Skip to content
Meddle Docs

Tailscale VPN Client Setup

Overview

Section titled “Overview”

Tailscale is a modern VPN solution that creates a secure, private network between your devices using WireGuard. Use Tailscale to securely access your Meddle instance remotely.

Why Use Tailscale?

Section titled “Why Use Tailscale?”
  • Zero Configuration: No port forwarding or firewall rules needed
  • Secure by Default: End-to-end encrypted connections using WireGuard
  • Easy Access: Access Meddle from anywhere
  • Multi-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android

Prerequisites

Section titled “Prerequisites”
  • A Meddle instance

Client Installation

Section titled “Client Installation”

Step 1: Install Tailscale Client

Section titled “Step 1: Install Tailscale Client”
  1. Download the installer from https://tailscale.com/download/windows
  2. Run the installer
  3. Launch Tailscale from the Start menu
  4. Sign in with your Tailscale account
  5. Wait for connection to establish

Step 2: Connect to Tailscale

Section titled “Step 2: Connect to Tailscale”

Once installed, connect to Tailscale using the following command:

Terminal window
tailscale up --auth-key=[KEY] --hostname=[NAME] --login-server=https://headscale.meddleconnect.com/ --reset

You will find all the information about the key and name in the Meddle instance page.

Check connection status:

  • Look for the Tailscale icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (macOS)
  • Green icon = Connected
  • Click the icon to see connected devices

Accessing Devices

Section titled “Accessing Devices”

Using IP Address

Section titled “Using IP Address”

Once connected to Tailscale, access Devices using their Tailscale IP address:

http://100.x.x.x:3000

Replace 100.x.x.x with the actual Tailscale IP provided.

Verifying Connection

Section titled “Verifying Connection”

Test Connection

Section titled “Test Connection”

Try pinging the Meddle server:

Terminal window
ping 100.x.x.x

You should see responses if the connection is working.

Troubleshooting

Section titled “Troubleshooting”

Cannot Connect to Tailscale

Section titled “Cannot Connect to Tailscale”

Problem: Tailscale won’t connect

Solutions:

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Restart the Tailscale app/service
  3. Sign out and sign back in
  4. Reinstall Tailscale if the problem persists

Cannot Access Meddle

Section titled “Cannot Access Meddle”

Problem: Connected to Tailscale but can’t reach Meddle

Solutions:

  1. Verify you have the correct Meddle hostname
  2. Contact support at support@meddleconnect.com to verify the server is running

Slow Connection

Section titled “Slow Connection”

Problem: Meddle is slow or unresponsive

Solutions:

  1. Check your internet connection speed
  2. Verify the Meddle server has good connectivity
  3. Try disconnecting and reconnecting to Tailscale
  4. Update Tailscale to the latest version
  5. Contact support at support@meddleconnect.com if the problem persists

Authentication Expired

Section titled “Authentication Expired”

Problem: “Key expired” or authentication error

Solutions:

  1. Click the Tailscale icon
  2. Click the re-authentication link
  3. Sign in again to renew your access
  4. Contact support at support@meddleconnect.com if you can’t authenticate

Getting Help

Section titled “Getting Help”

If you continue to experience issues:

  1. Check Tailscale Status: Run tailscale status (desktop/Linux) or check the app
  2. Contact Support: Visit Tailscale Community
  3. Documentation: Check Tailscale Documentation

Resources

Section titled “Resources”

Next Steps

Section titled “Next Steps”

Once connected to Meddle: