\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
-@c $Id: tinc.texi,v 1.8.4.40 2003/07/30 09:22:29 guus Exp $
@c %**start of header
@setfilename tinc.info
@settitle tinc Manual
@setchapternewpage odd
@c %**end of header
+@include tincinclude.texi
+
@ifinfo
@dircategory Networking tools
@direntry
* tinc: (tinc). The tinc Manual.
@end direntry
-This is the info manual for tinc, a Virtual Private Network daemon.
-
-Copyright @copyright{} 1998-2003 Ivo Timmermans
-<ivo@@o2w.nl>, Guus Sliepen <guus@@sliepen.eu.org> and
-Wessel Dankers <wsl@@nl.linux.org>.
+This is the info manual for @value{PACKAGE} version @value{VERSION}, a Virtual Private Network daemon.
-$Id: tinc.texi,v 1.8.4.40 2003/07/30 09:22:29 guus Exp $
+Copyright @copyright{} 1998-2017 Ivo Timmermans,
+Guus Sliepen <guus@@tinc-vpn.org> and
+Wessel Dankers <wsl@@tinc-vpn.org>.
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
@page
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
-@cindex copyright
-Copyright @copyright{} 1998-2003 Ivo Timmermans
-<ivo@@o2w.nl>, Guus Sliepen <guus@@sliepen.eu.org> and
-Wessel Dankers <wsl@@nl.linux.org>.
+This is the info manual for @value{PACKAGE} version @value{VERSION}, a Virtual Private Network daemon.
-$Id: tinc.texi,v 1.8.4.40 2003/07/30 09:22:29 guus Exp $
+Copyright @copyright{} 1998-2017 Ivo Timmermans,
+Guus Sliepen <guus@@tinc-vpn.org> and
+Wessel Dankers <wsl@@tinc-vpn.org>.
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
@end titlepage
+@ifnottex
@c ==================================================================
-@node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
+@node Top
+@top Top
@menu
-* Introduction:: Introduction
+* Introduction::
* Preparations::
* Installation::
* Configuration::
* Running tinc::
* Technical information::
+* Platform specific information::
* About us::
* Concept Index:: All used terms explained
@end menu
-
-
-@contents
+@end ifnottex
@c ==================================================================
-@node Introduction, Preparations, Top, Top
+@node Introduction
@chapter Introduction
@cindex tinc
-tinc is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) daemon that uses tunneling and
+Tinc is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) daemon that uses tunneling and
encryption to create a secure private network between hosts on the
Internet.
process of tinc itself.
@menu
-* VPNs:: Virtual Private Networks in general
-* tinc:: about tinc
+* Virtual Private Networks::
+* tinc:: About tinc
* Supported platforms::
@end menu
@c ==================================================================
-@node VPNs, tinc, Introduction, Introduction
+@node Virtual Private Networks
@section Virtual Private Networks
@cindex VPN
This problem can be solved by using @emph{virtual} networks. Virtual
networks can live on top of other networks, but they use encapsulation to
keep using their private address space so they do not interfere with
-the Internet. Mostly, virtual networks appear like a singe LAN, even though
+the Internet. Mostly, virtual networks appear like a single LAN, even though
they can span the entire world. But virtual networks can't be secured
by using firewalls, because the traffic that flows through it has to go
through the Internet, where other people can look at it.
@c ==================================================================
-@node tinc, Supported platforms, VPNs, Introduction
+@node tinc
@section tinc
@cindex vpnd
Guus' idea. He wrote a simple implementation (about 50 lines of C) that
used the ethertap device that Linux knows of since somewhere
about kernel 2.1.60. It didn't work immediately and he improved it a
-bit. At this stage, the project was still simply called @samp{vpnd}.
+bit. At this stage, the project was still simply called "vpnd".
Since then, a lot has changed---to say the least.
@cindex tincd
-tinc now supports encryption, it consists of a single daemon (tincd) for
+Tinc now supports encryption, it consists of a single daemon (tincd) for
both the receiving and sending end, it has become largely
runtime-configurable---in short, it has become a full-fledged
professional package.
-@cindex Traditional VPNs
+@cindex traditional VPNs
@cindex scalability
-tinc also allows more than two sites to connect to eachother and form a single VPN.
+Tinc also allows more than two sites to connect to eachother and form a single VPN.
Traditionally VPNs are created by making tunnels, which only have two endpoints.
Larger VPNs with more sites are created by adding more tunnels.
-tinc takes another approach: only endpoints are specified,
+Tinc takes another approach: only endpoints are specified,
the software itself will take care of creating the tunnels.
This allows for easier configuration and improved scalability.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Supported platforms, , tinc, Introduction
+@node Supported platforms
@section Supported platforms
@cindex platforms
-tinc has been verified to work under Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, MacOS/X (Darwin), Solaris, and Windows (in a Cygwin environment),
+Tinc has been verified to work under Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Mac OS X (Darwin), Solaris, and Windows (both natively and in a Cygwin environment),
with various hardware architectures. These are some of the platforms
that are supported by the universal tun/tap device driver or other virtual network device drivers.
Without such a driver, tinc will most
@cindex release
For an up to date list of supported platforms, please check the list on
our website:
-@uref{http://tinc.nl.linux.org/platforms}.
-
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@subsection Linux
-
-@cindex Linux
-tinc was first written for Linux running on an intel x86 processor, so
-this is the best supported platform. The protocol however, and actually
-anything about tinc, has been rewritten to support random byte ordering
-and arbitrary word length. So in theory it should run on other
-processors that Linux runs on. It has already been verified to run on
-alpha and sparc processors as well.
-
-tinc uses the ethertap device or the universal tun/tap driver. The former is provided in the standard kernel
-from version 2.1.60 up to 2.3.x, but has been replaced in favour of the tun/tap driver in kernel versions 2.4.0 and later.
-
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@subsection FreeBSD
-
-@cindex FreeBSD
-tinc on FreeBSD relies on the universal tun/tap driver for its data
-acquisition from the kernel. Therefore, tinc will work on the same platforms
-as this driver. These are: FreeBSD 3.x, 4.x, 5.x.
-
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@subsection OpenBSD
-
-@cindex OpenBSD
-tinc on OpenBSD relies on the tun driver for its data
-acquisition from the kernel. It has been verified to work under at least OpenBSD 2.9.
-
-Tunneling IPv6 packets may not work on OpenBSD.
