store: n8n-mcp server setup for Claude Code via mcp-manager

graph/configurations/n8n-mcp-server-setup-for-claude-code-via-mcp-manager-1d8200.md

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+---
+id: 1d8200b3-2413-41c0-86a7-26e246ff22ac
+type: configuration
+title: "n8n-mcp server setup for Claude Code via mcp-manager"
+tags: [n8n, mcp, claude-code, automation, configuration]
+importance: 0.7
+confidence: 0.8
+created: "2026-02-20T03:37:30.277147+00:00"
+updated: "2026-02-20T03:37:30.277147+00:00"
+---
+
+## Setup
+
+Added `n8n-mcp` (czlonkowski/n8n-mcp v2.35.3) as an on-demand MCP server managed by the mcp-manager skill.
+
+### Architecture Decision
+- Runs **locally via `npx n8n-mcp`** in stdio mode (not on the n8n Docker host)
+- Rationale: The bundled node docs/templates (1,084 nodes, 2,709 templates) are in a local SQLite DB — no need to be near n8n. The n8n API at `http://10.10.0.210:5678` is fast over LAN. Running remotely would require HTTP transport + port exposure for no benefit.
+
+### Config Files
+- `~/.claude/.mcp.json` — active MCP config (cognitive-memory always loaded, n8n-mcp added on demand)
+- `~/.claude/.mcp-full.json` — full registry with all MCP definitions including credentials
+- `~/.claude/.mcp.json.backup` — auto-created before changes
+- `~/.claude/secrets/n8n_api_key` — n8n REST API key (JWT)
+
+### n8n-mcp Entry
+```json
+{
+  "command": "npx",
+  "args": ["n8n-mcp"],
+  "env": {
+    "MCP_MODE": "stdio",
+    "N8N_API_URL": "http://10.10.0.210:5678",
+    "N8N_API_KEY": "<from ~/.claude/secrets/n8n_api_key>",
+    "N8N_MCP_TELEMETRY_DISABLED": "true",
+    "DISABLE_CONSOLE_OUTPUT": "true",
+    "LOG_LEVEL": "error"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### mcp-manager Integration
+- Trigger keywords: `n8n`, `workflow`, `automation`, `webhook`, `n8n node`, `n8n template`
+- Cleaned out Daniel Miessler's personal MCPs from the skill registry
+- Updated registry to reflect Cal's actual MCPs: `cognitive-memory` (always loaded) + `n8n-mcp` + `playwright` (on demand)
+
+### Activation Flow
+1. mcp-manager detects n8n keywords → merges n8n-mcp from `.mcp-full.json` into `.mcp.json`
+2. User restarts Claude Code
+3. n8n MCP tools available (node search, template browsing, workflow CRUD)
+4. When done, "unload n8n-mcp" removes it from `.mcp.json`
+
+### n8n Instance
+- LXC 210, IP 10.10.0.210, n8n v2.0.3
+- API enabled, key generated via Settings > API
+- 2 active workflows (including Ko-fi → Paper Dynasty)