Headscale icon
Headscale icon

Headscale

An open source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server. HeadScale-ui is a complementary project to have a Web UI for this.

Cost / License

Application type

Platforms

  • Linux
  • Self-Hosted
  • Docker
  • Docker Hub  [https://hub.docker.com/r/headscale/headscale](https://hub.docker.com/r/headscale/headscale)
  • OpenBSD  pkg_add headscale
  • BSD
  • Nix Package Manager  [https://search.nixos.org/packages?show=headscale](https://search.nixos.org/packages?show=headscale)
  • Fedora  [https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/jonathanspw/headscale/](https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/jonathanspw/headscale/)
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Features

Properties

  1.  Privacy focused
  2.  Security-focused

Features

  1.  Self-hosted
  2.  WireGuard
  3.  Virtual LAN
  4.  No registration required
  5.  Portable
  6.  No Tracking
  7.  Ad-free
  8.  Split Tunneling
  9.  Peer to peer VPN
  10.  Mesh network
  11. Docker icon  Support for Docker

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Headscale information

AlternativeTo Categories

Security & Privacy, Development, Network & Admin

GitHub repository

  •  43,966 Stars
  •  2,576 Forks
  •  149 Open Issues
  •   Updated  
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What is Headscale?

An open source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale icon Tailscale control server. HeadScale-ui is a complementary project to have a Web UI for this.

headscale aims to implement a self-hosted, open source alternative to the Tailscale control server. headscale has a narrower scope and an instance of headscale implements a single Tailnet, which is typically what a single organisation, or home/personal setup would use.

headscale uses terms that maps to Tailscale's control server, consult the glossary for explainations.

What is Tailscale?

Tailscale is a modern VPN built on top of Wireguard. It works like an overlay network between the computers of your networks - using NAT traversal.

Everything in Tailscale is Open Source, except the GUI clients for proprietary OS (Windows and macOS/iOS), and the control server.

The control server works as an exchange point of Wireguard public keys for the nodes in the Tailscale network. It assigns the IP addresses of the clients, creates the boundaries between each user, enables sharing machines between users, and exposes the advertised routes of your nodes.

A Tailscale network (tailnet) is private network which Tailscale assigns to a user in terms of private users or an organisations.

Features

  • Full "base" support of Tailscale's features
  • Configurable DNS
  • Split DNS
  • Node registration
  • Single-Sign-On (via Open ID Connect)
  • Pre authenticated key
  • Taildrop (File Sharing)
  • Access control lists
  • MagicDNS
  • Support for multiple IP ranges in the tailnet
  • Dual stack (IPv4 and IPv6)
  • Routing advertising (including exit nodes)
  • Ephemeral nodes
  • Embedded DERP server