-
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@subsection Solaris
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@subsection NetBSD
-
-@cindex NetBSD
-tinc on NetBSD relies on the tun driver for its data
-acquisition from the kernel. It has been verified to work under at least NetBSD 1.5.2.
-
-Tunneling IPv6 does not work on OpenBSD.
-
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@subsection Solaris
-
-@cindex Solaris
-tinc on Solaris relies on the universal tun/tap driver for its data
-acquisition from the kernel. Therefore, tinc will work on the same platforms
-as this driver. These are: Solaris 8 (SunOS 5.8).
-
-IPv6 packets cannot be tunneled on Solaris.
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@subsection Darwin (MacOS/X)
-
-@cindex Darwin
-@cindex MacOS/X
-tinc on Darwin relies on the tunnel driver for its data
-acquisition from the kernel. This driver is not part of Darwin but can be
-downloaded from @uref{http://chrisp.de/en/projects/tunnel.html}.
-
-IPv6 packets cannot be tunneled on Darwin.
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@subsection Cygwin (Windows)
-
-@cindex Cygwin
-@cindex Windows
-tinc on Windows, in a Cygwin environment, relies on the CIPE driver for its data
-acquisition from the kernel. This driver is not part of Windows but can be
-downloaded from @uref{http://cipe-win32.sourceforge.net/}.
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@subsection MinGW (Windows)
-
-@cindex MinGW
-@cindex Windows
-tinc on Windows, compiled using MinGW, relies on the CIPE driver for its data
-acquisition from the kernel. This driver is not part of Windows but can be
-downloaded from @uref{http://cipe-win32.sourceforge.net/}.
-
+@uref{https://www.tinc-vpn.org/platforms/}.
@c
@c
@c
@c ==================================================================
-@node Preparations, Installation, Introduction, Top
+@node Preparations
@chapter Preparations
This chapter contains information on how to prepare your system to
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuring the kernel, Libraries, Preparations, Preparations
+@node Configuring the kernel
@section Configuring the kernel
-@cindex RedHat
-@cindex Debian
-@cindex netlink_dev
-@cindex tun
-@cindex ethertap
-If you are running Linux, chances are good that your kernel already supports
-all the devices that tinc needs for proper operation. For example, the
-standard kernel from Redhat Linux already has support for ethertap and netlink
-compiled in. Debian users can use the modconf utility to select the modules.
-If your Linux distribution supports this method of selecting devices, look out
-for something called `ethertap', and `netlink_dev' if it is using a kernel
-version prior to 2.4.0. In that case you will need both these devices. If you
-are using kernel 2.4.0 or later, you need to select `tun'.
-
-@cindex Kernel-HOWTO
-If you can install these devices in a similar manner, you may skip this section.
-Otherwise, you will have to recompile the kernel in order to turn on the required features.
-If you are unfamiliar with the process of configuring and compiling a new kernel,
-you should read the @uref{http://howto.linuxberg.com/LDP/HOWTO/Kernel-HOWTO.html, Kernel HOWTO} first.
-
@menu
-* Configuration of Linux kernels 2.1.60 up to 2.4.0::
-* Configuration of Linux kernels 2.4.0 and higher::
+* Configuration of Linux kernels::
* Configuration of FreeBSD kernels::
* Configuration of OpenBSD kernels::
* Configuration of NetBSD kernels::
* Configuration of Solaris kernels::
-* Configuration of Darwin (MacOS/X) kernels::
-* Configuration of Cygwin (Windows)::
-* Configuration of MinGW (Windows)::
+* Configuration of Darwin (Mac OS X) kernels::
+* Configuration of Windows::
@end menu
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration of Linux kernels 2.1.60 up to 2.4.0, Configuration of Linux kernels 2.4.0 and higher, Configuring the kernel, Configuring the kernel
-@subsection Configuration of Linux kernels 2.1.60 up to 2.4.0
-
-Here are the options you have to turn on when configuring a new kernel:
-
-@example
-Code maturity level options
-[*] Prompt for development and/or incomplete code/drivers
-Networking options
-[*] Kernel/User netlink socket
-<M> Netlink device emulation
-Network device support
-<M> Ethertap network tap
-@end example
-
-If you want to run more than one instance of tinc or other programs that use
-the ethertap, you have to compile the ethertap driver as a module, otherwise
-you can also choose to compile it directly into the kernel.
-
-If you decide to build any of these as dynamic kernel modules, it's a good idea
-to add these lines to @file{/etc/modules.conf}:
-
-@example
-alias char-major-36 netlink_dev
-alias tap0 ethertap
-options tap0 -o tap0 unit=0
-alias tap1 ethertap
-options tap1 -o tap1 unit=1
-...
-alias tap@emph{N} ethertap
-options tap@emph{N} -o tap@emph{N} unit=@emph{N}
-@end example
-
-Add as much alias/options lines as necessary.
-
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration of Linux kernels 2.4.0 and higher, Configuration of FreeBSD kernels, Configuration of Linux kernels 2.1.60 up to 2.4.0, Configuring the kernel
-@subsection Configuration of Linux kernels 2.4.0 and higher
+@node Configuration of Linux kernels
+@subsection Configuration of Linux kernels
+@cindex Universal tun/tap
+For tinc to work, you need a kernel that supports the Universal tun/tap device.
+Most distributions come with kernels that already support this.
Here are the options you have to turn on when configuring a new kernel:
@example
It's not necessary to compile this driver as a module, even if you are going to
run more than one instance of tinc.
-If you have an early 2.4 kernel, you can choose both the tun/tap driver and the
-`Ethertap network tap' device. This latter is marked obsolete, and chances are
-that it won't even function correctly anymore. Make sure you select the
-universal tun/tap driver.
-
If you decide to build the tun/tap driver as a kernel module, add these lines
to @file{/etc/modules.conf}:
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration of FreeBSD kernels, Configuration of OpenBSD kernels, Configuration of Linux kernels 2.4.0 and higher, Configuring the kernel
+@node Configuration of FreeBSD kernels
@subsection Configuration of FreeBSD kernels
-For FreeBSD version 4.1 and higher, the tap driver is included in the default kernel configuration, for earlier
-systems (4.0 and earlier), you need to install the universal tun/tap driver
-yourself.
+For FreeBSD version 4.1 and higher, tun and tap drivers are included in the default kernel configuration.
+The tap driver can be loaded with @code{kldload if_tap}, or by adding @code{if_tap_load="YES"} to @file{/boot/loader.conf}.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration of OpenBSD kernels, Configuration of NetBSD kernels, Configuration of FreeBSD kernels, Configuring the kernel
+@node Configuration of OpenBSD kernels
@subsection Configuration of OpenBSD kernels
-For OpenBSD version 2.9 and higher,
-the tun driver is included in the default kernel configuration.
+Recent versions of OpenBSD come with both tun and tap devices enabled in the default kernel configuration.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration of NetBSD kernels, Configuration of Solaris kernels, Configuration of OpenBSD kernels, Configuring the kernel
+@node Configuration of NetBSD kernels
@subsection Configuration of NetBSD kernels
For NetBSD version 1.5.2 and higher,
the tun driver is included in the default kernel configuration.
+Tunneling IPv6 may not work on NetBSD's tun device.
+
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration of Solaris kernels, Configuration of Darwin (MacOS/X) kernels, Configuration of NetBSD kernels, Configuring the kernel
+@node Configuration of Solaris kernels
@subsection Configuration of Solaris kernels
For Solaris 8 (SunOS 5.8) and higher,
-the tun driver is included in the default kernel configuration.
+the tun driver may or may not be included in the default kernel configuration.
+If it isn't, the source can be downloaded from @uref{http://vtun.sourceforge.net/tun/}.
+For x86 and sparc64 architectures, precompiled versions can be found at @uref{https://www.monkey.org/~dugsong/fragroute/}.
+If the @file{net/if_tun.h} header file is missing, install it from the source package.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration of Darwin (MacOS/X) kernels, Configuration of Cygwin (Windows), Configuration of Solaris kernels, Configuring the kernel
-@subsection Configuration of Darwin (MacOS/X) kernels
-
-Darwin does not come with a tunnel driver. You must download it at
-@uref{http://chrisp.de/en/projects/tunnel.html}. If compiling the source fails,
-try the binary module. The tunnel driver must be loaded before starting tinc
-with the following command:
+@node Configuration of Darwin (Mac OS X) kernels
+@subsection Configuration of Darwin (Mac OS X) kernels
-@example
-kmodload tunnel
-@end example
+Tinc on Darwin relies on a tunnel driver for its data acquisition from the kernel.
+OS X version 10.6.8 and later have a built-in tun driver called "utun".
+Tinc also supports the driver from @uref{http://tuntaposx.sourceforge.net/},
+which supports both tun and tap style devices.
-Once loaded, the tunnel driver will automatically create @file{/dev/tun0}..@file{/dev/tun3}
-and the corresponding network interfaces.
+By default, tinc expects the tuntaposx driver to be installed.
+To use the utun driver, set add @code{Device = utunX} to @file{tinc.conf},
+where X is the desired number for the utun interface.
+You can also omit the number, in which case the first free number will be chosen.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration of Cygwin (Windows), Configuration of MinGW (Windows), Configuration of Darwin (MacOS/X) kernels, Configuring the kernel
-@subsection Configuration of Cygwin (Windows)
+@node Configuration of Windows
+@subsection Configuration of Windows
-You will need to install the CIPE driver, you can download it from
-@uref{http://cipe-win32.sourceforge.net}. Configure the CIPE network device in
-the same way as you would do from the tinc-up script.
+You will need to install the latest TAP-Win32 driver from OpenVPN.
+You can download it from @uref{https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/downloads.html}.
+Using the Network Connections control panel,
+configure the TAP-Win32 network interface in the same way as you would do from the tinc-up script,
+as explained in the rest of the documentation.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration of MinGW (Windows), , Configuration of Cygwin (Windows), Configuring the kernel
-@subsection Configuration of MinGW (Windows)
-
-You will need to install the CIPE driver, you can download it from
-@uref{http://cipe-win32.sourceforge.net}. Configure the CIPE network device in
-the same way as you would do from the tinc-up script.
-
-
-@c ==================================================================
-@node Libraries, , Configuring the kernel, Preparations
+@node Libraries
@section Libraries
@cindex requirements
@cindex libraries
-Before you can configure or build tinc, you need to have the OpenSSL,
+Before you can configure or build tinc, you need to have the LibreSSL or OpenSSL,
zlib and lzo libraries installed on your system. If you try to configure tinc without
having them installed, configure will give you an error message, and stop.
@menu
-* OpenSSL::
+* LibreSSL/OpenSSL::
* zlib::
* lzo::
@end menu
@c ==================================================================
-@node OpenSSL, zlib, Libraries, Libraries
-@subsection OpenSSL
+@node LibreSSL/OpenSSL
+@subsection LibreSSL/OpenSSL
+@cindex LibreSSL
@cindex OpenSSL
For all cryptography-related functions, tinc uses the functions provided
-by the OpenSSL library.
+by the LibreSSL or the OpenSSL library.
-If this library is not installed, you wil get an error when configuring
-tinc for build. Support for running tinc without having OpenSSL
+If this library is not installed, you will get an error when configuring
+tinc for build. Support for running tinc with other cryptographic libraries
installed @emph{may} be added in the future.
You can use your operating system's package manager to install this if
available. Make sure you install the development AND runtime versions
of this package.
-If you have to install OpenSSL manually, you can get the source code
-from @url{http://www.openssl.org/}. Instructions on how to configure,
-build and install this package are included within the package. Please
-make sure you build development and runtime libraries (which is the
+If your operating system comes neither with LibreSSL or OpenSSL, you have to
+install one manually. It is recommended that you get the latest version of
+LibreSSL from @url{http://www.libressl.org/}. Instructions on how to
+configure, build and install this package are included within the package.
+Please make sure you build development and runtime libraries (which is the
default).
-If you installed the OpenSSL libraries from source, it may be necessary
+If you installed the LibreSSL or OpenSSL libraries from source, it may be necessary
to let configure know where they are, by passing configure one of the
---with-openssl-* parameters.
+--with-openssl-* parameters. Note that you even have to use --with-openssl-* if you
+are using LibreSSL.
@example
---with-openssl=DIR OpenSSL library and headers prefix
---with-openssl-include=DIR OpenSSL headers directory
+--with-openssl=DIR LibreSSL/OpenSSL library and headers prefix
+--with-openssl-include=DIR LibreSSL/OpenSSL headers directory
(Default is OPENSSL_DIR/include)
---with-openssl-lib=DIR OpenSSL library directory
+--with-openssl-lib=DIR LibreSSL/OpenSSL library directory
(Default is OPENSSL_DIR/lib)
@end example
@subsubheading License
@cindex license
+The complete source code of tinc is covered by the GNU GPL version 2.
