Connect your laptop

Install the official Tailscale client for your operating system, sign in, and connect it to the practice tailnet.

On macOS, use the App Store app or the standalone package from tailscale.com. On Windows, run the installer. On Linux, the install script sets up the package repository for you. After installing, sign in through the app, or run:

sudo tailscale up

The client creates a virtual network interface and receives stable tailnet addresses. It does not replace your normal Wi-Fi or Ethernet interface. Your regular Internet traffic keeps flowing exactly as before. Only traffic addressed to tailnet devices uses the new interface.

Inspect what the device received

Use the application or CLI to confirm the device is connected before changing routes or access policy.

tailscale status
tailscale ip -4
tailscale ip -6

100.87.12.44   flavio-mbp   flavio@   macOS   -
100.87.12.44
fd7a:115c:a1e0::4401:c2c

The IPv4 address comes from the 100.64.0.0/10 range, and the IPv6 address from a Tailscale-specific prefix. Both stay with this device for as long as it remains in the tailnet, no matter which network it joins.

Match it in the admin console

Open the admin console and find your laptop in the machines list. Match the addresses in the terminal with the device entry in the admin console. Same IP, same name, same user. That confirmation matters more than it seems, because later lessons make policy decisions based on these identities.

Rename the device if its generated name is unclear. flavios-macbook-pro-3 is a bad name to type into an SSH config; flavio-mbp is better. The MagicDNS name follows the machine name, so pick one you are happy to use everywhere.

One check before moving on: if tailscale status prints Logged out or Stopped, run sudo tailscale up again and complete the browser login. Nothing in the next lessons works from a stopped client.