ZeroTier alternatives, or client alternatives for Android,that don't use so much battery? reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- shankargopal · 2023-10-23 05:59 I am using ZeroTier's free tier to connect my computer, a Raspberry Pi and my phone, and I am loving it. But I have run into one seemingly insurmountable problem. The ZeroTier client on Android seems to be quite a battery hog. As a result I have to keep it switched off most of the time, and manually remember to switch it on now and then so sync'ing etc. will happen. ​ Are there any alternatives to ZeroTier, or to the ZeroTier client, that might use less battery on Android? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -HumanResources- · 2023-10-23 06:23 You can try out Tailscale. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- simpleFr4nk · 2023-10-23 07:13 You can indeed use [Tailscale](https://tailscale.com/) ad remember to set the VPN On-Demand so you’ll get connected just when you’re outside your home network :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wdrussell1 · 2023-10-23 07:42 I don't think that really solves the problem here. That will still use the VPN all the time when mobile. So the battery will still drain quickly. Zero Tier I admit is quite heavy compared to Tailscale but the battery issue remains. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- cop3x · 2023-10-23 08:42 I use wireguard back to a pfsence box. I don't notice any increased battery drain I just need access to my home network, so it dose the job. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dire-trousers · 2023-10-23 08:58 What about TwinGate. Network Chuck did a piece about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYmXPF3XUwo&t=647s ---------------------------------------------------------------------- shankargopal · 2023-10-23 09:10 Apparently tailscale has the same problem? https://www.reddit.com/r/Ta ilscale/comments/13y09bp/extreme_battery_drain_on_android/ but there is a reference to switching off DNS which i don't really follow ---------------------------------------------------------------------- shankargopal · 2023-10-23 09:11 That sounds good! Any quick instructions for that? I couldn't figure it out earlier and zerotier/tailscale seemed a lot easier. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tonytamps · 2023-10-23 09:45 Tailscale uses Wireguard under the hood. ZeroTier uses something of their own. I assume Wireguard would only be as good as Tailscale regarding your battery problems. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- simpleFr4nk · 2023-10-23 10:07 You’re indeed right about having the vpn on all the times you’re on mobile, but at least when home it won’t drain more battery as it will closed, so it’s not the best solution, but still better than what OP is using imo ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wiuma · 2023-10-23 10:25 WireGuard alone don’t have this Batterie drain problem. Have it 24/7 on without issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ImTheMarsMan · 2023-10-23 10:30 iirc tailscale uses the userspace implementation of wiregaurd, not kernal. That might effect battery issues. Also their app would have much more bloat then just wiregaurd. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Several_Reflection77 · 2023-10-23 11:03 Also, if you want the self hosted option: Netbird. I have been using this for 1 1/2 years, works like a charm and comes with Linux/Windows/Android clients! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- cop3x · 2023-10-23 11:29 pfsence https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8jQ5UE_7xds if you don't have pfsence, google wireguard vpn docker. I use the wireguard client on android. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- cop3x · 2023-10-23 11:29 me too, using the wireguard Clent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ziomal12 · 2023-10-23 11:37 [this ](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-set- up-wireguard-on-ubuntu-20-04) is pretty much all the guide you need but for a client input the same information into your wireguard app ---------------------------------------------------------------------- survivallama · 2023-10-23 11:46 I dont have the problem. You should get it a try. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- stupv · 2023-10-23 11:57 I have tailscale running 24x7 on an s22 ultra. Haven't noticed any change in battery life at all. Disabling magicdns is something you do in the tailscale admin portal ---------------------------------------------------------------------- stupv · 2023-10-23 11:58 The tailscale app for mobile is bare bones. Literally just an on/off switch and a list of other devices and IPs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- shankargopal · 2023-10-23 12:20 Oh this is very helpful to know - I think I'll try both tailscale.and netbird ---------------------------------------------------------------------- shankargopal · 2023-10-23 12:22 And your experience with the Android client and battery usage has been good? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Several_Reflection77 · 2023-10-23 12:35 Android App is easy to use and has never failed me so far. I can't say much about battery life though, as I only activate it when I need smt, cuz I also have a wireguard server running. But I didn't notice any difference between wireguad and netbird when it comes to battery usage. (Both fine) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Gaz_95 · 2023-10-23 13:01 Id be careful using tailscale if you have any docker containers, it can mess with IP tables and cause routing issues with container > container networking ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wdrussell1 · 2023-10-23 14:02 I mean, the entire point of VPN like that is all time online. The better solution is likely a port forward for syncing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Azuras33 · 2023-10-23 14:13 Tailscale uses wireguard with custom modification (to distribute key, use relay, use TCP). It's not the same protocol as plain native wireguard. