This article provides a complete, practical walkthrough of the Code Schedule Send Scheduled n8n agent. It connects HTTP Request, Webhook across approximately 1 node(s). Expect a Intermediate setup in 15-45 minutes. One‑time purchase: €29.

What This Agent Does

This agent orchestrates a reliable automation between HTTP Request, Webhook, handling triggers, data enrichment, and delivery with guardrails for errors and rate limits.

It streamlines multi‑step processes that would otherwise require manual exports, spreadsheet cleanup, and repeated API requests. By centralizing logic in n8n, it reduces context switching, lowers error rates, and ensures consistent results across teams.

Typical outcomes include faster lead handoffs, automated notifications, accurate data synchronization, and better visibility via execution logs and optional Slack/Email alerts.

How It Works

The workflow uses standard n8n building blocks like Webhook or Schedule triggers, HTTP Request for API calls, and control nodes (IF, Merge, Set) to validate inputs, branch on conditions, and format outputs. Retries and timeouts improve resilience, while credentials keep secrets safe.

Third‑Party Integrations

• HTTP Request
• Webhook

Import and Use in n8n

1. Open n8n and create a new workflow or collection.
2. Choose Import from File or Paste JSON.
3. Paste the JSON below, then click Import.
4. Show n8n JSON

   Title:
   Automated Zigbee2MQTT Backup to SFTP with n8n: A Step-by-Step Workflow
   
   Meta Description:
   Discover how to automate weekly Zigbee2MQTT backups directly to an SFTP server using an efficient n8n workflow. Learn how MQTT, SFTP, and base64 decoding work together in this backup solution.
   
   Keywords:
   n8n automation, Zigbee2MQTT backup, MQTT workflow, SFTP upload, base64 to binary, IoT automation, cron jobs, Zigbee automation, MQTT trigger, n8n workflow tutorial
   
   Third-Party APIs / Services Used:
   
   - MQTT Broker (via MQTT node and MQTT Trigger node — assumes use with Zigbee2MQTT)
   - SFTP Server (via SFTP node)
   
   Article:
   
   Automated Zigbee2MQTT Backups to SFTP with n8n
   
   If you're managing a smart home or IoT environment, using Zigbee2MQTT is a great choice for device communication. But with any data-driven platform, backing up configuration files becomes crucial to avoid data loss. In this article, we’ll explore a fully automated workflow using n8n—a powerful open-source automation tool—to back up your Zigbee2MQTT configuration weekly and securely upload it to an SFTP server.
   
   This hands-off workflow combines scheduling, MQTT commands, JSON parsing, file conversion, and SFTP transfer—all within a visual, low-code interface provided by n8n. Let’s break it down step by step.
   
   The use case
   
   Zigbee2MQTT offers a powerful REST and MQTT-based interface that includes commands for requesting backups of your Zigbee network configuration. This n8n automation performs this request every week at a specified time, retrieves the resulting base64-encoded ZIP backup, decodes it, and safely stores the file on a remote SFTP server.
   
   This is especially useful for enthusiasts and system administrators who want reliable, recurring offsite backups without manual intervention.
   
   How the Workflow Works
   
   Step 1: Automated Trigger with CRON
   
   The workflow kicks off using a Schedule Trigger node configured to run at 2:45 AM every Monday morning via the following cron expression:
   
   45 2 * * 1
   
   This ensures the backup runs during off-peak hours when the Zigbee network is least likely to be in active use. The node ("CRON Monday 2:45 am") initiates the process seamlessly.
   
   Step 2: Request a Backup via MQTT
   
   Once triggered, the system sends an MQTT message to the Zigbee2MQTT broker using the topic zigbee2mqtt/bridge/request/backup with the payload getbackup. This is done through the node "Send Zigbee2MQTT backup request".
   
   This step tells Zigbee2MQTT to generate a full network backup and prepare it for download.
   
   Step 3: Listen for the Backup Response
   
   To capture the generated backup, another node ("MQTT Trigger - Backup Response") listens on the MQTT topic zigbee2mqtt/bridge/response/backup. Once Zigbee2MQTT publishes the backup to this topic, the message is picked up by the workflow.
   
   The backup is typically returned as a JSON object containing a base64-encoded zip file.
   