Since the license under which OpenSSL is distributed is not directly
compatible with the terms of the GNU GPL
-@uref{http://www.openssl.org/support/faq.html#LEGAL2}, therefore we
-include an addition to the GPL (see also the file COPYING.README):
+@uref{https://www.openssl.org/support/faq.html#LEGAL2}, we
+include an exemption to the GPL (see also the file COPYING.README) to allow
+everyone to create a statically or dynamically linked executable:
@quotation
This program is released under the GPL with the additional exemption
all other requirements of the GPL are met.
@end quotation
+Since the LZO library used by tinc is also covered by the GPL,
+we also present the following exemption:
+
+@quotation
+Hereby I grant a special exception to the tinc VPN project
+(https://www.tinc-vpn.org/) to link the LZO library with the OpenSSL library
+(https://www.openssl.org).
+
+Markus F.X.J. Oberhumer
+@end quotation
+
@c ==================================================================
-@node zlib, lzo, OpenSSL, Libraries
+@node zlib
@subsection zlib
@cindex zlib
For the optional compression of UDP packets, tinc uses the functions provided
by the zlib library.
-If this library is not installed, you wil get an error when configuring
-tinc for build. Support for running tinc without having zlib
-installed @emph{may} be added in the future.
+If this library is not installed, you will get an error when running the
+configure script. You can either install the zlib library, or disable support
+for zlib compression by using the "--disable-zlib" option when running the
+configure script. Note that if you disable support for zlib, the resulting
+binary will not work correctly on VPNs where zlib compression is used.
You can use your operating system's package manager to install this if
available. Make sure you install the development AND runtime versions
of this package.
If you have to install zlib manually, you can get the source code
-from @url{http://www.gzip.org/zlib/}. Instructions on how to configure,
+from @url{http://www.zlib.net/}. Instructions on how to configure,
build and install this package are included within the package. Please
make sure you build development and runtime libraries (which is the
default).
@c ==================================================================
-@node lzo, , zlib, Libraries
+@node lzo
@subsection lzo
@cindex lzo
-Another form of compression is offered using the lzo library.
+Another form of compression is offered using the LZO library.
-If this library is not installed, you wil get an error when configuring
-tinc for build. Support for running tinc without having lzo
-installed @emph{may} be added in the future.
+If this library is not installed, you will get an error when running the
+configure script. You can either install the LZO library, or disable support
+for LZO compression by using the "--disable-lzo" option when running the
+configure script. Note that if you disable support for LZO, the resulting
+binary will not work correctly on VPNs where LZO compression is used.
You can use your operating system's package manager to install this if
available. Make sure you install the development AND runtime versions
of this package.
If you have to install lzo manually, you can get the source code
-from @url{http://www.oberhumer.com/opensource/lzo/}. Instructions on how to configure,
+from @url{https://www.oberhumer.com/opensource/lzo/}. Instructions on how to configure,
build and install this package are included within the package. Please
make sure you build development and runtime libraries (which is the
default).
@c
@c ==================================================================
-@node Installation, Configuration, Preparations, Top
+@node Installation
@chapter Installation
If you use Debian, you may want to install one of the
If you cannot use one of the precompiled packages, or you want to compile tinc
for yourself, you can use the source. The source is distributed under
the GNU General Public License (GPL). Download the source from the
-@uref{http://tinc.nl.linux.org/download, download page}, which has
-the checksums of these files listed; you may wish to check these with
-md5sum before continuing.
+@uref{https://www.tinc-vpn.org/download/, download page}.
-tinc comes in a convenient autoconf/automake package, which you can just
+Tinc comes in a convenient autoconf/automake package, which you can just
treat the same as any other package. Which is just untar it, type
`./configure' and then `make'.
More detailed instructions are in the file @file{INSTALL}, which is
@c ==================================================================
-@node Building and installing tinc, System files, Installation, Installation
+@node Building and installing tinc
@section Building and installing tinc
Detailed instructions on configuring the source, building tinc and installing tinc
The documentation that comes along with your distribution will tell you how to do that.
@menu
-* Darwin (MacOS/X) build environment::
+* Darwin (Mac OS X) build environment::
* Cygwin (Windows) build environment::
* MinGW (Windows) build environment::
@end menu
@c ==================================================================
-@node Darwin (MacOS/X) build environment, Cygwin (Windows) build environment, , Building and installing tinc
-@subsection Darwin (MacOS/X) build environment
+@node Darwin (Mac OS X) build environment
+@subsection Darwin (Mac OS X) build environment
-In order to build tinc on Darwin, you need to install the MacOS/X Developer Tools
-from @uref{http://developer.apple.com/tools/macosxtools.html} and
-a recent version of Fink from @uref{http://fink.sourceforge.net/}.
+In order to build tinc on Darwin, you need to install Xcode from @uref{https://developer.apple.com/xcode/}.
+It might also help to install a recent version of Fink from @uref{http://www.finkproject.org/}.
-After installation use fink to download and install the following packages:
-autoconf25, automake, dlcompat, m4, openssl, zlib and lzo.
+You need to download and install LibreSSL (or OpenSSL) and LZO,
+either directly from their websites (see @ref{Libraries}) or using Fink.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Cygwin (Windows) build environment, MinGW (Windows) build environment, Darwin (MacOS/X) build environment, Building and installing tinc
+@node Cygwin (Windows) build environment
@subsection Cygwin (Windows) build environment
If Cygwin hasn't already been installed, install it directly from
-@uref{http://www.cygwin.com/}.
+@uref{https://www.cygwin.com/}.
When tinc is compiled in a Cygwin environment, it can only be run in this environment,
but all programs, including those started outside the Cygwin environment, will be able to use the VPN.
It will also support all features.
@c ==================================================================
-@node MinGW (Windows) build environment, , Cygwin (Windows) build environment, Building and installing tinc
+@node MinGW (Windows) build environment
@subsection MinGW (Windows) build environment
You will need to install the MinGW environment from @uref{http://www.mingw.org}.
+You also need to download and install LibreSSL (or OpenSSL) and LZO.