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ProffesionalAds · 2023-10-23 15:36 [Netmaker](https://www.netmaker.io/) is another alternative to Tailscale which is not userspace(But still under Kernel Wireguard). OP can check it out as well. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- simpleFr4nk · 2023-10-23 15:46 In my experience when you forward ports, specially the http and https, you get flooded by bots and bad actors. So if that’s your route I’d use a reverse proxy and crowdsec but IMO that’s more work than just using tailscale, still not impossible to do ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wdrussell1 · 2023-10-23 15:50 Thats where you have to make sure you are using proper filtering. If for http/https then you would use a reverse proxy with filtering for just his country or to specific IP addresses. Most carriers have specific IP addresses so you could easily set it to only work for cellphone carriers. Takes a bit of work but it is worth doing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PovilasID · 2023-10-23 16:44 Not sure... the problem may be inherent to VPN and P2P protocol implementation. However, I saw an alternative Android client for ZT. It was built to have a couple of extra features not sure how secure or how reliable it is. [https://github.com/kaaass/ZerotierFix](https://github.com/kaaass/Zero tierFix) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mikesellt · 2023-10-23 20:25 The always-on VPN does NOT close Tailscale when you're home. At least mine doesn't. If it's on, it's on all the time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- simpleFr4nk · 2023-10-23 20:34 You need to change a setting in the VPN On-Demand options to make that work. You put the Wi-Fi option to Except On and the name of the network where you don’t want it to turn it on. After that you will see it won’t start the connection with tailscale when you’re in the network you wrote there ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mikesellt · 2023-10-23 20:56 Unfortunately I guess I don't have that option on my phone. Using Galaxy Note 10+. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mnopw · 2023-10-24 01:00 Wireguard with a static ip server works ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ImTheMarsMan · 2023-10-24 19:29 Love netmaker, the Gravitl team is really great. The discord is a great place to go if you need help. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DIYSRE · 2023-10-25 04:47 [https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/how-tos/wireguard- client.html](https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/how-tos/wireguard- client.html) Essentially you configure private and public keys on both devices, then configure both device to accept each other. You configure an endpoint (client peer) per device you wish to connect. Not as "portable" or flexible as a simple user/pass implementation, but it's rock solid once it's setup. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tonytamps · 2023-10-25 11:08 Thanks, but I'm not using it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tonytamps · 2023-10-25 11:10 I didn't say it did. I'm saying that whatever is going on now with ZeroTier for this person will likely remain the same after switching to WireGuard. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- shankargopal · 2023-10-25 12:30 Was tied up with something for a few days, but have just now installed Tailscale (for those using it on Android, in case you also use a Private DNS setting, be aware that there's a problem - follow the [point made here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Tailscale/comments/12isdul/ comment/jfvbset/)). Will report back here on how my battery performs... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- shankargopal · 2023-10-28 08:37 So I have been trying out Tailscale for the last three days, as suggested by u/-HumanResources- in [this comment](https://www.reddit.c om/r/selfhosted/comments/17edja8/comment/k62my18/?utm_source=share&utm _medium=web2x&context=3). Just wanted to report my findings. So as far as Tailscale is concerned, there's good news and there's bad news. Bad news: It's still a battery hog. I ran it for 12 hours straight one day, and according to Android it used about 5% of my battery, which doesn't sound like much until you consider that the only apps that used more than that were the screen itself and two which I used for one hour to one and a half hour video calls. I should note that this usage is after I turned off MagicDNS, as I use private DNS on Android and had to [deal with this problem](https://www.reddit.com/r/T ailscale/comments/12isdul/comment/jfvbset/). Good news: It used significantly less than ZeroTier. My battery is still suffering, but it's better than before. I am going to try Netbird, but possibly after a few days, as it is a headache and takes up a little time to change the IP addresses in many of my scripts / apps. Will report here if I do so. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- eRIZpl · 2023-10-28 09:07 I wish I had problems with only 5% of drainage... 😅