# Private Networking Category (Software-Defined Networks)

**URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/private-networking-category-software-defined-networks/11766
**Category:** Site Development
**Created:** 2023-02-14T15:57:08Z
**Posts:** 8

## Post 1 by @jonah — 2023-02-14T15:57:08Z

Would there be interest in a category for tools that create software-defined networks/private VPNs? This has clear utility for people self-hosting other tools we recommend on local devices without requiring they expose their self-hosted services to the internet via port forwarding.

## Tailscale

- Open source first-party clients: [Open source at Tailscale · Tailscale](https://tailscale.com/opensource/)
  - GUI clients on proprietary systems (Windows, macOS, iOS) are not fully open-source

- Closed-source backend
- Officially endorsed third-party backend: [GitHub - juanfont/headscale: An open source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server](https://github.com/juanfont/headscale)
- Wireguard-based

> **[Tailscale | Secure Connectivity for AI, IoT & Multi-Cloud](https://tailscale.com/)**
>
> The connectivity platform for devs, IT, and security teams. Zero Trust identity-based access that deploys in minutes and scales to every resource. Start free.

I personally use Tailscale myself for the record.

## ZeroTier

- [Weird software license](https://github.com/zerotier/ZeroTierOne/blob/666fb7ea2d7993bd47d3062dca3bb8dd1e1a87a5/LICENSE.txt)
- Not sure if mobile apps are open source? WebUI also is not but there are FOSS control plane GUI alternatives

> **[ZeroTier | Next-Generation Connectivity and Cybersecurity](https://www.zerotier.com/)**
>
> Connect everything, from cloud to IoT, with the next-generation global network solution. Simple, resilient, and secure networking in minutes.

## Others?

- [GitHub - slackhq/nebula: A scalable overlay networking tool with a focus on performance, simplicity and security](https://github.com/slackhq/nebula)
- Standard Wireguard?
- [Pritunl](https://pritunl.com/)

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## Post 2 by @anon73250778 — 2023-02-15T23:59:33Z

I want to try ZeroTier and TailScale/Headscale for this exact purpose of sharing an internal network resource such as my LAN to the internet without actually exposing the home network to the whole internet. But real life is demanding a lot from me right now and I have yet the free time to fully explore it.

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## Post 3 by @Nostradamus — 2023-04-19T02:23:47Z

Other options: [PiVPN](https://pivpn.io/)? selfhosted on something like a [NanoPi R4S](https://www.friendlyelec.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=284) instead of a RP4

Tailscale sounds the easier to set up tho, but I don’t like that you have to login into their server, aside from that I don’t know if there would be a real privacy advance on self-hosting it, assuming everything on the tunnel is encrypted.

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## Post 4 by @jerm — 2023-04-20T01:59:04Z

wouldn’t it make much more sense to add these when [Self-hosting overview page · Issue #1686 · privacyguides/privacyguides.org · GitHub](https://github.com/privacyguides/privacyguides.org/issues/1686) is done?

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## Post 5 by @Nostradamus — 2023-04-20T14:11:12Z

It does make sense but I didn’t know that page was on development!

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## Post 6 by @AcostaJA — 2023-04-21T01:17:41Z

Both tailscale and Zerotier clients are open source but not GPL, source code is available and while compiled binaries not reproducible (an issue on how certain framework add random salt), but you can download audit and build yourself.

I don’t understand what the issue with no-gpl software licenses IMHO (and most developer agree as Github provide solid evidence on no-gpl favouritism), as from privacy standpoint what matters is auditable code and quick vulnerability remedy.

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## Post 7 by @jerm — 2023-05-03T12:13:02Z

[Vula](https://vula.codeberg.page/comparison/) sounds interesting,

Any one tried it?

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## Post 8 by @debsidian — 2023-08-18T20:36:56Z

+1 for the Private Networking category.

I’m doing research into this now and PG always helps me to make good decisions. I also appreciate PG’s balance between usability and privacy. Private networking would be a welcome new addition IMO. Maybe also include Headscale?