In Part 6 of the Home Lab Series:
- The Problem: Why opening ports on your router is dangerous.
- The Solution: What is a Mesh VPN (Tailscale)?
- The Setup: Installing Tailscale on Linux/Docker.
- The Magic: Accessing your server from a hotel Wi-Fi.
- Exit Nodes: Using your home internet while traveling.
You built the server. You installed the apps. You blocked the ads. But right now, you can only access your glorious creation when you are sitting on your couch. The moment you leave the house, your Home Lab goes dark.
In Part 6, we are fixing that. We are going to set up Remote Access so you can watch Jellyfin movies at a hotel or check your Home Assistant security cameras from workâsecurely.
Don't Lab Alone
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The Old Way vs. The New Way
In the past, accessing your server remotely meant "Port Forwarding." You had to tell your router to open a hole in its firewall. This is like leaving your front door open so your friends can enter, but it also lets in burglars (hackers).
The New Way: Tailscale.
Tailscale creates a private, encrypted tunnel between your devices. It works like a long invisible Ethernet cable connecting your phone to your server, no matter where you are in the world. No port forwarding required.
Step 1: Create a Tailscale Account
Go to the Tailscale website and sign up (it is free for personal use). You will be given a dashboard.
Step 2: Install on Your Server
We need to install the Tailscale agent on your Home Lab (Ubuntu/Debian/Pi).
- Open your server terminal (or Proxmox Console).
- Run the one-line install script:
curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
- Once installed, start it up:
It will provide a URL. Copy that link into your browser and authorize the device. Your server is now connected!
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Step 3: Connect Your Client (Phone/Laptop)
Now that the server is listening, you need to connect your viewing device.
- Download the Tailscale app on your iPhone, Android, or Laptop.
- Log in with the same account.
- Flip the "Active" switch to On.
You will see your server in the list with a special IP address (usually starting with 100.x.x.x). This is your Tailscale IP.
Test it: Disconnect your phone from Wi-Fi (use 5G/LTE). Open a browser and type: http://[TAILSCALE-IP]:8096. You should see your Jellyfin server, streaming securely over the internet!
Bonus: The "Exit Node" (VPN for Travel)
One of the coolest features of Tailscale is the "Exit Node." This allows you to route all your phone's internet traffic through your home server.
Why do this?
- Security: If you are on sketchy public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop, turning this on encrypts everything.
- Geofencing: If you are traveling abroad, websites will think you are still sitting in your living room.
To enable it, run this on your server:
sudo tailscale up --advertise-exit-node
Then, in your phone app, go to "Use Exit Node" and select your server.
Conclusion
You have now unlocked the full power of the cloud, but you own the hardware. You can access your files, watch your movies, and block ads via Pi-hole from anywhere on Earth.
Coming Up in Part 7: We will discuss Backups. Because if you don't have a backup, you don't have data.
Expand Your Network (Literally)
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Find a friend who loves Home Labbing as much as you do.