When tinc is compiled using MinGW it runs natively under Windows,
it is not necessary to keep MinGW installed.
-However, when compiled using MinGW, tinc will not be able to start
-scripts or be able to receive signals.
+
+When detaching, tinc will install itself as a service,
+which will be restarted automatically after reboots.
@c ==================================================================
-@node System files, , Building and installing tinc, Installation
+@node System files
@section System files
Before you can run tinc, you must make sure you have all the needed
@c ==================================================================
-@node Device files, Other files, System files, System files
+@node Device files
@subsection Device files
@cindex device files
-First, you'll need the special device file(s) that form the interface
-between the kernel and the daemon.
-
-The permissions for these files have to be such that only the super user
-may read/write to this file. You'd want this, because otherwise
-eavesdropping would become a bit too easy. This does, however, imply
-that you'd have to run tincd as root.
+Most operating systems nowadays come with the necessary device files by default,
+or they have a mechanism to create them on demand.
-If you use Linux and have a kernel version prior to 2.4.0, you have to make the
-ethertap devices:
+If you use Linux and do not have udev installed,
+you may need to create the following device file if it does not exist:
@example
-mknod -m 600 /dev/tap0 c 36 16
-mknod -m 600 /dev/tap1 c 36 17
-...
-mknod -m 600 /dev/tap@emph{N} c 36 @emph{N+16}
+mknod -m 600 /dev/net/tun c 10 200
@end example
-There is a maximum of 16 ethertap devices.
-
-If you use the universal tun/tap driver, you have to create the
-following device file (unless it already exist):
-
-@example
-mknod -m 600 /dev/tun c 10 200
-@end example
-
-If you use Linux, and you run the new 2.4 kernel using the devfs filesystem,
-then the tun/tap device will probably be automatically generated as
-@file{/dev/net/tun}.
-
-Unlike the ethertap device, you do not need multiple device files if
-you are planning to run multiple tinc daemons.
-
@c ==================================================================
-@node Other files, , Device files, System files
+@node Other files
@subsection Other files
@subsubheading @file{/etc/networks}
@example
tinc 655/tcp TINC
tinc 655/udp TINC
-# Ivo Timmermans <ivo@@o2w.nl>
+# Ivo Timmermans <ivo@@tinc-vpn.org>
@end example
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration, Running tinc, Installation, Top
+@node Configuration
@chapter Configuration
@menu
@end menu
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration introduction, Multiple networks, Configuration, Configuration
+@node Configuration introduction
@section Configuration introduction
-@cindex Network Administrators Guide
Before actually starting to configure tinc and editing files,
make sure you have read this entire section so you know what to expect.
Then, make it clear to yourself how you want to organize your VPN:
What is the network mask of the entire VPN?
Do you need special firewall rules?
Do you have to set up masquerading or forwarding rules?
+Do you want to run tinc in router mode or switch mode?
These questions can only be answered by yourself,
you will not find the answers in this documentation.
Make sure you have an adequate understanding of networks in general.
+@cindex Network Administrators Guide
A good resource on networking is the
-@uref{http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/nag2/, Linux Network Administrators Guide}.
+@uref{http://www.tldp.org/LDP/nag2/, Linux Network Administrators Guide}.
If you have everything clearly pictured in your mind,
proceed in the following order:
@c ==================================================================
-@node Multiple networks, How connections work, Configuration introduction, Configuration
+@node Multiple networks
@section Multiple networks
@cindex multiple networks
@cindex netname
In order to allow you to run more than one tinc daemon on one computer,
for instance if your computer is part of more than one VPN,
-you can assign a ``netname'' to your VPN.
+you can assign a @var{netname} to your VPN.
It is not required if you only run one tinc daemon,
it doesn't even have to be the same on all the sites of your VPN,
but it is recommended that you choose one anyway.
-We will asume you use a netname throughout this document.
+We will assume you use a netname throughout this document.
This means that you call tincd with the -n argument,
which will assign a netname to this daemon.
The effect of this is that the daemon will set its configuration
-``root'' to /etc/tinc/netname/, where netname is your argument to the -n
-option. You'll notice that it appears in syslog as ``tinc.netname''.
+root to @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/}, where @var{netname} is your argument to the -n
+option. You'll notice that it appears in syslog as @file{tinc.@var{netname}}.
However, it is not strictly necessary that you call tinc with the -n
option. In this case, the network name would just be empty, and it will
-be used as such. tinc now looks for files in /etc/tinc/, instead of
-/etc/tinc/netname/; the configuration file should be /etc/tinc/tinc.conf,
-and the host configuration files are now expected to be in /etc/tinc/hosts/.
+be used as such. tinc now looks for files in @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/}, instead of
+@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/}; the configuration file should be @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/tinc.conf},
+and the host configuration files are now expected to be in @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/hosts/}.
But it is highly recommended that you use this feature of tinc, because
it will be so much clearer whom your daemon talks to. Hence, we will
@c ==================================================================
-@node How connections work, Configuration files, Multiple networks, Configuration
+@node How connections work
@section How connections work
When tinc starts up, it parses the command-line options and then
If it sees one or more `ConnectTo' values pointing to other tinc daemons in that file,
it will try to connect to those other daemons.
Whether this succeeds or not and whether `ConnectTo' is specified or not,
-tinc will listen for incoming connection from other deamons.
+tinc will listen for incoming connection from other daemons.
If you did specify a `ConnectTo' value and the other side is not responding,
tinc will keep retrying.
This means that once started, tinc will stay running until you tell it to stop,
@c ==================================================================
-@node Configuration files, Generating keypairs, How connections work, Configuration
+@node Configuration files
@section Configuration files
The actual configuration of the daemon is done in the file
-@file{/etc/tinc/netname/tinc.conf} and at least one other file in the directory
-@file{/etc/tinc/netname/hosts/}.
+@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/tinc.conf} and at least one other file in the directory
+@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/hosts/}.
+
+An optional directory @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/conf.d} can be added from which
+any .conf file will be read.
These file consists of comments (lines started with a #) or assignments
in the form of
in the `=' sign, but doing so improves readability. If you leave it
out, remember to replace it with at least one space character.
+The server configuration is complemented with host specific configuration (see
+the next section). Although all host configuration options for the local node
+listed in this document can also be put in
+@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/tinc.conf}, it is recommended to
+put host specific configuration options in the host configuration file, as this
+makes it easy to exchange with other nodes.
