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Tailscale is pretty useful (blog.6nok.org)

804 points by thm · 516 days ago · 404 comments on HN

Article summary

The author shares their experience with Tailscale, a virtual private network that allows access to devices from anywhere. They found it useful for accessing their Raspberry Pi server remotely and for developing web applications. Tailscale also offers features like file transfer and exit nodes, which can be used to bypass geoblocking. The author notes that Tailscale is not a traditional VPN service, but rather a tool for creating a private network.

Main themes

  • Tailscale features and use cases
  • Virtual private networks
  • Remote access and file transfer
  • Geoblocking and exit nodes
  • VPN alternatives and comparisons

What commenters say

  • Tailscale's performance overhead on file transfer is a significant issue, with some users experiencing a 12% differential in transfer speeds.
  • Some users find Tailscale's ease of use and simplicity to be a major advantage, especially compared to other VPN solutions.
  • The use of Tailscale's exit nodes can be a useful workaround for geoblocking and accessing blocked services, but may not be necessary for all users.
  • Other VPN solutions, such as Nord and ZeroTier, offer similar features to Tailscale, but may have their own strengths and weaknesses.
  • Tailscale's Android app is functional, but some users have experienced issues with slow resolving and battery drain.
  • Some users prefer Tailscale's self-hosted option and control over the network, while others find the managed solution to be more convenient.
  • The choice between Tailscale and other VPN solutions depends on individual use cases and priorities, such as performance, ease of use, and security.