URGENT UPDATE: Tailscale has just announced its revolutionary Peer Relays feature, set to transform how users connect to self-hosted services. Currently in beta, this innovation promises to eliminate common connectivity obstacles like firewalls and ISP restrictions, providing a faster, more reliable network experience.
Peer Relays allow devices within your Tailnet to act as high-throughput relays when direct connections fail. This marks a significant shift from Tailscale’s traditional reliance on its global DERP infrastructure, which, while secure, can introduce latency and bottlenecks. By routing traffic through your own devices, such as a NAS or regional VPS, users can expect enhanced throughput and reduced latency.
For anyone running self-hosted services like Jellyfin or Proxmox, this change could drastically improve connection speeds and reliability. Every Tailscale user can now set up two Peer Relays for free, making it an attractive option for home lab enthusiasts and remote workers alike.
If you’ve struggled to access your home server from outside your network, Peer Relays could be the solution you’ve been waiting for. When devices cannot establish direct connections, Tailscale will first check for available Peer Relays within the same Tailnet. If found, traffic is routed through these relays using a specified UDP port, maintaining complete end-to-end encryption and WireGuard tunnel integrity.
This feature is particularly beneficial for devices behind strict firewalls, where a Peer Relay can act as a bridge. Additionally, it enables faster file transfers and smoother streaming experiences, significantly reducing buffering times and enhancing user satisfaction.
Setting up your own Tailscale relay is straightforward. Users must ensure they are running Tailscale version 1.86 or newer and specify a relay server port, such as UDP port 40000. Following the configuration, users can verify the status with the command “tailscale status” to confirm the relay is functioning properly.
This development comes at a critical time for self-hosters seeking control over their data flow while enjoying improved bandwidth. By utilizing Peer Relays, Tailscale users can build a high-speed relay layer within their Tailnet, making connections both private and efficient.
As Tailscale continues to enhance its offerings, the introduction of Peer Relays stands out as a significant quality-of-life improvement. With its potential to streamline connectivity while keeping data secure, this feature is poised to become indispensable for users who rely on Tailscale for their networking needs.
Stay tuned for further updates as Tailscale refines this beta feature. For those already utilizing Tailscale for their home labs or remote work setups, enabling Peer Relays is highly recommended. This innovation might just be the breakthrough that users have been waiting for, blending convenience with control in an increasingly connected world.