+
In this section all valid variables are listed in alphabetical order.
The default value is given between parentheses,
-other comments are between square brackets and
-required directives are given in @strong{bold}.
+other comments are between square brackets.
@menu
* Main configuration variables::
* Host configuration variables::
+* Scripts::
* How to configure::
@end menu
@c ==================================================================
-@node Main configuration variables, Host configuration variables, Configuration files, Configuration files
+@node Main configuration variables
@subsection Main configuration variables
@table @asis
@cindex AddressFamily
@item AddressFamily = <ipv4|ipv6|any> (any)
This option affects the address family of listening and outgoing sockets.
-If "any" is selected, then depending on the operating system
+If any is selected, then depending on the operating system
both IPv4 and IPv6 or just IPv6 listening sockets will be created.
@cindex BindToAddress
-@item BindToAddress = <address> [experimental]
+@item BindToAddress = <@var{address}> [<@var{port}>] [experimental]
If your computer has more than one IPv4 or IPv6 address, tinc
will by default listen on all of them for incoming connections.
-It is possible to bind only to a single address with this variable.
+Multiple BindToAddress variables may be specified,
+in which case listening sockets for each specified address are made.
+
+If no @var{port} is specified, the socket will be bound to the port specified by the Port option,
+or to port 655 if neither is given.
+To only bind to a specific port but not to a specific address, use "*" for the @var{address}.
This option may not work on all platforms.
@cindex BindToInterface
-@item BindToInterface = <interface> [experimental]
+@item BindToInterface = <@var{interface}> [experimental]
If you have more than one network interface in your computer, tinc will
by default listen on all of them for incoming connections. It is
possible to bind tinc to a single interface like eth0 or ppp0 with this
This option may not work on all platforms.
+@cindex Broadcast
+@item Broadcast = <no | mst | direct> (mst) [experimental]
+This option selects the way broadcast packets are sent to other daemons.
+@emph{NOTE: all nodes in a VPN must use the same Broadcast mode, otherwise routing loops can form.}
+
+@table @asis
+@item no
+Broadcast packets are never sent to other nodes.
+
+@item mst
+Broadcast packets are sent and forwarded via the VPN's Minimum Spanning Tree.
+This ensures broadcast packets reach all nodes.
+
+@item direct
+Broadcast packets are sent directly to all nodes that can be reached directly.
+Broadcast packets received from other nodes are never forwarded.
+If the IndirectData option is also set, broadcast packets will only be sent to nodes which we have a meta connection to.
+@end table
+
@cindex ConnectTo
-@item @strong{ConnectTo = <name>}
+@item ConnectTo = <@var{name}>
Specifies which other tinc daemon to connect to on startup.
Multiple ConnectTo variables may be specified,
in which case outgoing connections to each specified tinc daemon are made.
tinc won't try to connect to other daemons at all,
and will instead just listen for incoming connections.
+@cindex DecrementTTL
+@item DecrementTTL = <yes | no> (no) [experimental]
+When enabled, tinc will decrement the Time To Live field in IPv4 packets, or the Hop Limit field in IPv6 packets,
+before forwarding a received packet to the virtual network device or to another node,
+and will drop packets that have a TTL value of zero,
+in which case it will send an ICMP Time Exceeded packet back.
+
+Do not use this option if you use switch mode and want to use IPv6.
+
@cindex Device
-@item @strong{Device = <device>} (/dev/tap0 or /dev/net/tun)
-The virtual network device to use. Note that you can only use one device per
-daemon. See also @ref{Device files}.
+@item Device = <@var{device}> (@file{/dev/tap0}, @file{/dev/net/tun} or other depending on platform)
+The virtual network device to use.
+Tinc will automatically detect what kind of device it is.
+Under Windows, use @var{Interface} instead of @var{Device}.
+Note that you can only use one device per daemon.
+See also @ref{Device files}.
+
+@cindex DeviceType
+@item DeviceType = <@var{type}> (platform dependent)
+The type of the virtual network device.
+Tinc will normally automatically select the right type of tun/tap interface, and this option should not be used.
+However, this option can be used to select one of the special interface types, if support for them is compiled in.
+
+@table @asis
+@cindex dummy
+@item dummy
+Use a dummy interface.
+No packets are ever read or written to a virtual network device.
+Useful for testing, or when setting up a node that only forwards packets for other nodes.
+
+@cindex raw_socket
+@item raw_socket
+Open a raw socket, and bind it to a pre-existing
+@var{Interface} (eth0 by default).
+All packets are read from this interface.
+Packets received for the local node are written to the raw socket.
+However, at least on Linux, the operating system does not process IP packets destined for the local host.
+
+@cindex multicast
+@item multicast
+Open a multicast UDP socket and bind it to the address and port (separated by spaces) and optionally a TTL value specified using @var{Device}.
+Packets are read from and written to this multicast socket.
+This can be used to connect to UML, QEMU or KVM instances listening on the same multicast address.
+Do NOT connect multiple tinc daemons to the same multicast address, this will very likely cause routing loops.
+Also note that this can cause decrypted VPN packets to be sent out on a real network if misconfigured.
+
+@cindex UML
+@item uml (not compiled in by default)
+Create a UNIX socket with the filename specified by
+@var{Device}, or @file{@value{localstatedir}/run/@var{netname}.umlsocket}
+if not specified.
+Tinc will wait for a User Mode Linux instance to connect to this socket.
+
+@cindex VDE
+@item vde (not compiled in by default)
+Uses the libvdeplug library to connect to a Virtual Distributed Ethernet switch,
+using the UNIX socket specified by
+@var{Device}, or @file{@value{localstatedir}/run/vde.ctl}
+if not specified.
+@end table
+
+Also, in case tinc does not seem to correctly interpret packets received from the virtual network device,
+it can be used to change the way packets are interpreted:
+
+@table @asis
+@item tun (BSD and Linux)
+Set type to tun.
+Depending on the platform, this can either be with or without an address family header (see below).
+
+@cindex tunnohead
+@item tunnohead (BSD)
+Set type to tun without an address family header.
+Tinc will expect packets read from the virtual network device to start with an IP header.
+On some platforms IPv6 packets cannot be read from or written to the device in this mode.
+
+@cindex tunifhead
+@item tunifhead (BSD)
+Set type to tun with an address family header.
