# Back up Linux server directories to Google Drive with Borg: n8n workflow

> Started by someone submitting a form, and works across Google Drive and n8n data table. 20 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/back-up-linux-server-directories-to-google-drive-with-borg (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Integrations](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Integrations#library)

# Back up Linux server directories to Google Drive with Borg

Started by someone submitting a form, and works across Google Drive and n8n data table. 20 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fback-up-linux-server-directories-to-google-drive-with-borg)

**20 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**2** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 2 Logic 5 Service 13

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Schedule Trigger** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Get Backup Settings** Form trigger *Starts it*
- 3 **Get Config** Data Table *Service*
- 4 **Init Backup Config Table** Data Table *Service*
- 5 **Install Borg on Server** Ssh *Service*
- 6 **Build Initial Config** Code *Logic*
- 7 **Build Runtime Config** Code *Logic*
- 8 **Store Borg Passphrase on Server** Ssh *Service*
- 9 **Create Server Backup** Ssh *Service*
- 10 **Save Config** Data Table *Service*
- 11 **Export Backup Archive** Ssh *Service*
- 12 **Download Backup Archive** Ssh *Service*
- 13 **Existing File Info** Code *Logic*
- 14 **Find Existing File** Google Drive *Service*
- 15 **Check Drive Mode for Sync** If *Logic*
- 16 **Check If Existing File Found** If *Logic*
- 17 **Upload New Backup File (Versioned)** Google Drive *Service*
- 18 **Update Existing Backup File (Sync)** Google Drive *Service*
- 19 **Upload New Backup File (Sync)** Google Drive *Service*
- 20 **Cleanup: Remove Local Backup File** Ssh *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Someone submitting a form
- **Steps:** 20, with 2 branches
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Google Drive, n8n data table
- **Model:** None. This is plumbing, not judgement

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Google Drive account. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on someone submitting a form.

Does it use AI?

No. Every step is fixed logic or a call to a service, so it does the same thing every time.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 20 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 20 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fback-up-linux-server-directories-to-google-drive-with-borg)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Drive#library)[n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=n8n+data+table#library)

## Workflows like it

Also integrations, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Generate product and marketing images with Riverflow 2.0** 20 steps · n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-product-and-marketing-images-with-riverflow-2-0)
- [**QBittorrent Auto Ban Slow/Bad Peers** 20 steps · n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/qbittorrent-auto-ban-slow-bad-peers)
- [**Back up workflows from multiple n8n instances to Google Drive** 21 steps · Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/back-up-workflows-from-multiple-n8n-instances-to-google-driv)
- [**Optimize technical manuals for RAG & agents** 21 steps · Google Drive, S3](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/optimize-technical-manuals-for-rag-and-agents)
- [**Back up a Linux server directory to Backblaze B2** 18 steps · n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/back-up-a-linux-server-directory-to-backblaze-b2)
- [**Back up self-hosted workflows to Google Drive daily** 18 steps · Google Drive, n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/back-up-self-hosted-workflows-to-google-drive-daily)