Understanding Overlay Networks and How They Compare with Tailscale

Introduction:

In today’s world, with the increasing number of remote workers and cloud services, networking has become an essential part of our lives. One of the popular networking concepts is overlay networks, which provide an abstraction layer over the underlying network. In this article, we will explore the concept of overlay networks and how they compare with Tailscale, a popular VPN solution. We will also look at how exit nodes work in Tailscale.

What is an Overlay Network?

An overlay network is a virtual network built on top of an existing network, allowing multiple devices or services to communicate with each other as if they are connected to the same local network. It is often used to provide network services such as load balancing, service discovery, and security.

Overlay networks use various technologies such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Network Address Translation (NAT), and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) to create the virtual network. In an overlay network, the communication between the devices or services is encapsulated, and the data packets are transmitted through the underlying network.

How Does Tailscale Compare with Overlay Networks?

Tailscale is a popular VPN solution that provides secure networking for remote workers and teams. It uses an overlay network to connect devices securely…