n8n

This guide provides instructions for integrating n8n with the Truefoundry AI Gateway.

​

What is n8n?

n8n is a powerful workflow automation platform that connects systems and automates tasks through a visual, node-based interface. It enables users to create complex automation workflows that integrate hundreds of different services and tools, including AI capabilities.

​

Key Features of n8n

• Visual Workflow Editor: Create automation workflows using a drag-and-drop interface with visual connections between nodes, making complex integrations accessible without coding
• 500+ Integrations: Connect to hundreds of popular services including databases, APIs, cloud platforms, and productivity tools through pre-built nodes
• Conditional Logic: Build sophisticated workflows with IF/ELSE conditions, switches, and loops to handle complex business logic and decision-making
• Webhook Support: Trigger workflows instantly through webhooks and HTTP requests, enabling real-time automation and seamless integration with external systems

​

Prerequisites

Before integrating n8n with TrueFoundry, ensure you have:

1. TrueFoundry Account: Create a Truefoundry account with atleast one model provider configured
2. n8n Account: Set up an n8n account using either the open-source version for self-hosting or the cloud version

​

Integration Steps

This guide assumes you have an active n8n account and have obtained your TrueFoundry AI Gateway base URL.

​

Choosing Between TrueFoundry Chat Node and OpenAI Chat Node

You have two options for integrating n8n with TrueFoundry AI Gateway:

​

Option 1: TrueFoundry Chat Node (Recommended)

The TrueFoundry Chat Node is a dedicated community node that provides enhanced features for enterprise-grade monitoring and tracking: Automatic Metadata Tracking:

• userId: Automatically tracks the user executing the workflow
• workflowId: Unique identifier for each workflow
• workflowName: Name of the workflow for easy identification
• executionId: Unique identifier for each workflow execution
• execution mode: Tracks whether the workflow is in production or test mode
• projectId: Associates workflows with specific projects
• environment: Tracks the deployment environment (dev, staging, prod)
• instanceId: Identifies the n8n instance
• application name: Tags requests with application/feature names

Enhanced Features:

• Detailed Monitoring: Comprehensive observability with automatic metadata enrichment
• Cost Attribution: Track costs by workflow, team, department, or application
• Custom Attributes: Configure additional metadata like cost centers, departments, and fallback emails
• Better Analytics: Enhanced reporting and analytics with rich metadata context
• Audit Trail: Complete tracking of all workflow executions with full context

Installation Required: Follow Step 1 below to install the n8n-nodes-truefoundry community node.

​

Option 2: OpenAI Chat Node

The OpenAI Chat Node provides integration with TrueFoundry AI Gateway but with limited features: Limitations:

• No automatic metadata tracking
• No workflow-level attribution
• Limited monitoring capabilities

Use Case: Suitable for simple workflows that don’t require detailed monitoring or cost attribution. No Installation Required: You can skip Step 1 and use the built-in OpenAI node with TrueFoundry credentials.

​

Step 1: Install the truefoundry community node

1. Navigate to Settings > Community nodes.

2. Click install and search for n8n-nodes-truefoundry. Check the checkbox and hit install. You can also find it from the npm registry: https://www.npmjs.com/package/n8n-nodes-truefoundry

3. You should now see the truefoundry node in your installed nodes.

​

Step 2: Configure n8n Credentials

1. Navigate to your n8n dashboard and go to Create Workflow > Create Credential:

2. Click Create Credential, search for Truefoundry API or OpenAI API and hit continue.

​

Step 3: Configure Credentials with TrueFoundry

Configure the credentials with your TrueFoundry details: Fill in the following details:

• Base URL: You will get the base URL from the unified code snippet in our playground

Click Save to store your credentials. The models will be automatically fetched and listed.

​

Step 4: Create Your First AI Workflow

1. Navigate to Overview and click Create Workflow:
2. Choose Test a simple AI Agent example or Start from scratch to begin building your workflow.

​

Step 5: Build Your Workflow with AI Components

1. In the workflow editor, add nodes to create your automation. Start with a trigger and add an LLM chain node:
2. Configure your chat model node:
   • Select your TrueFoundry credentials from the dropdown
   • Choose your model from the dropdown list - all available models from your TrueFoundry account will be automatically listed here
   • If you are using the TrueFoundry Chat Node, you can configure custom attribution settings from the provided dropdown:
     • Application/Feature Name: Tag requests with your application or feature name
     • Environment: Set the deployment environment (dev, staging, prod)
     • Cost Center: Associate costs with specific cost centers
     • Department/Team: Track usage by department or team
     • Fallback User Email: Set a fallback email for notifications
   • Automatic Metadata: The node automatically captures workflowId, executionId, workflowName, and other metadata for enhanced tracking

Note: With the /models endpoint support, you no longer need to manually enter model IDs. All models configured in your TrueFoundry account will be automatically available in the dropdown.

​

Step 6: Test Your Integration

1. Save your workflow and execute it to test the integration:

2. Monitor the execution logs to ensure your AI calls are working correctly through TrueFoundry’s gateway.

​

Enterprise Features

When using n8n with TrueFoundry, you automatically gain access to enterprise-grade features:

​

Cost Management & Tracking

• Budget Controls: Set spending limits for different teams or projects
• Usage Analytics: Track AI costs across all your n8n workflows
• Cost Attribution: Monitor expenses by workflow, team, or department
• Real-time Metrics: Monitor performance, costs, and usage patterns
• Custom Metadata: Tag workflows for detailed analytics

​

Security & Compliance

• Access Controls and Rate Limit: Manage who can use which AI models in workflows
• Audit Logging: Complete logs of all AI interactions for compliance
• Data Protection: Built-in guardrails to prevent sensitive data exposure

​

Reliability Features

• Fallback Models: Automatically switch to backup models if primary fails
• Load Balancing: Distribute requests across multiple model providers

​

Advanced Configuration

​

Multi-Model Workflows

• Configure different models for different workflow steps
• Use conditional routing based on input complexity
• Implement model selection logic based on cost and performance requirements

​

Team Collaboration

• Set up shared credentials for team access
• Implement workflow versioning and change management
• Use environment-specific configurations for development vs. production

​

Enterprise Integration

• Integrate with your organization’s SSO system through TrueFoundry
• Set up department-specific cost centers and budgets
• Implement compliance monitoring for regulated industries