I built and deployed a secure AI chatbot using n8n, hosted on a private server and connected through a custom reverse proxy. This post breaks down how I set it up, solved major integration bugs, and hardened it with proper securityso you can build your own without wasting weeks debugging.
Introduction: Why I Built It
I needed a flexible and private chatbot solution for handling user queries and integrating with automated workflows. Most hosted chatbot services were too restrictive or expensive. So I decided to self-host an AI-powered chatbot using n8n, an open-source automation tool. What seemed like a weekend project turned into a frustrating multi-week challenge.
The Goal
??? How I Set It Up
1. VPS and Server Prep
I rented a small VPS, installed Ubuntu, and configured it with:
? Tip: Lock down the server before anything else. Bots will start scanning your IP the moment it's live.
2. Running n8n via Docker
services:
n8n:
image: n8nio/n8n
environment:
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=strongpass
- N8N_PORT=5678
ports:
- "5678:5678"
volumes:
- ./data:/home/node/.n8n
3. Reverse Proxy with NGINX
location /webhook/chat {
proxy_pass http://localhost:5678;
proxy_http_version 1.1;
proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
}
4. Embedding the Widget
What Went Wrong (And Why It Took Weeks)
? Fixes: I ended up whitelisting /webhook/chat from auth and tuning CORS and cookie policies manually.
Final Security Enhancements
Results
MetricValue
Latency1.2s avg
Widget success100% stable
Time to build3 weeks ??
Monthly cost< $10 VPS
Key Lessons
? Conclusion
Deploying your own AI chatbot is empoweringbut only if youre ready to dive into server config, CORS debugging, and reverse proxy hell. Now that its working, I wouldnt go back to SaaS chatbots.
Want My Configs?
Im happy to share my sanitized NGINX + Docker templates. Just drop a comment below or message me privatelyI'll send them your way.
Contact
For help, questions, or custom setup: Contact me at HVTEQ