Make a dedicated Wake-on-LAN server with Tailscale

The blog post explores how Tailscale, a VPN service, can be combined with Wake-on-LAN (WoL) technology to remotely wake devices that are asleep or powered off, despite Tailscale's inability to send WoL packets directly. It explains that WoL packets, which function at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model, require the MAC address of a device to "wake" it, while Tailscale operates at the network layer (Layer 3). To bridge this gap, the post suggests using a Raspberry Pi or a similar device to send WoL packets by installing Tailscale and the etherwake tool. Additionally, the post introduces UpSnap, a self-hosted web application that provides a user-friendly interface for sending WoL packets via a browser, which can be accessed through Tailscale from any location. This method simplifies remote device management and enhances accessibility by offering a more intuitive alternative to command-line tools.