Tailscale

Community

jmagar

tailscale

This skill should be used when managing Tailscale mesh VPN networks. Use when the user asks to "check tailscale status", "list tailscale devices", "ping a device", "send file via tailscale", "tailscale funnel", "tailscale serve", "create auth key", "check who's online", "tailscale exit node", "Magic DNS", or mentions Tailscale network management, tailnet operations, or VPN connectivity.

Overview

Publisher	jmagar
Repository	`claude-homelab`
Skill name	`tailscale`
Stars	87
Forks	11
Bundled files	5
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
5 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by jmagar on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Tailscale AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/jmagar/claude-homelab/tree/main/skills/tailscale
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/jmagar/claude-homelab.git /tmp/claude-homelab
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/claude-homelab/skills/tailscale .claude/skills/tailscale

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Tailscale in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Tailscale on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Tailscale is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Tailscale Skill

⚠️ MANDATORY SKILL INVOCATION ⚠️

YOU MUST invoke this skill (NOT optional) when the user mentions ANY of these triggers:

"Tailscale status", "tailnet devices", "VPN status"
"Tailscale peers", "who's connected", "exit nodes"
"check Tailscale", "tailnet monitoring", "Tailscale"
Any mention of Tailscale or VPN network management

Failure to invoke this skill when triggers occur violates your operational requirements.

Purpose

Hybrid skill using both the Tailscale CLI (local machine operations) and the Tailscale API (tailnet-wide management). Read-Write (Safe) — no destructive operations; writes include creating auth keys and toggling network features.

Operation type	Method	Requires API key
Status, ping, netcheck, whois	CLI	No
Serve, funnel, file transfer, SSH	CLI	No
List all devices, user mgmt, DNS	API	Yes
Create/revoke auth keys	API	Yes

Setup

API config (optional, for tailnet-wide operations) is stored in ~/.claude-homelab/.env:

bash
TAILSCALE_API_KEY="tskey-api-k..."
TAILSCALE_TAILNET="-"

Get your API key from: Tailscale Admin Console → Settings → Keys → Generate API Key

The TAILSCALE_TAILNET can be - (auto-detect), your org name, or email domain.

Local Operations (CLI)

These work on the current machine only.

Status & Diagnostics

bash
# Current status (peers, connection state)
tailscale status
tailscale status --json | jq '.Peer | to_entries[] | {name: .value.HostName, ip: .value.TailscaleIPs[0], online: .value.Online}'

# Network diagnostics (NAT type, DERP, UDP)
tailscale netcheck
tailscale netcheck --format=json

# Get this machine's Tailscale IP
tailscale ip -4

# Identify a Tailscale IP
tailscale whois 100.x.x.x

Connectivity

bash
# Ping a peer (shows direct vs relay)
tailscale ping <hostname-or-ip>

# Connect/disconnect
tailscale up
tailscale down

# Use an exit node
tailscale up --exit-node=<node-name>
tailscale exit-node list
tailscale exit-node suggest

File Transfer (Taildrop)

bash
# Send files to a device
tailscale file cp myfile.txt <device-name>:

# Receive files (moves from inbox to directory)
tailscale file get ~/Downloads
tailscale file get --wait ~/Downloads  # blocks until file arrives

Expose Services

bash
# Share locally within tailnet (private)
tailscale serve 3000
tailscale serve https://localhost:8080

# Share publicly to internet
tailscale funnel 8080

# Check what's being served
tailscale serve status
tailscale funnel status

SSH

bash
# SSH via Tailscale (uses MagicDNS)
tailscale ssh user@hostname

# Enable SSH server on this machine
tailscale up --ssh

Tailnet-Wide Operations (API)

These manage your entire tailnet. Requires API key.

List All Devices

bash
./scripts/ts-api.sh devices

# With details
./scripts/ts-api.sh devices --verbose

Device Details

bash
./scripts/ts-api.sh device <device-id-or-name>

Check Online Status

bash
# Quick online check for all devices
./scripts/ts-api.sh online

Authorize/Delete Device

bash
./scripts/ts-api.sh authorize <device-id>
./scripts/ts-api.sh delete <device-id>

Device Tags & Routes

bash
./scripts/ts-api.sh tags <device-id> tag:server,tag:prod
./scripts/ts-api.sh routes <device-id>

Auth Keys

bash
# Create a reusable auth key
./scripts/ts-api.sh create-key --reusable --tags tag:server

# Create ephemeral key (device auto-removes when offline)
./scripts/ts-api.sh create-key --ephemeral

# List keys
./scripts/ts-api.sh keys

DNS Management

bash
./scripts/ts-api.sh dns                 # Show DNS config
./scripts/ts-api.sh dns-nameservers     # List nameservers
./scripts/ts-api.sh magic-dns on|off    # Toggle MagicDNS

ACLs

bash
./scripts/ts-api.sh acl                 # Get current ACL
./scripts/ts-api.sh acl-validate <file> # Validate ACL file

Common Use Cases

"Who's online right now?"

bash
./scripts/ts-api.sh online

"Send this file to my phone"

bash
tailscale file cp document.pdf my-phone:

"Expose my dev server publicly"

bash
tailscale funnel 3000

"Create a key for a new server"

bash
./scripts/ts-api.sh create-key --reusable --tags tag:server --expiry 7d

"Is the connection direct or relayed?"

bash
tailscale ping my-server

🔧 Agent Tool Usage Requirements

CRITICAL: When invoking scripts from this skill via the zsh-tool, ALWAYS use pty: true.

Without PTY mode, command output will not be visible even though commands execute successfully.

Correct invocation pattern:

typescript
<invoke name="mcp__plugin_zsh-tool_zsh-tool__zsh">
<parameter name="command">./skills/SKILL_NAME/scripts/SCRIPT.sh [args]</parameter>
<parameter name="pty">true</parameter>
</invoke>

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Tailscale AI skill do?

Why use Tailscale on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Tailscale is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Tailscale in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/jmagar/claude-homelab/tree/main/skills/tailscale. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Tailscale?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Tailscale?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Tailscale with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Tailscale AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by jmagar under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Tailscale Skill

Purpose

Setup

Local Operations (CLI)

Status & Diagnostics

Connectivity

File Transfer (Taildrop)

Expose Services

SSH

Tailnet-Wide Operations (API)

List All Devices

Device Details

Check Online Status

Authorize/Delete Device

Device Tags & Routes

Auth Keys

DNS Management

ACLs

Common Use Cases

🔧 Agent Tool Usage Requirements

Bundled files

Frequently asked questions

Related AI Skills

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