+Tinc will expect packets read from the virtual network device
+to start with a four byte header containing the address family,
+followed by an IP header.
+This mode should support both IPv4 and IPv6 packets.
+
+@cindex utun
+@item utun (OS X)
+Set type to utun.
+This is only supported on OS X version 10.6.8 and higher, but doesn't require the tuntaposx module.
+This mode should support both IPv4 and IPv6 packets.
+
+@item tap (BSD and Linux)
+Set type to tap.
+Tinc will expect packets read from the virtual network device
+to start with an Ethernet header.
+@end table
+
+@cindex DirectOnly
+@item DirectOnly = <yes|no> (no) [experimental]
+When this option is enabled, packets that cannot be sent directly to the destination node,
+but which would have to be forwarded by an intermediate node, are dropped instead.
+When combined with the IndirectData option,
+packets for nodes for which we do not have a meta connection with are also dropped.
+
+@cindex Forwarding
+@item Forwarding = <off|internal|kernel> (internal) [experimental]
+This option selects the way indirect packets are forwarded.
+
+@table @asis
+@item off
+Incoming packets that are not meant for the local node,
+but which should be forwarded to another node, are dropped.
+
+@item internal
+Incoming packets that are meant for another node are forwarded by tinc internally.
+
+This is the default mode, and unless you really know you need another forwarding mode, don't change it.
+
+@item kernel
+Incoming packets are always sent to the TUN/TAP device, even if the packets are not for the local node.
+This is less efficient, but allows the kernel to apply its routing and firewall rules on them,
+and can also help debugging.
+@end table
+
+@cindex GraphDumpFile
+@item GraphDumpFile = <@var{filename}> [experimental]
+If this option is present,
+tinc will dump the current network graph to the file @var{filename}
+every minute, unless there were no changes to the graph.
+The file is in a format that can be read by graphviz tools.
+If @var{filename} starts with a pipe symbol |,
+then the rest of the filename is interpreted as a shell command
+that is executed, the graph is then sent to stdin.
@cindex Hostnames
@item Hostnames = <yes|no> (no)
This option selects whether IP addresses (both real and on the VPN)
should be resolved. Since DNS lookups are blocking, it might affect
-tinc's efficiency, even stopping the daemon for a few seconds everytime
+tinc's efficiency, even stopping the daemon for a few seconds every time
it does a lookup if your DNS server is not responding.
This does not affect resolving hostnames to IP addresses from the
-configuration file.
+configuration file, but whether hostnames should be resolved while logging.
+
+@cindex IffOneQueue
+@item IffOneQueue = <yes|no> (no) [experimental]
+(Linux only) Set IFF_ONE_QUEUE flag on TUN/TAP devices.
@cindex Interface
-@item Interface = <interface>
+@item Interface = <@var{interface}>
Defines the name of the interface corresponding to the virtual network device.
-Depending on the operating system and the type of device this may or may not actually set the name of the interface
-or choose the device corresponding to this interface.
+Depending on the operating system and the type of device this may or may not actually set the name of the interface.
+Under Windows, this variable is used to select which network interface will be used.
+If you specified a Device, this variable is almost always already correctly set.
+
+@cindex KeyExpire
+@item KeyExpire = <@var{seconds}> (3600)
+This option controls the time the encryption keys used to encrypt the data
+are valid. It is common practice to change keys at regular intervals to
+make it even harder for crackers, even though it is thought to be nearly
+impossible to crack a single key.
+
+@cindex LocalDiscovery
+@item LocalDiscovery = <yes | no> (no) [experimental]
+When enabled, tinc will try to detect peers that are on the same local network.
+This will allow direct communication using LAN addresses, even if both peers are behind a NAT
+and they only ConnectTo a third node outside the NAT,
+which normally would prevent the peers from learning each other's LAN address.
+
+Currently, local discovery is implemented by sending broadcast packets to the LAN during path MTU discovery.
+This feature may not work in all possible situations.
+
+@cindex MACExpire
+@item MACExpire = <@var{seconds}> (600)
+This option controls the amount of time MAC addresses are kept before they are removed.
+This only has effect when Mode is set to "switch".
+
+@cindex MaxTimeout
+@item MaxTimeout = <@var{seconds}> (900)
+This is the maximum delay before trying to reconnect to other tinc daemons.
@cindex Mode
@item Mode = <router|switch|hub> (router)
while no routing table is managed.
@end table
-@cindex KeyExpire
-@item KeyExpire = <seconds> (3600)
-This option controls the time the encryption keys used to encrypt the data
-are valid. It is common practice to change keys at regular intervals to
-make it even harder for crackers, even though it is thought to be nearly
-impossible to crack a single key.
+@cindex Name
+@item Name = <@var{name}> [required]
+This is a symbolic name for this connection.
+The name must consist only of alphanumeric and underscore characters (a-z, A-Z, 0-9 and _).
-@cindex MACExpire
-@item MACExpire = <seconds> (600)
-This option controls the amount of time MAC addresses are kept before they are removed.
-This only has effect when Mode is set to "switch".
+If Name starts with a $, then the contents of the environment variable that follows will be used.
+In that case, invalid characters will be converted to underscores.
+If Name is $HOST, but no such environment variable exist,
+the hostname will be read using the gethostname() system call.
-@cindex Name
-@item @strong{Name = <name>}
-This is a symbolic name for this connection. It can be anything
+@cindex PingInterval
+@item PingInterval = <@var{seconds}> (60)
+The number of seconds of inactivity that tinc will wait before sending a
+probe to the other end.
@cindex PingTimeout
-@item PingTimeout = <seconds> (60)
-The number of seconds of inactivity that tinc will wait before sending a
-probe to the other end. If that other end doesn't answer within that
-same amount of seconds, the connection is terminated, and the others
-will be notified of this.
+@item PingTimeout = <@var{seconds}> (5)
+The number of seconds to wait for a response to pings or to allow meta
+connections to block. If the other end doesn't respond within this time,
+the connection is terminated, and the others will be notified of this.
@cindex PriorityInheritance
@item PriorityInheritance = <yes|no> (no) [experimental]
will be inherited by the UDP packets that are sent out.
@cindex PrivateKey
-@item PrivateKey = <key> [obsolete]
+@item PrivateKey = <@var{key}> [obsolete]
This is the RSA private key for tinc. However, for safety reasons it is
advised to store private keys of any kind in separate files. This prevents
-accidental eavesdropping if you are editting the configuration file.
