🔐 Join the studiaid VPN mesh
Self-hosted WireGuard network — control server https://vpn.studiaid.de. Your device key is created automatically. Nothing is stored on Tailscale's cloud.
sudo tailscale logout · Windows: tailscale logout · apps: account menu → Sign out.Requirements
You need the small open-source Tailscale agent — it is only a client program. It connects to
our server at vpn.studiaid.de, never to Tailscale Inc. Install it with the steps
for your platform below.
🖥️ Windows
Install
Microsoft Store: search "Tailscale" and install, or in an admin PowerShell:
winget install --id Tailscale.Tailscale
Join
Open an admin PowerShell (Start → type "PowerShell" → right-click → Run as administrator) and run:
tailscale up --login-server=https://vpn.studiaid.de --hostname=my-windows-pc
A browser opens → sign in with your authorized Google account → done. The PC is on the VPN under the name my-windows-pc.
Tip: rename it any time (admin PowerShell): tailscale set --hostname=newname. The tray icon shows it online.
🐧 Ubuntu / Debian / Linux
Install (from our server)
curl -fsSL https://join.studiaid.de/install.sh | sudo sh
Join
sudo tailscale up --login-server=https://vpn.studiaid.de --hostname my-linux
The command prints a link and opens the browser → sign in with your authorized Google account → the machine joins automatically.
Check / everyday
tailscale status # see devices + IPs tailscale ping my-linux # test reachability (from another device)
Pick a memorable --hostname; it becomes <name>.mesh.internal.
🍎 macOS
Install
brew install --cask tailscale
or install "Tailscale" from the Mac App Store.
Join
sudo tailscale up --login-server=https://vpn.studiaid.de --hostname my-mac
Browser opens → sign in with your authorized Google account → done. You will see the menu-bar icon turn green (VPN on).
GUI alternative: open the Tailscale app → Log in → choose "Use an alternate server" →
https://vpn.studiaid.de.
📱 iPhone / iPad (iOS)
Steps
1. App Store → install Tailscale (official, free).
2. Open the app → tap Log in.
3. Tap "Use an alternate server" (link under the email field).
4. Type: https://vpn.studiaid.de → Continue.
5. Sign in with your authorized Google account → allow.
6. Tap Connect — the VPN icon appears in Settings → VPN.
Give the phone a name it keeps: Settings → device name, or rename later in the dashboard.
🤖 Android
1. Play Store → install Tailscale.
2. Open → tap "Use an alternate server".
3. https://vpn.studiaid.de → Continue.
4. Sign in with your authorized Google account → allow → Connect.
Servers / automation (no Google login needed)
Admins mint a machine key on the server, then:
sudo tailscale up --login-server=https://vpn.studiaid.de --authkey=hskey-auth-… --hostname web-01
After joining — how to use it
• Every device is reachable from every other by name: <hostname>.mesh.internal,
e.g. my-mac.mesh.internal, or by its 100.x IP (see tailscale status).
• Admins manage devices in the dashboard: https://dashboard.studiaid.de
• Need a machine on a home/office LAN reachable too? Tell the admin — that is a "subnet router".
Troubleshooting
"Access denied / account not allowed" → you signed in with a Google account that
is not on the allowed list. Only pre-authorized accounts can join.
Browser won't open the link → the terminal printed a URL like
https://vpn.studiaid.de/register/… — copy it into any browser manually.
Stuck at "Tailscale is stopped/needs login" from before → sudo tailscale logout
then run the join command again.
Ping fails but status says online → ACLs may be tightened; ask the admin.