tailscale

name	tailscale
version	1.0.0
description	Manage Tailscale tailnet via CLI and API. Use when the user asks to "check tailscale status", "list tailscale devices", "ping a device", "send file via tailscale", "tailscale funnel", "create auth key", "check who's online", or mentions Tailscale network management.

Tailscale Skill

Hybrid skill using CLI for local operations and API for tailnet-wide management.

Setup

API config (optional, for tailnet-wide operations): ~/.clawdbot/credentials/tailscale/config.json

{
  "apiKey": "tskey-api-k...",
  "tailnet": "-"
}

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

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

---

Local Operations (CLI)

These work on the current machine only.

Status & Diagnostics

# 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

# 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)

# 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

# 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

# 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

./scripts/ts-api.sh devices

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

Device Details

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

Check Online Status

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

Authorize/Delete Device

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

Device Tags & Routes

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

Auth Keys

# 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

./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

./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?"

./scripts/ts-api.sh online

"Send this file to my phone"

tailscale file cp document.pdf my-phone:

"Expose my dev server publicly"

tailscale funnel 3000

"Create a key for a new server"

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

"Is the connection direct or relayed?"

tailscale ping my-server