SSH consultants

Q: What does the SSH node do in n8n?

The SSH node opens an encrypted connection to a remote server and executes a shell command you specify. It returns the command's standard output (stdout) and standard error (stderr) as text, which downstream nodes can parse, filter, or act on. You can run any command the authenticated user has permission to execute on the server.

Q: What authentication methods does the SSH node support?

The node supports password authentication and private key authentication. Private key auth is strongly recommended for automated workflows because it avoids storing passwords and can be scoped to specific commands using SSH authorized_keys restrictions. You paste the private key content into the n8n credential configuration.

Q: Is SSH safe to use in automated workflows?

SSH is encrypted by default, so the connection and data transfer are secure. The security considerations are about access control: what user the SSH connection authenticates as, and what commands that user can run. We always recommend using a dedicated service account with minimal permissions, restricted to only the commands the workflow needs, rather than a root or admin user.

Q: What are practical use cases for the SSH node?

Common uses include: running scheduled database backup scripts, restarting application services after a deployment, pulling log files or data exports from remote servers, checking server health metrics (disk space, memory, CPU), executing data processing scripts written in Python or Bash on the server, and triggering builds or deployments on CI/CD servers.

Q: Can the SSH node run multiple commands in sequence?

You can chain commands in a single SSH node using standard shell syntax (command1 && command2 or command1; command2). For complex multi-step operations, we usually recommend writing a shell script on the server and having the SSH node call that script, rather than putting long command chains into the node configuration.

We can help you automate your business with SSH and hundreds of other systems to improve efficiency and productivity. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss implementing SSH.

Get in touch

Book a call

About SSH

The SSH node in n8n executes commands on remote servers over an encrypted SSH connection. You configure it with a hostname, port, and authentication credentials (password or private key), and it runs shell commands on the target machine and returns the stdout and stderr output to your workflow. This gives n8n the ability to interact with any Linux or Unix server as part of an automated pipeline.

This matters when your automation needs to touch infrastructure directly. Restarting a service, pulling fresh data from a server-side script, checking disk usage, deploying a configuration change, or running a database backup command are all tasks that require shell access. The SSH node lets you include these steps in a broader workflow without writing a separate script or logging into the server manually.

At Osher, we use the SSH node in system integration projects where part of the workflow involves interacting with on-premise servers or VPS instances. For example, triggering a data export script on a client’s server, pulling log files for analysis, or restarting services as part of an automated deployment pipeline. Our n8n consulting team builds these workflows with proper key-based authentication and scoped command permissions.

SSH FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about how SSH consultants can help with integration and implementation

What does the SSH node do in n8n?

What authentication methods does the SSH node support?

Is SSH safe to use in automated workflows?

What are practical use cases for the SSH node?

Can the SSH node run multiple commands in sequence?

How does Osher handle SSH-based workflows for clients?

We set up a dedicated SSH user on the target server with restricted permissions, generate a key pair, store the private key securely in n8n credentials, and build the workflow with proper error checking on command output. We also configure the SSH authorized_keys file to restrict the key to specific commands where appropriate. Our RPA team includes SSH steps in broader automation workflows when server-level tasks are required.

How it works

We work hand-in-hand with you to implement SSH

As SSH consultants we work with you hand in hand build more efficient and effective operations. Here’s how we will work with you to automate your business and integrate SSH with integrate and automate 800+ tools.

Step 1

Process Audit

We review which servers your team accesses manually for operational tasks, what commands they run, how frequently these tasks occur, and what triggers them. We document the server environments (OS, access methods, current user permissions) and identify which manual server tasks create delays or errors.

Step 2

Identify Automation Opportunities

We identify which server-side tasks are routine and can be safely automated: backup scripts, data exports, service restarts, log file retrieval, and health checks. We assess the risk level of each command and determine the minimum permissions needed for automated execution.

Step 3

Design Workflows

We design the n8n workflow, including the trigger (schedule, webhook, or event from another system), SSH node configuration (hostname, port, authentication method), the specific commands to execute, stdout/stderr parsing logic, and error handling for failed commands or connection timeouts.

Step 4

Implementation

We create a dedicated SSH service account on the target server, generate and configure SSH key pairs, restrict the key to the required commands in authorized_keys, configure the SSH credentials in n8n, and build the full workflow with proper error checking on command exit codes and output.

Step 5

Quality Assurance Review

We test each SSH command in the workflow against the actual target server, verify correct output parsing, confirm error handling catches failed commands or connection issues, and validate that the service account permissions are restricted to only what the workflow needs.

Step 6

Support and Maintenance

We rotate SSH keys on a regular schedule, monitor workflow execution for connection failures, update commands when server configurations change, and adjust workflows if the target server OS is upgraded or if the server is migrated to a new host.

Transform your business with SSH

Unlock hidden efficiencies, reduce errors, and position your business for scalable growth. Contact us to arrange a no-obligation SSH consultation.

Get in touch

Book a call