juanfont/headscale - Detailed Review#

1. Overview & GitHub Stats#

• URL: https://github.com/juanfont/headscale
• Stars: 30667

2. Project Description#

Headscale is an open-source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server. It allows users to create and manage their own private networks using the Tailscale client, without relying on Tailscale’s cloud infrastructure. This provides greater control, privacy, and customization for individuals and organizations looking to deploy secure mesh networks.

3. What Software Does It Replace?#

Headscale serves as a self-hosted alternative to:

• Tailscale’s official control server (SaaS version)
• Commercial VPN solutions like OpenVPN Access Server or WireGuard managed services
• Other proprietary mesh networking solutions that require cloud dependencies

4. Core Functionality#

Key features of Headscale include:

• User and machine management: Register and manage users and devices within your network.
• Access control lists (ACLs): Define fine-grained policies for network traffic.
• DNS configuration: Integrate custom DNS settings for your private network.
• Multi-platform support: Compatible with Tailscale clients on Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android.
• API-driven: Provides a REST API for automation and integration with other tools.

5. Pros and Cons#

Pros:

• Complete control over your network infrastructure.
• Enhanced privacy since no data is sent to third-party servers.
• Cost-effective for organizations with many devices.
• Active open-source community with regular updates.

Cons:

• Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain.
• Self-hosting responsibilities include security, updates, and backups.
• Lacks some enterprise features available in Tailscale’s paid plans.

6. Detailed Installation Guide (Self-host)#

Follow these steps to deploy Headscale on an Ubuntu server:

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sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io docker-compose
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sudo systemctl enable --now docker

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mkdir headscale && cd headscale

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version: '3.8'
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services:
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  headscale:
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    image: headscale/headscale:latest
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    container_name: headscale
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    volumes:
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      - ./config:/etc/headscale
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      - ./data:/var/lib/headscale
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    ports:
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      - "8080:8080"
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    restart: unless-stopped

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docker run --rm -it -v $(pwd)/config:/etc/headscale headscale/headscale:latest generate

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server_url: http://your-domain.com:8080

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docker-compose up -d

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docker exec headscale headscale users create myuser
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docker exec headscale headscale preauthkeys create --user myuser --reusable --expiration 24h

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tailscale up --login-server=http://your-server-ip:8080 --authkey=YOUR_AUTH_KEY