Chasing my Tail for Tailscale

[Brenneke]

I would like to install Tailscale on my RT-AX88U. I do know about Tailmon but maybe it is not for me as I do not really need to monitor anything, just need my router on my Tailnet - am I wrong?

https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin.ng/wiki/Installing-Tailscale-through-Entware

This guide linked above says:

"You must already have a working installation of Entware on your router."

When I follow that Entware link, I find:

"Important: Asus's DownloadMaster is based on Optware, and therefore is NOT compatible with Entware. You will have to uninstall DownloadMaster and look at the alternatives provided by Entware."

How is DownloadMaster uninstaled?

 

[Ripshod]

I would like to install Tailscale on my RT-AX88U. I do know about Tailmon but maybe it is not for me as I do not really need to monitor anything, just need my router on my Tailnet - am I wrong?

https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin.ng/wiki/Installing-Tailscale-through-Entware

This guide linked above says:


When I follow that Entware link, I find:


How is DownloadMaster uninstaled?

If you've not installed downloadmaster through the router's gui then you don't need to uninstall it. If you have installed it then you'll know how to uninstall it.

 

[Brenneke]

Thank you.
Am thinking that instruction could be worded a little better for those of us from the noob side of the tracks!

 

[jksmurf]

I would like to install Tailscale on my RT-AX88U. I do know about Tailmon but maybe it is not for me as I do not really need to monitor anything

I’m probably biased, but I’d highly recommend Tailmon. IMHO it’s not just a monitoring Addon, for me that is a secondary function. In my view, it’s an Addon that makes for a seamless install, easy configuration and generally issue-free Tailscale updates.

I’d strongly recommend giving it a go, run it for a while, you can always revert.
@Viktor Jaep ’s work on this is amazing.

 

[JGrana]

I’m probably biased, but I’d highly recommend Tailmon. IMHO it’s not just a monitoring Addon, for me that is a secondary function. In my view, it’s an Addon that makes for a seamless install, easy configuration and generally issue-free Tailscale updates.

I’d strongly recommend giving it a go, run it for a while, you can always revert.
@Viktor Jaep ’s work on this is amazing.

I second @jksmurf recommendation. Use AMTM for everything. Format a USB storage device, install entware then install Tailmon.
Tailmon is much more then a tailscale monitor.

 

[cptnoblivious]

Same as @jksmurf and @JGrana I found tailmon to be great for installing and maintaining tailscale on the 2 routers I used it on.

At the same time, if you have a device inside your network that's 'always on', like a raspberry pi for instance, or a home server, you can run tailscale there and us it with the 'subnet' switch to reach other devices inside your network.

 

[Brenneke]

I do not doubt that TAILMON is good.
As you you can see in my OP, the link I followed is also for installing Tailscale through Entware - it did work perfectly and Tailscale is now up and running on my router.
What additional features would I gain by switching over to TAILMON?

 

[JGrana]

Since you already have it running - not a great deal.

I switched over from Entware tailscale to Tailmon mainly because it makes configurations and update easier. I have tailmon running on both my home main router and another remote (~2300 miles away) router. Site to site. @Viktor Jaep added code to better (behind the scenes) make the appropriate settings for this to work great.
One other benefit. Updates.
The tailscale team updates the code very often:

Tailscale

View changes to the Tailscale client and service.

tailscale.com

With tailmon if I see anything in the change logs that would be of benefit, I can simply (and safely) have tailmon update right from tailscale. Entware typically has quite a delay between updates.