From 1d54b7dc74efbb4bdb85fde17644d7c9c715a66c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Alexandr Bogomyakov <ultradesu@hexor.ru>
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2025 01:21:23 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] Create mikrotik-tailscale.md

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+title = "Tailscale on Mikrotik containers"
+date = "2025-10-03"
+description = "Easy way to connect Mikrotik and its networks to Tailscale network"
+
+[taxonomies]
+tags = ["linux", "tools", "networking", "containers"]
+
+[extra]
+author = { name = "@ultradesu", social= "https://github.com/house-of-vanity" }
++++
+
+---
+
+## Create a tag in Tailscale
+
+Open **Visual ACLs → Tags** and create a tag (e.g. `tag:mikrotik-lms`). We’ll assign this tag via container args so your ACLs/policies apply to the node.
+
+* Visual ACL Tags: [https://login.tailscale.com/admin/acls/visual/tags](https://login.tailscale.com/admin/acls/visual/tags)
+
+---
+
+## Create an OAuth client (auth_keys scope)
+
+Create an OAuth client with the **`auth_keys`** scope. You’ll use the **client secret** to mint *auth keys* via API (do **not** put the OAuth secret directly into the container).
+
+* OAuth Clients: [https://login.tailscale.com/admin/settings/oauth](https://login.tailscale.com/admin/settings/oauth)
+
+---
+
+## Storage on `usb1` (container root + state)
+
+Put both the container’s root storage and Tailscale state on `usb1` to avoid filling the internal flash.
+
+```bash
+# Point RouterOS container system to usb1 for all image/layer data.
+/container/config/set root-dir=/usb1/container tmpdir=/usb1/container/tmp
+/file/make-dir usb1/container/tmp
+
+# Create a persistent state dir for Tailscale on usb1.
+/file/make-dir usb1/tailscale-state
+```
+
+> Make sure `usb1` is mounted and has enough free space. The destination path of the mount **must match** `TS_STATE_DIR` (`/var/lib/tailscale`).
+
+---
+
+## Environment variables (RouterOS env list)
+
+Required: `TS_AUTHKEY`, `TS_STATE_DIR`, and `--advertise-tags` matching your ACL tag. Optional vars go after.
+
+```bash
+# --- REQUIRED ---
+/container/envs/add name=TAILSCALE_VARS key=TS_AUTHKEY   value="tskey-REPLACE_ME" \
+  comment="Headless auth key; do not use the raw OAuth secret"
+
+/container/envs/add name=TAILSCALE_VARS key=TS_STATE_DIR value="/var/lib/tailscale" \
+  comment="Persistent state dir inside container; must match the bind mount dst"
+
+/container/envs/add name=TAILSCALE_VARS key=TS_EXTRA_ARGS \
+  value="--advertise-tags=tag:mikrotik-lms" \
+  comment="Attach the policy tag so ACLs apply"
+
+# --- OPTIONAL ---
+/container/envs/add name=TAILSCALE_VARS key=TS_ROUTES        value="10.0.5.0/24" \
+  comment="Advertise routed subnet(s) if acting as a subnet router"
+
+/container/envs/add name=TAILSCALE_VARS key=TS_ENABLE_METRICS value="true" \
+  comment="Expose /debug/metrics for Prometheus"
+
+/container/envs/add name=TAILSCALE_VARS key=TS_ACCEPT_DNS     value="true" \
+  comment="Accept MagicDNS/control-plane DNS"
+
+/container/envs/add name=TAILSCALE_VARS key=TS_USERSPACE      value="false" \
+  comment="Kernel mode if TUN available; set true to force userspace"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Create the mount and veth, then the container (pinned image)
+
+Mount from `usb1` to **the same path** as `TS_STATE_DIR`. Create a `veth` for networking. Pin the image tag (don’t use `latest`).
+
+```bash
+# --- MOUNT ON usb1 (matches TS_STATE_DIR) ---
+/container/mounts/add name=TS_state src=/usb1/tailscale-state dst=/var/lib/tailscale
+
+# --- VETH FOR CONTAINER NETWORKING ---
+/interface/veth/add name=veth-tailscaled address=172.31.0.2/24 gateway=172.31.0.1
+/ip/address/add address=172.31.0.1/24 interface=veth-tailscaled
+
+# --- CONTAINER (PINNED VERSION) ---
+# Replace tag with a current one from Docker Hub.
+/container/add name=tailscaled \
+  remote-image=tailscale/tailscale:v1.76.0 \
+  envlist=TAILSCALE_VARS \
+  mounts=TS_state \
+  interfaces=veth-tailscaled \
+  start-on-boot=yes
+
+/container/start tailscaled
+```
+
+<img width="50%" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/c70ff6b9-0f09-4021-aea7-78069cdbe194" />
+
+
+Reference docs (clickable):
+
+* Visual ACL Tags: [https://login.tailscale.com/admin/acls/visual/tags](https://login.tailscale.com/admin/acls/visual/tags)
+* OAuth Clients: [https://login.tailscale.com/admin/settings/oauth](https://login.tailscale.com/admin/settings/oauth)
+* All container variables: [https://tailscale.com/kb/1282/docker](https://tailscale.com/kb/1282/docker)
+* Image tags: [https://hub.docker.com/r/tailscale/tailscale/tags](https://hub.docker.com/r/tailscale/tailscale/tags)
+
+
+---