NeahNew/N8N_API_KEY_MISSING_FIX.md

# N8N_API_KEY Missing - Server Configuration Error

## 🔍 Problem Identified

**Error**: `500 - "Server configuration error"`

**Cause**: `N8N_API_KEY` is **NOT set** in the server's environment variables.

---

## ✅ Solution: Add N8N_API_KEY to Environment Variables

### The Error

Looking at `app/api/missions/mission-created/route.ts` (lines 34-39):

```typescript
if (!expectedApiKey) {
  logger.error('N8N_API_KEY not configured in environment');
  return NextResponse.json(
    { error: 'Server configuration error' },
    { status: 500 }
  );
}
```

**This error means**: `process.env.N8N_API_KEY` is `undefined` or empty.

---

## 🔧 How to Fix

### Step 1: Determine Your Environment

**Are you running**:
- Local development?
- Production server?
- Docker container?
- Vercel/other hosting?

### Step 2: Add N8N_API_KEY

#### Option A: Local Development (`.env.local`)

**Create or edit `.env.local` file** in your project root:

```env
N8N_API_KEY=LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4
```

**Then restart your development server**:
```bash
# Stop the server (Ctrl+C)
# Restart
npm run dev
# or
yarn dev
```

#### Option B: Production Server

**If using Docker**:
Add to `docker-compose.yml`:
```yaml
services:
  app:
    environment:
      - N8N_API_KEY=LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4
```

**Or in `.env` file** (if using docker-compose with env_file):
```env
N8N_API_KEY=LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4
```

**If using CapRover**:
1. Go to App Settings
2. App Configs → Environment Variables
3. Add: `N8N_API_KEY` = `LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4`
4. Save and restart the app

**If using Vercel**:
1. Go to Project Settings
2. Environment Variables
3. Add: `N8N_API_KEY` = `LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4`
4. Redeploy

**If using other hosting**:
- Add `N8N_API_KEY` to your hosting platform's environment variables
- Restart/redeploy the application

---

## 🧪 Verification

### Step 1: Check if Variable is Set

**Create a test endpoint** to verify:

```typescript
// app/api/test-env/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export async function GET() {
  return NextResponse.json({
    hasN8NApiKey: !!process.env.N8N_API_KEY,
    n8nApiKeyLength: process.env.N8N_API_KEY?.length || 0,
    // Don't expose the actual key!
  });
}
```

**Then visit**: `http://localhost:3000/api/test-env` (or your production URL)

**Expected**:
```json
{
  "hasN8NApiKey": true,
  "n8nApiKeyLength": 32
}
```

### Step 2: Test the Endpoint Manually

**After adding the variable and restarting**:

```bash
curl -X POST https://hub.slm-lab.net/api/missions/mission-created \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "x-api-key: LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4" \
  -d '{
    "missionId": "test-mission-id",
    "name": "Test Mission",
    "creatorId": "test-user-id"
  }'
```

**Expected**: 
- ✅ **200 OK** with JSON response (if mission exists)
- ❌ **500 error** if `N8N_API_KEY` is still not set
- ❌ **401 error** if API key doesn't match

### Step 3: Check Server Logs

**After adding the variable**, check your server logs. You should **NOT** see:
```
N8N_API_KEY not configured in environment
```

**You SHOULD see** (when endpoint is called):
```
Mission Created Webhook Received
Received mission-created data: { ... }
```

---

## 🔍 Troubleshooting

### Issue 1: Variable Not Loading

**Symptom**: Still getting 500 error after adding variable

**Possible causes**:
1. **Wrong file**: Using `.env` instead of `.env.local` (Next.js prefers `.env.local`)
2. **Not restarted**: Server needs restart after adding env variable
3. **Wrong location**: `.env.local` must be in project root (same level as `package.json`)
4. **Syntax error**: Check for quotes, spaces, or special characters

**Fix**:
```env
# Correct
N8N_API_KEY=LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4

# Wrong (with quotes)
N8N_API_KEY="LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4"

# Wrong (with spaces)
N8N_API_KEY = LwgeE1ntADD20OuWC88S3pR0EaO7FtO4
```

### Issue 2: Different Key in N8N

**Symptom**: 401 Unauthorized error

**Cause**: The API key in N8N workflow doesn't match the one in environment

**Fix**: 
- Use the same key in both places
- Or update N8N workflow to use the key from environment

### Issue 3: Production vs Development

**Symptom**: Works locally but not in production

**Cause**: Environment variable only set in development

**Fix**: Add the variable to production environment as well

---

## 📋 Complete Checklist

- [ ] `N8N_API_KEY` added to `.env.local` (development) or production environment
- [ ] Variable has correct value (no quotes, no spaces)
- [ ] Application restarted after adding variable
- [ ] Test endpoint shows `hasN8NApiKey: true`
- [ ] Manual curl test returns 200 (not 500)
- [ ] Server logs show "Mission Created Webhook Received" (not "N8N_API_KEY not configured")
- [ ] N8N workflow uses same API key in header

---

## 🎯 Expected Flow After Fix

1. **Mission created** ✅
2. **N8N workflow triggered** ✅
3. **N8N creates integrations** ✅
4. **N8N calls `/api/missions/mission-created`** ✅
5. **Endpoint receives request** ✅
6. **API key validated** ✅
7. **IDs saved to database** ✅
8. **Mission has integration IDs** ✅

---

## 📝 Summary

**Problem**: 500 "Server configuration error"

**Root Cause**: `N8N_API_KEY` environment variable is not set

**Solution**: 
1. Add `N8N_API_KEY` to environment variables
2. Use the same key value that N8N is sending in the `x-api-key` header
3. Restart the application
4. Test the endpoint

**After Fix**: The endpoint should return 200 OK and save integration IDs to the database.

---

**Document Created**: $(date)
**Priority**: CRITICAL - Blocks integration IDs from being saved