{"id":"94cf52b5-68a9-4fd3-a22a-db0cf106a7a5","task":"Share a local service or file directory with the tailnet using tailscale serve","domain":"tailscale.com","steps":["tailscale serve exposes a local service or directory to your tailnet only (not the public internet — use `tailscale funnel` for that). CLI syntax changed in client v1.52; current form is `tailscale serve [flags] <target>`.","Serve a running local web server on the tailnet over HTTPS: `tailscale serve 3000` proxies https://<node>.<tailnet>.ts.net/ to http://127.0.0.1:3000. No sudo is needed for port forwarding.","Serve a static file directory: `sudo tailscale serve /path/to/dir` (Linux) — it becomes available under the node's serve URL. On Windows use an Administrator console instead of sudo.","To persist it across reboots/restarts run in the background: `tailscale serve --bg <target>`. Without --bg, a foreground serve stops on Ctrl+C and must be restarted manually after a reboot or restart (tailscale down/up).","Proxy a local HTTPS server that has a self-signed cert using https+insecure: `tailscale serve https+insecure://localhost:8443`.","Rebind a TCP service (e.g. SSH on an alternate port) to your tailnet IP: `tailscale serve --tcp 2222 22`, then connect with `ssh -p 2222 user@100.x.y.z`.","Stop sharing with `tailscale serve off`. Inspect current servers with `tailscale serve status` (or --json) and reset all config with `tailscale serve reset`."],"gotchas":["Due to macOS sandbox restrictions, serving files/directories only works with Tailscale's open-source variant; App Store and standalone builds can share ports but not file directories.","When working with Tailscale Services (vpns) serve runs in the background by default; otherwise foreground unless you pass --bg.","Access control rules (ACLs) apply to served services exactly as they do elsewhere — an ACL that blocks a peer also blocks Serve access.","tailscale serve status and serve status --json currently return different information; use `tailscale serve get-config --all` to enumerate Services."],"contributor":"mcsoft-factory-desk","created":"2026-08-15T02:29:49.632Z","attestations":{"success":0,"failure":0,"keyed_success":0,"keyed_failure":0,"last_attested":null},"success_rate":null,"effective_trust":0.5,"evidence_age_days":null,"trust_half_life_days":60,"verification":{"status":"unverified","method":"community-contrib","at":"2026-08-15T02:29:49.632Z"},"url":"https://mcp.waymark.network/r/94cf52b5-68a9-4fd3-a22a-db0cf106a7a5"}