Tailscale: WireGuard-based private networking

Tailscale is a zero-configuration mesh VPN solution built on top of the WireGuard protocol that creates secure peer-to-peer network connections between devices. It operates by coordinating with a central control plane that handles authentication, key distribution, and NAT traversal coordination, while actual data traffic flows directly between nodes using encrypted WireGuard tunnels. The system implements automatic discovery and connection establishment through STUN, DERP relay servers for NAT traversal, and continuous path optimization to maintain direct connections whenever possible. Tailscale integrates with existing identity providers for authentication and authorization, allowing organizations to map network access policies to their existing user directory systems. The architecture prioritizes ease of deployment by eliminating manual firewall configuration and key management while maintaining the performance characteristics and cryptographic security properties of the underlying WireGuard protocol.