anvil

Custom n8n Docker image that adds Docker CLI and rclone to the official n8n image. Designed for CasaOS but works anywhere.

Docker CLI enables Docker-outside-of-Docker (DooD) — n8n workflows can run docker commands on the host by mounting /var/run/docker.sock.

rclone enables cloud storage sync (Google Drive, S3, Backblaze, etc.) from within n8n workflows.

What's Included

Tool	Purpose
Docker CLI	Run containers from n8n (DooD pattern)
rclone	Sync files to/from cloud storage
curl	HTTP requests from Execute Command nodes
unzip	Archive extraction

CasaOS Installation

1. Build the image and export as tar

# On any machine with Docker installed
git clone https://github.com/code-lodge/anvil.git
cd anvil

docker build -t n8n-with-docker .
docker save -o n8n-with-docker.tar n8n-with-docker:latest

2. Import to CasaOS

1. Copy n8n-with-docker.tar to your CasaOS machine
2. Load the image:

   docker load -i n8n-with-docker.tar

3. In CasaOS, go to Apps → Install a customized app → import casaos-n8n.yml

3. Verify

docker exec n8n docker --version
docker exec n8n rclone --version

CasaOS Configuration

The included casaos-n8n.yml sets up:

• Image: n8n-with-docker:latest
• Port: 5678 (n8n web UI)
• Volumes:
  • /var/run/docker.sock → Docker socket (DooD)
  • /DATA/Data → /home/node/data (persistent data)
  • /DATA/AppData/n8n → /home/node/.n8n (n8n config + database)

Adding environment variables

Add n8n environment variables by editing the app in CasaOS or adding them to the environment section of casaos-n8n.yml before import.

rclone Setup (Google Drive)

rclone config is stored under /home/node/data/rclone/rclone.conf, which maps to /DATA/Data/rclone/rclone.conf on the CasaOS host — it survives container rebuilds automatically.

Initial authentication (run once):

docker exec -it -e RCLONE_CONFIG=/home/node/data/rclone/rclone.conf \
  n8n rclone config

If your CasaOS machine is headless (no browser), run with port forwarding:

docker run --rm -it -p 53682:53682 \
  -v /DATA/Data:/home/node/data \
  n8n-with-docker:latest \
  rclone config --config /home/node/data/rclone/rclone.conf

Open the URL rclone prints on any machine with a browser.

In the wizard:

1. n → new remote
2. Name: gdrive
3. Storage: drive (Google Drive)
4. Scope: drive (full access)
5. Leave client_id / client_secret blank
6. y to auto config → authenticate in browser

Verify:

docker exec -e RCLONE_CONFIG=/home/node/data/rclone/rclone.conf \
  n8n rclone ls gdrive: --max-depth 1

Reconnect expired token:

docker exec -it -e RCLONE_CONFIG=/home/node/data/rclone/rclone.conf \
  n8n rclone config reconnect gdrive:

Non-CasaOS Usage

The image works with plain Docker or docker-compose:

docker build -t n8n-with-docker .

docker run -d \
  --name n8n \
  -p 5678:5678 \
  -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
  -v n8n-data:/home/node/data \
  -v n8n-config:/home/node/.n8n \
  n8n-with-docker:latest

Updating n8n

When a new n8n version is released:

docker build --no-cache -t n8n-with-docker .
docker save -o n8n-with-docker.tar n8n-with-docker:latest
docker load -i n8n-with-docker.tar  # on CasaOS machine

Then restart the container in CasaOS. Your data, workflows, and rclone config are all stored on persistent volumes and survive the update.

Workflows That Use This Image

• stashify — Automated Shopify store backup & restore
• fossil — Website archival with ArchiveBox

Files

.
├── Dockerfile        # n8n + Docker CLI + rclone
├── casaos-n8n.yml    # CasaOS app definition
├── LICENSE           # GPL-3.0-or-later
└── README.md         # This file

License

GNU General Public License v3.0 or later