Setup Tailscale

| 8 minutes

Tailscale Setting-Up

  • Setup Tailscale
  • Jan 12, 2024

Purpose

Provide a step-by-step walkthrough, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free setup of Tailscale on Mobile (Android and iPhone) platform. By following the instructions meticulously detailed in this document, it will enable secure and seamless network connections, bolstering the organization's productivity and data protection.

Scope

Installation and configuration of Tailscale on Android, iOS devices. Tailscale is a powerful networking tool that simplifies secure network access and connectivity, making it an essential asset for any organization's IT infrastructure.

Note: fortunately, Tailscale is an available application on Android and iOS platforms, for running Tailscale servers.

Procedure

1. Preparation

  • All Tailscale setup should be adhered to Applications Specifications List , based on employees job positions and their needs.
  • Employees always must submit a ticket (service request) with the following information:
    • Program Name.
    • Purpose of use for the program.
    • Any other relevant information (if there is, from the requester side)
  • If the program is not listed for the related user type of the requester (based on its role), a prior it must be:
    • Approved by the Department Manager of the employee who is requesting the software setup.
    • Evaluated in terms of compatibility and security by the IT Operations Supervisor.
    • Approved by the IT Manager.
  • Update it into the Applications Specifications List before proceeding with any setup.

    • Note: the update into the Applications Specifications List would apply to the role, not to any specific employee or requester.

2. Performing Tailscale setting up procedure

Android
Installation
  1. IT Operations Supervisor prepares for the installation of the application: coordinate an scheduled date and time to perform the installation with the Employee. This coordination can be easily done internally via chat and, at the end.

    2. Note: usually this installation is part of the Onboarding employee procedure (dedicated task for this request). Although, it also could come from a specific request of an Employee (where a related ticket for this request should be raised by the Employee)

  2. Employee hands over the mobile device to the IT Operations Supervisor to perform the installation. IT Operations Supervisor assists the application installation at the scheduled date/time into the designated system (end-points).
  3. IT Operations Supervisor installs the Tailscale app from Google play store and runs it on the related mobile device (also there is a file version saved in AdvaCare drive for Android).
    1. Press on the "Sign in with other" button on the initial login-form, then will be redirected to a second login-form.
    2. Press on the sharing icon on the right upper corner to get a login link (login link format, e.g. https://login.Tailscale.com/a/...) and copy it (clipboard) for later on.
  4. IT Operations Supervisor paste the login link in a web browser (preferably in desktop or laptop computers) and access it.

    5. It will redirect to another web page, click on the "Connect" button.

    Note: this action is performed to allow the Employee’s mobile device (via its temporal login link) access to an existing connection of Tailscale (this existing Tailscale connection is usually running on the IT Operations Supervisor or any other IT member side, Tailscale dashboard).

  5. IT Operations Supervisor presses on the "X" close-form icon (right upper-corner) and will be redirected back to the initial-form. At this point, the connection of the Employee’s mobile device should already appear registered/logged in the application.
Configuration
  1. IT Operations Supervisor presses on the 3-dots icon on the right upper-corner, then:
  2. Select the "Use exit node..." option
  3. Tick the "gcloud-taiwan" value as the exit node value

    4. Note: this exit node value is available on Jan04, 2024. If this value is not available at the moment when performing this step (e.g. other values as "gcloud-oregon", etc), contact the Business Application Supervisor, other IT member or refer to the credentials document in advance.

  4. Press on the "Active" toggle on the left upper-corner
iOS
Installation
  1. IT Operations Supervisor prepares for the installation of the application: coordinate an scheduled date and time to perform the installation with the Employee. This coordination can be easily done internally via chat and, at the end.

    2. Note: usually this installation is part of the Onboarding employee procedure (dedicated task for this request). Although, it also could come from a specific request of an Employee (where a related ticket for this request should be raised by the Employee)

  2. Employee hands over the mobile device to the IT Operations Supervisor to perform the installation. IT Operations Supervisor assists the application installation at the scheduled date/time into the designated system (end-points).
  3. IT Operations Supervisor installs the Tailscale app from App play store and runs it on the related mobile device.
    1. Press on the "Get started" button, next press to the "I understand" button and "Allow Notifications" button on the initial login-form. Then, will be redirected to a second login-form.
    2. Press and keep holding the pop-up URL (via “copy to clipboard”) to get a login link (login link format, e.g. https://login.Tailscale.com/a/...) and copy it (clipboard) for later on.
  4. IT Operations Supervisor paste the login link in a web browser (preferably in desktop or laptop computers) and access it.

    5. It will redirect to another web page, click on the "Connect" button.

    Note: this action is performed to allow the Employee’s mobile device (via its temporal login link) access to an existing connection of Tailscale (this existing Tailscale connection is usually running on the IT Operations Supervisor or any other IT member side, Tailscale dashboard).

  5. Optionally: IT Operations Supervisor presses on the "X" close-form icon (right upper-corner) and will be redirected back to the initial-form. At this point, the connection of the Employee’s mobile device should already appear registered/logged in the application.
Configuration
  1. IT Operations Supervisor presses on the 3-dots icon on the right upper-corner, then:
    1. Select the "Use exit node..." option
    2. Tick the "gcloud-taiwan" value as the exit node value

      3. Note: this exit node value is not available on Jan04, 2024. If this value is not available at the moment when performing this step (e.g. other values as "gcloud-oregon", etc), please contact the Business Application Supervisor, other IT members or refer to the credentials document in advance.

    3. Press on the "Active" toggle on the left upper-corner

3. Testing and Verification

  • After the setup, the IT Operations Supervisor should thoroughly test the software to ensure its functionality and compatibility with other applications. This step is very important to perform before requesting the Employee for a final confirmation of the installation.

    • Note: check that employee mobile device's IP has changed (e.g. a query entering to ipinfo.io/ip in a web browser or any other method, might help)

  • IT Operations Supervisor maintains detailed records of software setup activities for future reference in the ticket, and requests the Employee to verify the installed software, and gather feedback through a message in the ticket.

4. Completion and Support

  • If the setup satisfies the employee's request, the employee must send an approval comment on the ticket submitted in Odoo, otherwise should promptly report any issue to the IT Operations Supervisor for quick resolution, through the same ticket.
  • Once the software setup is successful and approved, the Employee can start using the application software for their intended tasks.
  • The IT Operations Supervisor notifies to the IT Manager that the software setup has been performed correctly, via a message in the ticket. At this point, the related ticket can be marked as done either by the IT Operations Supervisor or IT Manager.

    • Note: an update in the Applications Specifications List must be performed.

  • Ongoing support is always available from the IT Department for assistance, properly managed under a new ticket containing the details of the new request.

By following this comprehensive Tailscale setup procedure and mainly involving the IT Operations Supervisor, we ensure that our software maintenance are efficient, secure, and aligned with AdvaCare's strategic goals. This collaborative effort minimizes disruptions and maximizes the benefits of new software within our IT ecosystem.

5. Software Maintenance

After the software has been setup, the new application must be updated in the Applications Specifications List document including any important information of the software and employee role, accordingly.

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