install. It should be running within a minute or two.
4. Open it at its subdomain, shown on its card, for example https://you-n8n.9pods.io.

2. Create your first workflow

1. In n8n, click New Workflow.
2. Add a trigger node, a Manual Trigger is the simplest starting point while you're testing.
3. Click the + button to add a second node and search for OpenAI.

3. Connect your OpenAI account

1. On the OpenAI node, click Create new credential.
2. Paste in your OpenAI API key (from platform.openai.com).
3. Save the credential, n8n stores it encrypted and reuses it across workflows.

4. Configure the OpenAI node

1. Choose the operation, Message a Model is the standard choice for chat-style completions.
2. Select a model.
3. In the prompt field, either hardcode a test prompt or reference data from an earlier node using an expression.

5. Test it

Click Execute Workflow. You should see the OpenAI node's output in the right-hand panel within a few seconds.

From here you can replace the manual trigger with a webhook, a schedule, or a trigger from another app in your workflow, and start building something real.