# Using a Mac mini and Tailscale for Remote Access and Private Services

DevFeed: [Using a Mac mini and Tailscale for Remote Access and Private Services](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/what-a-mac-mini-tailscale-enables-25284.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://kau.sh/blog/mac-mini-tailscale-benefits-tips-vpn-vps/>)

Author: Kaushik Gopal

Published: 2022-08-20T20:55:35Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Kaushik Gopal's Site](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/kaushik-gopal-s-site.md>)

Topics: [Mac Mini](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/mac-mini.md>), [tailscale](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/tailscale.md>), [Virtual Private Network](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/vpn.md>), [Hugo](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/hugo.md>), [Homebridge](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/homebridge.md>), [Server](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/server.md>), [Visual Studio Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/visual-studio-code.md>), [Android](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/android.md>), [Website](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/website.md>)

Tags: [android](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android.md>), [browser](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/browser.md>), [firewall](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/firewall.md>), [homebridge](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/homebridge.md>), [hugo](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/hugo.md>), [mac-mini](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mac-mini.md>), [rss](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/rss.md>), [server](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/server.md>), [tailscale](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/tailscale.md>), [vpn](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/vpn.md>), [vscode](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/vscode.md>)

## AI overview

The article describes using Tailscale with an always-on Mac mini to securely access a home machine from devices elsewhere on the internet. It discusses using the setup for a private Hugo live-preview server and a FreshRSS server, with access from devices such as an Android phone.

## Source excerpt

I'd like to show you how I use Tailscale and a Mac mini in my office to achieve some nifty things. Tailscale is marketed as a zero-config VPN built on top of WireGuard that securely connects devices and manages firewall rules etc. While all of that might be true, think of it this way: Tailscale allows you to securely connect to a machine at home from anywhere on the internet. This includes your mobile phone, tablet, or laptop. Tailscale allows you to connect to a machine at home from anywhere on the internet (securely) from your phone/tablet/laptop. Basic idea ## For me, that "machine" is a souped-up Mac mini sitting on an office shelf at home that is never turned off. This Mac mini is the linchpin of my setup, really. I install1 Tailscale on this Mac mini and all the other devices I wish to connect from. With the magic of Tailscale ✨, all these devices are now connected like they were on the same network! If that hasn't sunk in: I could literally connect to the Homebridge server on my Mac mini in California from an Android phone while traveling in India. Let's talk about some services you could run leveraging this setup. Private blog server ## I use the static website generator Hugo (& Henry) for this site. Hugo has this nifty feature called live reload when you run it on a local machine. If I change any part of my website,2 it instantly shows me an up-to-date preview. I typically edit my "draft" blog posts like this, so I can see the changes right away. But you don't run your real website like this.3 Gosh, if only I had a private server that only I could connect to on the internet. With Tailscale on my Mac mini, I now do. For the technically curious: I edit files directly on a folder on the mini using VSCode.4 I then run a hugo server5 which watches for changes in this folder. Hugo picks it up and serves a live preview on a private port on the Mac mini. And because this is just a "local" address & port (courtesy Tailscale), I can connect to it from any of my devic