Headscale

Headscale 0.27.1 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with Free Maintenance Support by bCloud

Headscale on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, with maintenance support from bCloud, is a repackaged open-source offering available through the AWS Cloud Marketplace. Headscale is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to the Tailscale control server, built for self-hosters, hobbyists, and small teams that want to run their own private network control plane.

Headscale allows you to create and manage private networks (tailnets) with features such as node registration, DNS management, MagicDNS, and Access Control Lists (ACLs). It supports both IPv4 and IPv6 and includes an embedded DERP server to improve connectivity and performance.

This solution is commonly used by personal users and small organisations that want private network control without relying on hosted SaaS control planes.

Keywords for Headscale

• Headscale on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
• AWS Marketplace AMI deployment
• Self-hosted Tailscale control plane
• Tailnet creation and management
• Node registration
• MagicDNS + DNS management
• ACL-based access control
• WireGuard-based VPN connectivity
• IPv4 / IPv6 support
• Embedded DERP server
• Optional bCloud maintenance support

AWS Marketplace Offerings for Headscale

AWS Marketplace commonly provides two deployment styles for Headscale:

Headscale on Ubuntu 24.04 with bCloud Support

• Ubuntu 24.04 AMI with Headscale installed
• Supports core Headscale capabilities (nodes, DNS, ACLs, DERP, IPv4/IPv6)
• Optional bCloud maintenance support for updates and assistance
• Suitable for users who prefer lightweight deployments with manual configuration control

Headscale Control Plane for Tailscale

• Headscale is packaged with the Hossted application management platform
• Includes managed features such as:
  • rapid deployment workflow
  • built-in SSL
  • CVE monitoring
  • automated image updates
  • 24/7 support options
• Suitable for teams needing a managed operational model

Core Technical Capabilities of Headscale

Self-Hosted Tailnet Control Plane

Headscale provides the control server required for managing:

• nodes/devices inside a tailnet
• authentication and node registration
• access policies through ACL rules

DNS and MagicDNS Support

Headscale supports:

• DNS configuration for private nodes
• MagicDNS-style resolution for easier internal host access

WireGuard-Based Networking

Headscale works with WireGuard-based VPN connectivity, enabling secure private networking between devices.

IPv4 / IPv6 Compatibility

Supports:

• IPv4 routing
• IPv6 routing

It allows mixed networking setups across cloud and on-prem environments.

Embedded DERP Server

Includes an embedded DERP relay option to improve connectivity in NAT-restricted scenarios and reduce link instability.

AWS Marketplace-Optimised Advantages

AMI-Based Deployment

Headscale AMIs provide:

• rapid deployment (no manual dependency install)
• consistent environments across instances
• simpler testing and troubleshooting

AWS Networking and Security Controls

Headscale runs inside AWS infrastructure and can use:

• VPC for network isolation
• Security Groups for inbound/outbound control (example ports: 443 HTTPS, DERP ports as required)
• IAM roles and policies for secure instance access and service integrations

DNS and Storage Integration Options

Depending on deployment needs, Headscale environments can integrate with:

• Route 53 for DNS configuration
• S3 for storage workflows (backup/export patterns, if configured)

Scalability and Availability

For higher usage workloads:

• Deployments can scale using EC2 Auto Scaling
• High availability can be achieved using a multi-AZ EC2 design (depending on architecture)