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Tailscale

Tailscale is a modern, zero-configuration virtual private network (VPN) and secure networking platform that creates encrypted mesh networks (called tailnets) to connect devices, servers, and infrastructure across any network. Built on WireGuard, Tailscale enables secure peer-to-peer connectivity without complex firewall rules or traditional VPN server setup.

CategoryNetwork security
DirectionQuery source
Sign-inAPI Key
Query languagesSQLite
Tables7
Query templates30
Websitetailscale.com

Before you start​

Huntbase signs in to Tailscale with API Key. Create the credential in Tailscale first, then keep it to hand for the Connect step.

  1. Sign in to the Tailscale admin console as an Owner, Admin, IT admin or Network admin, and open the Keys page at https://console.tailscale.com/admin/settings/keys.
  2. Generate an API access token and choose an expiry between 1 and 90 days.
  3. Copy the token. Tokens are case-sensitive.
Watch out for
  • Access tokens expire after the number of days you chose. Generate a new token and update the connection before then.
  • An access token has full permission to the Tailscale API.

For the vendor's own instructions, see Tailscale API documentation.

tip

Use a dedicated, read-only credential for Huntbase where the product allows it. Huntbase only needs to read.

Connect Tailscale​

  1. Go to Connections and click New connection, or click New connection on the Tailscale product page.
  2. On Product, pick Tailscale and choose the Owner.
  3. On Details, give the connection a Name and, optionally, a Description.
  4. On Connect, fill in the settings and credentials described below.
  5. On Verify, review the summary and click Create & check.

For everything else on the setup page — saving a draft, I'll do this later, and what each check result means — see Connections.

Settings​

Where your Tailscale lives:

FieldRequiredNotes
Tailnet NameYesYour Tailnet ID, found on the General page of the admin console. Older tailnets may use the Legacy ID instead, such as example.com.

Credentials​

The only Method is API Key. Enter a Credential label (for example Production), then fill in:

FieldRequiredNotes
API KeyYesSecret — not shown again after you save it.

Query it​

Once connected, Tailscale can serve these languages in a query tab, and Scout can use it when you ask in Auto:

LanguageUse it for
SQLiteSQL over the 7 tables listed below, alongside every other connected source.

Example: SQLite​

Tailscale routes basic info — List routes being used, identifying exit nodes and associated network names to understand network traffic flow and potential bottlenecks.

SELECT * FROM tailscale_device_route;

Tailscale ships with 30 query templates. Find them in Library › Queries — see Query templates.

What syncs automatically​

Tailscale comes with a content pack. These queries run on a schedule on each new connection so the entities they find appear in the Activity Feed without you asking. You can turn syncing off from the connection's Synchronisation Settings card.

QueryFinds
Sync devicesdevice, user
Sync tailnet membersdevice, user
Sync outdated client posturedevice, os, user

Tables​

Tailscale adds 7 tables. Browse their columns from Schema in the query bar's ⋯ menu.

All 7 tables
TableContains
tailscale_acl_auto_approverTailscale ACL Auto Approvers.
tailscale_acl_derp_mapTailscale ACL DERP Map.
tailscale_acl_entryTailscale ACL entry.
tailscale_acl_sshTailscale Acl SSH.
tailscale_deviceA Tailscale Device represents the devices under a tailnet.
tailscale_tailnetTailscale Tailnet.
tailscale_tailnet_keyA Tailscale tailnet key represents the keys for a tailnet.

Next steps​