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Deploy n8n on your own machine and connect it to CometAPI via the community node to run automated AI workflows locally.

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Prerequisites

  • Linux (Ubuntu/Debian/CentOS, etc.) or macOS
  • 2 GB+ RAM, 10 GB+ free disk space
  • Shell access with reach to the public npm registry
  • Node.js 18.x or 20.x LTS (see Step 1)
  • A CometAPI account with an active API key — get yours here
1

Get your CometAPI API key

Log in to the CometAPI console. Click Add API Key and copy your sk-xxxxx key.
CometAPI dashboard showing the Add API Key button
CometAPI API key details with base URL
2

Install Node.js via nvm

n8n 1.x requires Node.js 18.x or 20.x. The recommended approach is nvm:
# Install nvm
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash

# Reload your shell profile
source ~/.bashrc   # or ~/.zshrc on macOS

# Install and activate the LTS version
nvm install --lts
nvm use --lts

# Verify
node -v
npm -v
If you see n8n: command not found later, restart the terminal or ensure the nvm-managed npm global bin directory is on your PATH.
3

Install and start n8n

npm install -g n8n
n8n -v       # verify the installed version
n8n start    # runs on http://localhost:5678/
If port 5678 is already in use:
export N8N_PORT=5679
n8n start
To keep n8n running after closing the terminal:
npm install -g pm2
pm2 start "n8n" --name n8n
pm2 save
pm2 status
Terminal showing n8n starting successfully
n8n startup logs in the terminal
4

Create your owner account

Open http://localhost:5678/ in your browser. On first run, the setup wizard asks you to create an Owner account (email + password). Complete this and sign in.
n8n first-run setup wizard asking for Owner account details
5

Install the CometAPI community node

  1. Go to Settings (bottom-left) → Community nodes
  2. Click Install a community node
  3. Enter the package name: @cometapi-dev/n8n-nodes-cometapi
  4. Check the risk acknowledgment box and click Install
After installation you can search for CometAPI in the node panel.
n8n Settings panel showing the Community nodes section
Install dialog with the CometAPI package name entered
If the Community Nodes section is missing: make sure you are signed in as the Owner account, and check Settings → Security to confirm community node installation is enabled.
6

Create a workflow and configure credentials

  1. Click + New at the top to create a workflow.
  2. Click + on the canvas and search for CometAPI to add the node.
n8n workflow canvas with the CometAPI node search open
CometAPI node added to the n8n canvas
  1. Add a Manual Trigger node and connect it to the CometAPI node.
  2. In the CometAPI node, under Credential to connect with, choose Create new. Paste your sk-xxxxx key into CometAPI Key and click Save. The Base URL defaults to https://api.cometapi.com and typically needs no change.
CometAPI credential dialog with API key entered
  1. Configure the node:
  • Model: enter the current model ID you want to use
  • Messages: set Role to user, Content to your test prompt (e.g. Hello)
  • Optional: add a system message, set Max Tokens, Temperature, etc.
  1. Click Execute step to run the node. The Output panel shows the JSON response.
n8n output panel showing a successful CometAPI JSON response
  • node-gyp or native build errors — install build tools: sudo apt install build-essential python3 (Debian/Ubuntu) or Xcode Command Line Tools (macOS).
  • npm permission errors (EACCES) — use nvm for a user-level Node.js install; no sudo needed.
  • Port conflict (localhost:5678 unavailable) — set N8N_PORT=5679 (or another free port) before running n8n start.
  • Community Nodes section missing — sign in as the Owner account and check Settings → Security.
  • npm install fails on corporate networks — configure a proxy: npm config set proxy http://user:pass@host:port
  • CometAPI node returns 401/403 — verify your API key and that the model is accessible on your CometAPI plan.
  • Empty responses or token limit errors — increase Max Tokens; adjust Temperature and Top P as needed.
  • n8n stops when terminal closes — use pm2: pm2 start "n8n" --name n8n && pm2 save.