Docker

Overview

This n8n node allows you to interact with Docker, specifically to run commands inside a container using a specified image. The "Network" resource with the "Run" operation is designed to pull a Docker image and execute a command within it, capturing both standard output and error streams. This is useful for automating tasks that require isolated execution environments, such as running scripts, testing code, or performing network operations in a controlled Docker context.

Practical examples:

• Running a network diagnostic tool (like ping or curl) inside a specific Docker image.
• Executing custom scripts in a temporary container for data processing or transformation.
• Automating deployment or configuration steps that need to be run in a clean environment.

Properties

Output

The node outputs a JSON object containing:

• stdout: The standard output produced by the executed command.
• stderr: The standard error output from the command.

Example output:

{
  "stdout": "total 0\ndrwxr-xr-x    2 root     root            6 Apr 14 12:00 .\ndrwxr-xr-x    1 root     root           18 Apr 14 12:00 ..\n",
  "stderr": ""
}

Dependencies

• Docker Daemon/API: Requires access to a Docker host where images can be pulled and containers can be run.
• Credentials: Needs valid Docker credentials configured in n8n (dockerCredentialsApi).

Troubleshooting

• No credentials got returned!
  Cause: Docker credentials are not set up or selected in the node.
  Solution: Ensure you have created and selected Docker credentials in the node's settings.

• Command must be an array!
  Cause: The "Command" property is not a valid JSON array.
  Solution: Enter the command as a JSON array, e.g., ["ls", "-la"].

• Image not found or cannot be pulled
  Cause: The specified Docker image does not exist or there are network issues.
  Solution: Verify the image name and ensure the Docker host has internet access or the image is available locally.

Links and References

• Docker Documentation
• n8n Credentials Documentation
• n8n Node Development Guide