Tailscale Authentication For Minecraft
Blog post from Tailscale
The blog post explores the creative application of using Tailscale, a VPN service, for authentication on a Minecraft server, allowing users to secure server access by integrating it into a private tailnet. This setup restricts server access to known users, enhances logging, and works without modifying the Minecraft server with third-party mods, maintaining a vanilla setup. However, there are limitations, such as incompatibility with the Bedrock version of Minecraft, the need to disable standard authentication, and potential issues with Tailscale usernames. The process involves setting up an authentication proxy using a patched version of the Infrared software, which allows the server to operate in offline mode, bypassing Mojang's authentication servers. This setup leverages Tailscale's MagicDNS feature for domain management, ensuring a secure and private gaming environment for trusted players.