Set up Tailscale on Your Spark

Basic idea

Tailscale creates an encrypted peer-to-peer mesh network that allows secure access to your NVIDIA DGX Spark device from anywhere without complex firewall configurations or port forwarding. By installing Tailscale on both your DGX Spark and client devices, you establish a private "tailnet" where each device gets a stable private IP address and hostname, enabling seamless SSH access whether you're at home, work, or a coffee shop.

What you'll accomplish

You will set up Tailscale on your DGX Spark device and client machines to create secure remote access. After completion, you'll be able to SSH into your DGX Spark from anywhere using simple commands like ssh user@spark-hostname, with all traffic automatically encrypted and NAT traversal handled transparently.

What to know before starting

Working with terminal/command line interfaces
Basic SSH concepts and usage
Installing packages using apt on Ubuntu
Understanding of user accounts and authentication
Familiarity with systemd service management

Prerequisites

Hardware Requirements:

NVIDIA Grace Blackwell GB10 Superchip System

Software Requirements:

NVIDIA DGX OS
Client device (Mac, Windows, or Linux) for remote access
Client device and DGX Spark not on the same network when testing connectivity
Internet connectivity on both devices
Valid email account for Tailscale authentication (Google, GitHub, Microsoft)
SSH server availability check: systemctl status ssh
Package manager working: sudo apt update
User account with sudo privileges on your DGX Spark device

Time & risk

Duration: 15-30 minutes for initial setup, 5 minutes per additional device
Risks: Medium
- Potential SSH service configuration conflicts
- Network connectivity issues during initial setup
- Authentication provider service dependencies
Rollback: Tailscale can be completely removed with sudo apt remove tailscale and all network routing automatically reverts to default settings.
Last Updated: 11/07/2025
- Minor copyedits