eyjhb/headscale
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull requests Projects Releases Packages Wiki Activity Actions 1

Simplify windows setup instructions (#2114)

Browse source 
* Simplify /windows to the bare minimum. Also remove the
  /windows/tailscale.reg endpoint as its generated file is no longer
  valid for current Tailscale versions.
* Update and simplify the windows documentation accordingly.
* Add a "Unattended mode" section to the troubleshooting section
  explaining how to enable "Unattended mode" in the via the Tailscale
  tray icon.
* Add infobox about /windows to the docs

Tested on Windows 10, 22H2 with Tailscale 1.72.0

Replaces: #1995
See: #2096
This commit is contained in:
nblock 2024-09-09 13:18:16 +02:00 • committed by GitHub
parent 5597edac1e
commit bac7ea67f4
No known key found for this signature in database
GPG key ID: B5690EEEBB952194
6 changed files with 42 additions and 149 deletions
Download patch file Download diff file Expand all files Collapse all files

61
docs/windows-client.md
View file

@ -4,39 +4,41 @@
This documentation has the goal of showing how a user can use the official Windows [Tailscale](https://tailscale.com) client with `headscale`.
## Add registry keys
To make the Windows client behave as expected and to run well with `headscale`, two registry keys **must** be set:
- `HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Tailscale IPN\UnattendedMode` must be set to `always` as a `string` type, to allow Tailscale to run properly in the background
- `HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Tailscale IPN\LoginURL` must be set to `<YOUR HEADSCALE URL>` as a `string` type, to ensure Tailscale contacts the correct control server.
You can set these using the Windows Registry Editor:
![windows-registry](./images/windows-registry.png)
Or via the following Powershell commands (right click Powershell icon and select "Run as administrator"):
```
New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Tailscale IPN"
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Tailscale IPN' -Name UnattendedMode -PropertyType String -Value always
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Tailscale IPN' -Name LoginURL -PropertyType String -Value https://YOUR-HEADSCALE-URL
```
The Tailscale Windows client has been observed to reset its configuration on logout/reboot and these two keys [resolves that issue](https://github.com/tailscale/tailscale/issues/2798).
For a guide on how to edit registry keys, [check out Computer Hope](https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001348.htm).
## Installation
Download the [Official Windows Client](https://tailscale.com/download/windows) and install it.
When the installation has finished, start Tailscale and log in (you might have to click the icon in the system tray).
## Configuring the headscale URL
The log in should open a browser Window and direct you to your `headscale` instance.
!!! info "Instructions on your headscale instance"
An endpoint with information on how to connect your Windows device
is also available at `/windows` on your running instance.
Open a Command Prompt or Powershell and use Tailscale's login command to connect with your headscale instance (e.g
`https://headscale.example.com`):
```
tailscale login --login-server <YOUR_HEADSCALE_URL>
```
Follow the instructions in the opened browser window to finish the configuration.
## Troubleshooting
### Unattended mode
By default, Tailscale's Windows client is only running when the user is logged in. If you want to keep Tailscale running
all the time, please enable "Unattended mode":
- Click on the Tailscale tray icon and select `Preferences`
- Enable `Run unattended`
- Confirm the "Unattended mode" message
See also [Keep Tailscale running when I'm not logged in to my computer](https://tailscale.com/kb/1088/run-unattended)
### Failing node registration
If you are seeing repeated messages like:
```
@ -53,8 +55,7 @@ This typically means that the registry keys above was not set appropriately.
To reset and try again, it is important to do the following:
1. Ensure the registry keys from the previous guide is correctly set.
2. Shut down the Tailscale service (or the client running in the tray)
3. Delete Tailscale Application data folder, located at `C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Local\Tailscale` and try to connect again.
4. Ensure the Windows node is deleted from headscale (to ensure fresh setup)
5. Start Tailscale on the windows machine and retry the login.
1. Shut down the Tailscale service (or the client running in the tray)
2. Delete Tailscale Application data folder, located at `C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Local\Tailscale` and try to connect again.
3. Ensure the Windows node is deleted from headscale (to ensure fresh setup)
4. Start Tailscale on the Windows machine and retry the login.