mikrotik-tailscale

A minimal Tailscale Docker image built for MikroTik routers running Container. Fits in 16 MB internal flash. Built from source with only router-relevant features included.

• ~4 MB extracted rootfs (FROM scratch + UPX'd Tailscale binary + a custom static busybox debug shell).
• Multi-arch: amd64, arm64, arm/v7 — one tag, RouterOS pulls the right one.
• No built-in updater (it would pull the full upstream binary and wear flash); updates are delivered by CI and pulled only when the image actually changed.
• Flash-wear conscious: minimal persistent state, no netmap disk-caching, tmpfs for scratch and runtime.

Documentation

• Usage — deploy the published image on a MikroTik router and operate it (networking, auth, MagicDNS, automatic updates). Start here if you just want it running.
• Development — build the image, test it locally, bump the Tailscale version, and cut releases.
• Design & rationale — size optimizations, the feature allowlist, why certain features are deliberately removed, flash-wear protection, and the versioning / release / update architecture.

Supported architectures

Docker platform	RouterOS arch	Example devices
linux/amd64	x86 / CHR	x86 installs, Cloud Hosted Router
linux/arm64	arm64	RB5009, CCR2004/2116/2216, hAP ax³, L009, Chateau
linux/arm/v7	arm (ARMv7)	hAP ac², RB3011, RB4011, RB1100AHx4

ARMv5 (hEX Refresh / hAP ax S) is not supported — see DESIGN.md.

Quick start

• Run it on a router: follow docs/USAGE.md — it deploys the prebuilt image, no build needed.
• Build it yourself: ./build.sh (needs docker buildx + QEMU for cross-arch); details in docs/DEVELOPMENT.md.

Repository layout

Path	Purpose
Dockerfile	Multi-stage, multi-arch build (cross-compiled Go + custom busybox)
busybox-applets.config	Curated busybox applet set
build.sh	Build all/one arch, optionally export per-arch tarballs
routeros/update-tailscale.rsc	RouterOS auto-update script (digest compare + recreate)
.woodpecker/	CI: Renovate cron, release tagging, multi-arch publish
renovate.json	Dependency-update rules
docs/	Tutorial and design docs