Daily Code Update Check & Email Alert

The workflow JSON

Copy or download the full n8n JSON below. Paste it into a new n8n workflow, add your credentials, activate. Full import guide →

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "4ca55c6e-cf2e-4239-82a9-88d0a201e761",
      "name": "List upgradable packages",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.ssh",
      "notes": "apt list --upgradable",
      "position": [
        -280,
        0
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "command": "apt list --upgradable"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "sshPassword": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "notesInFlow": true,
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "alwaysOutputData": false
    },
    {
      "id": "ae1f0a55-31aa-494b-baa6-822dc606188e",
      "name": "Send Email through SMTP",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.emailSend",
      "position": [
        380,
        0
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "html": "=The following packages can be updated on your server:\n\n{{ $json.htmlList }}\n\nPlease login and perform upgrade.",
        "options": {},
        "subject": "Server needs updates",
        "toEmail": "change.me@example.com",
        "fromEmail": "change.me@example.com"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "smtp": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 2.1
    },
    {
      "id": "e1d76671-d94c-40d5-9364-623db9319f11",
      "name": "Run workflow every day",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
      "position": [
        -540,
        0
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "rule": {
          "interval": [
            {}
          ]
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 1.2
    },
    {
      "id": "ec4d722a-b88c-42da-971c-28ad5774596d",
      "name": "Format as HTML list",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "position": [
        -60,
        0
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "jsCode": "function formatStdoutAsHtmlList(stdoutData) {\n\n    // Split the stdout into lines and map to HTML list items\n    const htmlListItems = stdoutData.split('\\n').map((line) => {\n        if (line.trim() && line !== \"Listing...\") { // Optionally skip empty lines or headers\n            return `<li>${line.trim()}</li>`;\n        }\n    }).filter(item => item); // Remove any undefined items due to empty lines or skipped headers\n\n    // Wrap the list items in a <ul> tag\n    const htmlList = `<ul>${htmlListItems.join('')}</ul>`;\n\n    // Return the formatted HTML list as part of an object\n    return { \"htmlList\": htmlList };\n}\n\nreturn formatStdoutAsHtmlList($input.first().json.stdout);"
      },
      "typeVersion": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "6f14eb02-c505-4f83-a5bb-68094e763fd9",
      "name": "Check if there are updates",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
      "position": [
        140,
        0
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "options": {},
        "conditions": {
          "options": {
            "version": 2,
            "leftValue": "",
            "caseSensitive": true,
            "typeValidation": "strict"
          },
          "combinator": "and",
          "conditions": [
            {
              "id": "db66d892-26fb-406c-a0ac-2e4b8a60310a",
              "operator": {
                "type": "string",
                "operation": "notEquals"
              },
              "leftValue": "={{ $json.htmlList }}",
              "rightValue": "<ul></ul>"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 2.2
    },
    {
      "id": "3924c696-5b0e-4ae2-b2e2-435fed344028",
      "name": "Sticky Note",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -740,
        -180
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "width": 300,
        "content": "## VPS upgrade notify \nThis workflow will everyday check if server has upgradable packages and inform you by email if there is."
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "bb8ade2a-4ffe-4c79-91eb-55af568eb1b1",
      "name": "Sticky Note1",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        380,
        -180
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "width": 300,
        "content": "## Update email addresses\nUpdate From and To email addresses in this node to receive notifications"
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    }
  ],
  "connections": {
    "Format as HTML list": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Check if there are updates",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Run workflow every day": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "List upgradable packages",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Send Email through SMTP": {
      "main": [
        []
      ]
    },
    "List upgradable packages": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Format as HTML list",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Check if there are updates": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Send Email through SMTP",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    }
  }
}

Credentials you'll need

Each integration node will prompt for credentials when you import. We strip credential IDs before publishing — you'll add your own.

• smtp
• sshPassword

About this workflow

Code Schedule. Uses ssh, emailSend, scheduleTrigger, stickyNote. Scheduled trigger; 7 nodes.

Source: https://github.com/Zie619/n8n-workflows — original creator credit. Request a take-down →

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