N8n process stalls and outputs corrupt binary files

n8n in Docker now hangs and writes invalid image data after recent container tweaks. Execution remains active while file writing fails. How to investigate?

{
  "processName": "image-upload-flow",
  "steps": [
    {
      "id": "step1",
      "name": "Initiation",
      "type": "trigger",
      "position": [100, 200]
    },
    {
      "id": "step2",
      "name": "Receive Image",
      "type": "httpEndpoint",
      "method": "PUT",
      "endpoint": "/upload-img",
      "position": [300, 200]
    },
    {
      "id": "step3",
      "name": "Save File",
      "type": "binarySaver",
      "filePath": "/data/images/{{ $json.fileName }}.png",
      "position": [500, 200]
    }
  ],
  "links": {
    "Receive Image": [{ "to": "Save File" }]
  }
}

Based on previous similar issues I encountered, I suggest enabling detailed logging to check where the process might stall. In one case, file permission issues in a Docker mounted volume were causing binary saves to fail. I noticed that container tweaks sometimes disable proper logging to reveal errors, so adjusting the debug level proved helpful. Examining Docker logs along with n8n workflow logs provided more insight into skipped steps. It may also be beneficial to verify that resources like disk space and user permissions in the container setup are correctly configured.

hey isaac, i had simlar issue recently. try double-checkin your docker volme perms and maybe revert to an older container build. i found that sometimes the binarySaver node messes up when environment settings get tweaked.

Based on my own trials with n8n in Docker, I’ve found that issues like this can sometimes be traced to discrepancies between container configuration and the application’s expectations. I encountered a similar problem where the binary output was corrupted because certain advanced configuration parameters were not in sync with the host settings. It helped to recheck both the runtime environment and the individual node settings, as minor mismatches in environment variables, memory allocations, or even file encoding defaults led to unexpected behaviors. I suggest isolating each portion of the workflow to determine which parameter is deviating from expectations.

I encountered a similar situation when updating our Docker container running n8n where the workflow continued without obvious errors but generated incorrect binary data. In my case, a specific update in the base image altered the way file streams were handled, leading to partial writes. I recommend verifying that the container rebuild includes all the necessary updates to dependencies and that no intermediary caching interferes with file I/O processes. Experiment by simplifying the workflow to isolate the binary write step and ensure that all underlying dependencies are in sync with n8n’s requirements.

hey isaac, try checking if docker network issues are playin in. sometimes host/container time mishmatches cause binary data to go off. also, see if your linux libs are synced up with what n8n expects. might help!