   Step 4: Parse the JSON Response
   
   Next, the "Parse JSON Object from Message Text" node decodes the JSON string into an object, extracting the data field which contains the backup itself. Internally, it uses JavaScript code to parse the incoming message and isolate the relevant fields.
   
   This step ensures that downstream nodes can correctly access and process the binary data.
   
   Step 5: Convert Base64 to Binary File
   
   Using n8n's built-in "Convert to File" node, the workflow converts the base64-encoded ZIP content into a genuine binary file. This is a crucial step because SFTP uploads require binary data, not base64 strings.
   
   The source property is named zip, which is automatically derived from the parsed JSON.
   
   Step 6: Upload to SFTP
   
   Finally, the binary file gets uploaded to a remote SFTP server via the node "SFTP zip file content". The path used includes a timestamp with ISO formatting, replacing colons with underscores for file system compatibility:
   
   zigbee_backups/zigbee_backup_{{ new Date().toISOString().replaceAll(':','_') }}.zip
   
   This ensures each backup file is uniquely identified by the date and time it was created.
   
   Why This Workflow Matters
   
   - Reliability: Backups are scheduled and happen without user interaction.
   - Security: Files are transferred securely over SFTP, ideal for off-site storage.
   - Flexibility: The n8n interface allows easy validation, testing, and customization.
   - Low-code Setup: Even users with basic experience can configure this logic thanks to n8n’s visual programming approach.
   
   Use Cases and Expansions
   
   You can customize this workflow to send a Slack or email notification after a successful backup. Or, add logic for retention management where older backups are deleted after a certain period. This design can also be adapted for other MQTT-based systems needing similar backup strategies.
   
   Conclusion
   
   Automating your Zigbee2MQTT backups with n8n not only saves time but also adds a layer of robustness and security to your IoT infrastructure. With just a few nodes, you can connect MQTT messaging, file processing, and cloud storage into one seamless process. Whether you’re a home automation hobbyist or an IoT solutions provider, this straightforward n8n workflow ensures your Zigbee network settings are safe, secure, and always recoverable.
   
   Looking to extend this further? Consider integrating notifications, cloud storage options like Dropbox or Google Drive, or even database inserts for audit logging—all supported within the n8n ecosystem. Automation just got smarter.
   
   Ready to build your own backup system? Start with n8n and take your infrastructure to the next level.

5. Set credentials for each API node (keys, OAuth) in Credentials.
6. Run a test via Execute Workflow. Inspect Run Data, then adjust parameters.
7. Enable the workflow to run on schedule, webhook, or triggers as configured.

Tips: keep secrets in credentials, add retries and timeouts on HTTP nodes, implement error notifications, and paginate large API fetches.

Validation: use IF/Code nodes to sanitize inputs and guard against empty payloads.

Why Automate This with AI Agents

AI‑assisted automations offload repetitive, error‑prone tasks to a predictable workflow. Instead of manual copy‑paste and ad‑hoc scripts, your team gets a governed pipeline with versioned state, auditability, and observable runs.

n8n’s node graph makes data flow transparent while AI‑powered enrichment (classification, extraction, summarization) boosts throughput and consistency. Teams reclaim time, reduce operational costs, and standardize best practices without sacrificing flexibility.

Compared to one‑off integrations, an AI agent is easier to extend: swap APIs, add filters, or bolt on notifications without rewriting everything. You get reliability, control, and a faster path from idea to production.

Best Practices

• Credentials: restrict scopes and rotate tokens regularly.
• Resilience: configure retries, timeouts, and backoff for API nodes.
• Data Quality: validate inputs; normalize fields early to reduce downstream branching.
• Performance: batch records and paginate for large datasets.
• Observability: add failure alerts (Email/Slack) and persistent logs for auditing.
• Security: avoid sensitive data in logs; use environment variables and n8n credentials.

FAQs

Can I swap integrations later? Yes. Replace or add nodes and re‑map fields without rebuilding the whole flow.

How do I monitor failures? Use Execution logs and add notifications on the Error Trigger path.

Does it scale? Use queues, batching, and sub‑workflows to split responsibilities and control load.

Is my data safe? Keep secrets in Credentials, restrict token scopes, and review access logs.