Tailscale is a WireGuard-based mesh VPN solution that simplifies the secure connection of devices and services across different networks.
Unlike traditional VPNs, Tailscale does not require you to configure a VPN server with a public address to allow clients to connect.
The following documentation describes the process of installing and configuring TailScale on Linux-based operating systems, allowing the creation of a private network shared between multiple users.
Prerequisites
Before proceeding with the installation of TailScale, access the official TailScale website 1 and create an account.
Installation
In order to install TailScale, perform the following steps.
1. Update the Operating System:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
2. Add the Repository:
Run the following commands to add the TailScale repository to the system.
-
Ubuntu 24
curl -fsSL https://pkgs.tailscale.com/stable/ubuntu/noble.noarmor.gpg | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/tailscale-archive-keyring.gpg >/dev/null curl -fsSL https://pkgs.tailscale.com/stable/ubuntu/noble.tailscale-keyring.list | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/tailscale.list -
Debian 12
curl -fsSL https://pkgs.tailscale.com/stable/debian/bookworm.noarmor.gpg | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/tailscale-archive-keyring.gpg >/dev/null curl -fsSL https://pkgs.tailscale.com/stable/debian/bookworm.tailscale-keyring.list | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/tailscale.list
If the operating system is different from Debian or Ubuntu, consult the official documentation 2.
3. Installing TailScale:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install tailscale
Configuration
Follow the steps below to start and configure TailScale.
1. Login:
Before starting the Tailscale configuration, it’s required to log in using the provided link, generated by executing the following command:
sudo tailscale up
Once logged in, execute the following command to check the status of the TailScale connection.
sudo tailscale status
2. Adding Users to the TailScale Network:
Access the TailScale Control Panel and navigate to the “Users” page. Click on “Invite external users”, and add the user’s email and the appropriate permissions.
The invited user will receive an email with a link to access the TailScale Network. To do this, the guest will have to create an account and access the network created by the main device.
4. Testing the Connection:
If everything is configured correctly on the “Users” all the devices on the Network will be displayed. To test the connection between the devices, execute the following command:
sudo tailscale ping <IP/hostname>