NeahNew/N8N_CONFIGURATION_FIX.md

N8N Configuration Fix - Environment Variables & Webhook Activation

🔍 Problems Identified

Based on your error logs, there are THREE critical issues:

1. ❌ N8N_API_KEY is not set in environment variables
2. ❌ 404 Error: Webhook "mission-created" is not registered (workflow not active)
3. ❌ 500 Error: "Error in workflow" (workflow is running but failing)

---

✅ Fix 1: Set N8N_API_KEY Environment Variable

Problem

N8N_API_KEY is not set in environment variables

Solution

Add to your .env or .env.local file:

N8N_API_KEY=LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4

Or if using a different key, use your actual N8N API key.

Where to Add

1. Local Development (.env.local):

   N8N_API_KEY=your-actual-api-key-here
   

2. Production (environment variables in your hosting platform):

   • Vercel: Settings → Environment Variables
   • Docker: docker-compose.yml or .env file
   • CapRover: App Settings → App Configs → Environment Variables

Verify It's Set

After adding, restart your application and check logs. You should NOT see:

N8N_API_KEY is not set in environment variables

---

✅ Fix 2: Activate N8N Workflow

Problem

404 Error: The requested webhook "mission-created" is not registered.
Hint: Click the 'Execute workflow' button on the canvas, then try again.

Solution

In N8N Interface:

1. Open your workflow in N8N (the one with the webhook node)

2. Click "Active" toggle in the top right to activate the workflow

   • The toggle should be GREEN/ON ✅
   • If it's gray/off, click it to activate

3. Verify the webhook node:

   • The webhook node should show as "Active"
   • The webhook path should be: mission-created
   • The full URL should be: https://brain.slm-lab.net/webhook/mission-created

Alternative: Test Mode

If you're testing:

1. Click "Execute Workflow" button on the canvas
2. This activates the webhook for one test call
3. After the test, activate the workflow permanently

Verify Webhook is Active

Test the webhook URL:

curl -X POST https://brain.slm-lab.net/webhook/mission-created \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"test": "data"}'

Expected:

• If active: Should trigger the workflow (may return error if data is invalid, but should not be 404)
• If not active: Returns 404 with message about webhook not registered

---

✅ Fix 3: Fix Workflow Errors (500 Error)

Problem

500 Error: {"message":"Error in workflow"}

This means the workflow is running but encountering an error. Common causes:

Common Issues & Fixes

Issue 3.1: Missing missionId in Process Mission Data

Check: The "Process Mission Data" node should include missionId in its output.

Fix: Ensure the node includes:

missionId: missionData?.missionId || missionData?.body?.missionId

Issue 3.2: Incorrect URL in Save Mission To API Node

Check: The "Save Mission To API" node URL should be:

{{ $node['Process Mission Data'].json.config.MISSION_API_URL }}/api/missions/mission-created

NOT:

{{ $node['Process Mission Data'].json.config.MISSION_API_URL + '/mission-created' }}

Issue 3.3: Missing missionId in Save Mission To API Body

Check: The "Save Mission To API" node body should include:

• Parameter: missionId
• Value: {{ $node['Process Mission Data'].json.missionId }}

Issue 3.4: API Key Mismatch

Check: The API key in the "Save Mission To API" node header should match your N8N_API_KEY environment variable.

Fix: Use:

{{ $node['Process Mission Data'].json.config.N8N_API_KEY }}

Debug Workflow Errors

1. Check N8N Execution Logs:

   • Go to N8N → Executions
   • Find the failed execution
   • Click on it to see which node failed
   • Check the error message

2. Test Each Node Individually:

   • Execute the workflow step by step
   • Check each node's output
   • Verify data is flowing correctly

---

📋 Complete Checklist

Environment Variables

• N8N_API_KEY is set in .env.local or production environment
• Value matches the API key used in N8N workflow
• Application has been restarted after adding the variable

N8N Workflow Configuration

• Workflow is ACTIVE (green toggle in N8N)
• Webhook path is: mission-created
• Webhook URL is: https://brain.slm-lab.net/webhook/mission-created
• "Process Mission Data" node includes missionId in output
• "Save Mission To API" node URL is correct: {{ MISSION_API_URL }}/api/missions/mission-created
• "Save Mission To API" node includes missionId in body parameters
• "Save Mission To API" node includes x-api-key header with correct value

Testing

• Test webhook URL returns 200 (not 404)
• Create a test mission
• Check N8N execution logs for errors
• Verify mission IDs are saved to database after creation

---

🧪 Step-by-Step Testing

Step 1: Verify Environment Variable

# In your terminal (if running locally)
echo $N8N_API_KEY

# Or check in your application logs
# Should NOT see: "N8N_API_KEY is not set in environment variables"

Step 2: Test Webhook is Active

curl -X POST https://brain.slm-lab.net/webhook/mission-created \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"test": "data"}'

Expected Results:

• ✅ 200/400/500 with workflow error: Webhook is active (workflow may fail due to invalid data, but webhook is registered)
• ❌ 404 with "webhook not registered": Webhook is NOT active → Activate workflow in N8N

Step 3: Test Mission Creation

1. Create a mission via your frontend
2. Check server logs - should NOT see:
   • ❌ "N8N_API_KEY is not set"
   • ❌ "404 webhook not registered"
3. Check N8N execution logs - should see successful execution
4. Check database - mission should have integration IDs saved

---

🔧 Quick Fix Commands

Add N8N_API_KEY to .env.local

# Add to .env.local file
echo "N8N_API_KEY=LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4" >> .env.local

# Restart your development server
# npm run dev
# or
# yarn dev

Verify Environment Variable is Loaded

Create a test endpoint to verify:

// app/api/test-n8n-config/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export async function GET() {
  return NextResponse.json({
    hasN8NApiKey: !!process.env.N8N_API_KEY,
    n8nWebhookUrl: process.env.N8N_WEBHOOK_URL || 'https://brain.slm-lab.net/webhook/mission-created',
    missionApiUrl: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL
  });
}

Then visit: http://localhost:3000/api/test-n8n-config

---

📝 Summary of Fixes

1. Add N8N_API_KEY to environment variables

   • File: .env.local (development) or production environment
   • Value: Your actual N8N API key
   • Restart application after adding

2. Activate N8N Workflow

   • Open workflow in N8N
   • Click "Active" toggle (should be green/on)
   • Verify webhook is registered

3. Fix Workflow Configuration

   • Ensure "Save Mission To API" URL is correct
   • Ensure missionId is included in body
   • Check N8N execution logs for specific errors

---

🚨 If Still Not Working

Check N8N Execution Logs

1. Go to N8N → Executions
2. Find the latest failed execution
3. Click on it
4. Check which node failed
5. Look at the error message
6. Fix the specific issue

Common Additional Issues

• Network connectivity: N8N can't reach your API
• CORS issues: If calling from browser
• Authentication: API key mismatch
• Data format: Body parameters don't match expected format

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Document Created: $(date) Priority: CRITICAL - Blocks mission creation