headscale/docs/usage/getting-started.md
Florian Preinstorfer 8c09afe20c Headscale implements a single tailnet
Separate the term "tailnet" from user and be more explicit about
providing a single tailnet.

Also be more explicit about users. Refer to "headscale users" when
mentioning commandline invocations and use the term "local users" when
discussing unix accounts.

Fixes: #2335
2025-02-05 11:05:03 +01:00

135 lines
3.6 KiB
Markdown

# Getting started
This page helps you get started with headscale and provides a few usage examples for the headscale command line tool
`headscale`.
!!! note "Prerequisites"
* Headscale is installed and running as system service. Read the [setup section](../setup/requirements.md) for
installation instructions.
* The configuration file exists and is adjusted to suit your environment, see
[Configuration](../ref/configuration.md) for details.
* Headscale is reachable from the Internet. Verify this by opening client specific setup instructions in your
browser, e.g. https://headscale.example.com/windows
* The Tailscale client is installed, see [Client and operating system support](../about/clients.md) for more
information.
## Getting help
The `headscale` command line tool provides built-in help. To show available commands along with their arguments and
options, run:
=== "Native"
```shell
# Show help
headscale help
# Show help for a specific command
headscale <COMMAND> --help
```
=== "Container"
```shell
# Show help
docker exec -it headscale \
headscale help
# Show help for a specific command
docker exec -it headscale \
headscale <COMMAND> --help
```
## Manage headscale users
In headscale, a node (also known as machine or device) is always assigned to a
headscale user. Such a headscale user may have many nodes assigned to them and
can be managed with the `headscale users` command. Invoke the built-in help for
more information: `headscale users --help`.
### Create a headscale user
=== "Native"
```shell
headscale users create <USER>
```
=== "Container"
```shell
docker exec -it headscale \
headscale users create <USER>
```
### List existing headscale users
=== "Native"
```shell
headscale users list
```
=== "Container"
```shell
docker exec -it headscale \
headscale users list
```
## Register a node
One has to register a node first to use headscale as coordination with Tailscale. The following examples work for the
Tailscale client on Linux/BSD operating systems. Alternatively, follow the instructions to connect
[Android](connect/android.md), [Apple](connect/apple.md) or [Windows](connect/windows.md) devices.
### Normal, interactive login
On a client machine, run the `tailscale up` command and provide the FQDN of your headscale instance as argument:
```shell
tailscale up --login-server <YOUR_HEADSCALE_URL>
```
Usually, a browser window with further instructions is opened and contains the value for `<YOUR_MACHINE_KEY>`. Approve
and register the node on your headscale server:
=== "Native"
```shell
headscale nodes register --user <USER> --key <YOUR_MACHINE_KEY>
```
=== "Container"
```shell
docker exec -it headscale \
headscale nodes register --user <USER> --key <YOUR_MACHINE_KEY>
```
### Using a preauthkey
It is also possible to generate a preauthkey and register a node non-interactively. First, generate a preauthkey on the
headscale instance. By default, the key is valid for one hour and can only be used once (see `headscale preauthkeys
--help` for other options):
=== "Native"
```shell
headscale preauthkeys create --user <USER>
```
=== "Container"
```shell
docker exec -it headscale \
headscale preauthkeys create --user <USER>
```
The command returns the preauthkey on success which is used to connect a node to the headscale instance via the
`tailscale up` command:
```shell
tailscale up --login-server <YOUR_HEADSCALE_URL> --authkey <YOUR_AUTH_KEY>
```