OpenStack Neutron vs Tailscale

OpenStack Neutron provides network connectivity between interface devices managed by other OpenStack services. Its API lets operators define cloud connectivity and addressing, and manage networks, subnets, and ports. Neutron supports provider, routed provider, and self-service networks, with options including VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, and Geneve. It can configure L3 forwarding, NAT, perimeter firewalls, and virtual private networks, and works mainly with OpenStack Compute to connect instances. Plug-ins and agents are available for Open vSwitch, OVN, SR-IOV, and Macvtap, although only one networking plug-in can be used at a time. Security groups provide port-level ingress and egress firewall rules, with default-deny and anti-spoofing rules. Quality-of-service options include bandwidth and packet-rate limits, DSCP marking, and minimum rates, depending on the backend. Neutron is free and open source under Apache 2.0, for Linux and self-hosted deployments. The installation guide’s example requires at least two hosts and is framed as a learning proof of concept for people with sufficient Linux experience, not a production setup.

Tailscale is a zero-config VPN for connecting users and devices across a network. It uses WireGuard to form low-latency peer-to-peer connections, which Tailscale says are end-to-end encrypted so it cannot read users’ traffic. Administrators can use access control lists to specify which users may connect to which devices. Supported identity providers handle authentication, and SCIM supports user and group provisioning. Monitoring features include configuration audit logs, network flow logs, webhooks, and log streaming to SIEM partners. Device posture information can be used in connectivity rules. Taildrop transfers files between devices, while node sharing lets users share a node without exposing it to the public internet. The service runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Personal is free forever for non-commercial use and supports up to six users; Standard costs $8 per user per month. Premium costs $18 per user per month and includes priority support.