Hello,

n8n version 2.0 is here, bringing security tightening and reliability fixes that make it a much stronger tool. If you're running production workflows on your Contabo server, these changes matter.

What Changed

Task runners enabled by default. Code node executions now run in isolated environments with limited system access. Environment variable access is blocked. Nodes allowing arbitrary command execution are disabled by default. OAuth callbacks require authentication.

These changes reduce attack surface significantly when handling customer data or API credentials.

Database support cleaned up. MySQL and MariaDB are gone. PostgreSQL is recommended for production, SQLite remains for smaller deployments. The new SQLite pooling driver benchmarks up to 10x faster.

Publish vs Save. Saving an activated workflow no longer updates what's running in production immediately. Save preserves edits. Publish explicitly updates the live version when you're ready. This reduces risk of accidentally breaking workflows while editing.

Full breaking changes are documented in the n8n 2.0 migration guide. We also cover most of the details in our blog post.

If You're Running n8n 1.x

Version 1.x gets three months of support from n8n - security and bug fixes only.

Run the Migration Report first. Find it under Settings → Migration Report in your n8n instance. It scans your workflows and flags what needs attention before upgrading. Fix critical issues, then upgrade.

Our guide on How to Update Your Self-Hosted n8n Instance on Contabo walks through the process of updating your existing instance.

Fresh Installs Get 2.0 Automatically

New servers deployed with our free 1-click n8n image will get version 2.0 stable by default. No migration needed. You can also reinstall your existing server to get the updated version (but note that this will delete all data).

Should You Upgrade?

Running production workflows on 1.x? Yes, but run the Migration Report first. Fix critical issues. Test if possible. Then upgrade.

Starting fresh? Then deploy 2.0 directly.

Version 2.0 won't make headlines for flashy features. But it makes n8n more secure and more reliable for production use. That matters more than interface redesigns when you're running workflows that actually affect your business.

Your Contabo Team