+accidental eavesdropping if you are editing the configuration file.
@cindex PrivateKeyFile
-@item @strong{PrivateKeyFile = <path>} [recommended]
+@item PrivateKeyFile = <@var{path}> (@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/rsa_key.priv})
This is the full path name of the RSA private key file that was
-generated by ``tincd --generate-keys''. It must be a full path, not a
+generated by @samp{tincd --generate-keys}. It must be a full path, not a
relative directory.
-Note that there must be exactly one of PrivateKey
-or PrivateKeyFile
-specified in the configuration file.
+@cindex ProcessPriority
+@item ProcessPriority = <low|normal|high>
+When this option is used the priority of the tincd process will be adjusted.
+Increasing the priority may help to reduce latency and packet loss on the VPN.
+
+@cindex Proxy
+@item Proxy = socks4 | socks5 | http | exec @var{...} [experimental]
+Use a proxy when making outgoing connections.
+The following proxy types are currently supported:
+
+@table @asis
+@cindex socks4
+@item socks4 <@var{address}> <@var{port}> [<@var{username}>]
+Connects to the proxy using the SOCKS version 4 protocol.
+Optionally, a @var{username} can be supplied which will be passed on to the proxy server.
+
+@cindex socks5
+@item socks5 <@var{address}> <@var{port}> [<@var{username}> <@var{password}>]
+Connect to the proxy using the SOCKS version 5 protocol.
+If a @var{username} and @var{password} are given, basic username/password authentication will be used,
+otherwise no authentication will be used.
+
+@cindex http
+@item http <@var{address}> <@var{port}>
+Connects to the proxy and sends a HTTP CONNECT request.
+
+@cindex exec
+@item exec <@var{command}>
+Executes the given command which should set up the outgoing connection.
+The environment variables @env{NAME}, @env{NODE}, @env{REMOTEADDRES} and @env{REMOTEPORT} are available.
+@end table
+
+@cindex ReplayWindow
+@item ReplayWindow = <bytes> (16)
+This is the size of the replay tracking window for each remote node, in bytes.
+The window is a bitfield which tracks 1 packet per bit, so for example
+the default setting of 16 will track up to 128 packets in the window. In high
+bandwidth scenarios, setting this to a higher value can reduce packet loss from
+the interaction of replay tracking with underlying real packet loss and/or
+reordering. Setting this to zero will disable replay tracking completely and
+pass all traffic, but leaves tinc vulnerable to replay-based attacks on your
+traffic.
+
+@cindex StrictSubnets
+@item StrictSubnets = <yes|no> (no) [experimental]
+When this option is enabled tinc will only use Subnet statements which are
+present in the host config files in the local
+@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/hosts/} directory.
+Subnets learned via connections to other nodes and which are not
+present in the local host config files are ignored.
+
+@cindex TunnelServer
+@item TunnelServer = <yes|no> (no) [experimental]
+When this option is enabled tinc will no longer forward information between other tinc daemons,
+and will only allow connections with nodes for which host config files are present in the local
+@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/hosts/} directory.
+Setting this options also implicitly sets StrictSubnets.
+
+@cindex UDPRcvBuf
+@item UDPRcvBuf = <bytes> (OS default)
+Sets the socket receive buffer size for the UDP socket, in bytes.
+If unset, the default buffer size will be used by the operating system.
+
+@cindex UDPSndBuf
+@item UDPSndBuf = <bytes> Pq OS default
+Sets the socket send buffer size for the UDP socket, in bytes.
+If unset, the default buffer size will be used by the operating system.
@end table
@c ==================================================================
-@node Host configuration variables, How to configure, Main configuration variables, Configuration files
+@node Host configuration variables
@subsection Host configuration variables
@table @asis
@cindex Address
-@item @strong{Address = <IP address|hostname>} [recommended]
+@item Address = <@var{IP address}|@var{hostname}> [<port>] [recommended]
This variable is only required if you want to connect to this host. It
must resolve to the external IP address where the host can be reached,
not the one that is internal to the VPN.
+If no port is specified, the default Port is used.
+Multiple Address variables can be specified, in which case each address will be
+tried until a working connection has been established.
@cindex Cipher
-@item Cipher = <cipher> (blowfish)
+@item Cipher = <@var{cipher}> (aes-256-cbc)
The symmetric cipher algorithm used to encrypt UDP packets.
-Any cipher supported by OpenSSL is recognized.
+Any cipher supported by LibreSSL or OpenSSL is recognized.
+Furthermore, specifying "none" will turn off packet encryption.
+It is best to use only those ciphers which support CBC mode.
+
+@cindex ClampMSS
+@item ClampMSS = <yes|no> (yes)
+This option specifies whether tinc should clamp the maximum segment size (MSS)
+of TCP packets to the path MTU. This helps in situations where ICMP
+Fragmentation Needed or Packet too Big messages are dropped by firewalls.
@cindex Compression
-@item Compression = <level> (0)
+@item Compression = <@var{level}> (0)
This option sets the level of compression used for UDP packets.
Possible values are 0 (off), 1 (fast zlib) and any integer up to 9 (best zlib),
10 (fast lzo) and 11 (best lzo).
@cindex Digest
-@item Digest = <digest> (sha1)
+@item Digest = <@var{digest}> (sha256)
The digest algorithm used to authenticate UDP packets.
-Any digest supported by OpenSSL is recognized.
+Any digest supported by LibreSSL or OpenSSL is recognized.
Furthermore, specifying "none" will turn off packet authentication.
@cindex IndirectData
is best to leave this option out or set it to no.
@cindex MACLength
-@item MACLength = <length> (4)
+@item MACLength = <@var{bytes}> (4)
The length of the message authentication code used to authenticate UDP packets.
Can be anything from 0
up to the length of the digest produced by the digest algorithm.
+@cindex PMTU
+@item PMTU = <@var{mtu}> (1514)
+This option controls the initial path MTU to this node.
+
+@cindex PMTUDiscovery
+@item PMTUDiscovery = <yes|no> (yes)
+When this option is enabled, tinc will try to discover the path MTU to this node.
+After the path MTU has been discovered, it will be enforced on the VPN.
+
@cindex Port
-@item Port = <port> (655)
+@item Port = <@var{port}> (655)
This is the port this tinc daemon listens on.
-You can use decimal portnumbers or symbolic names (as listed in /etc/services).
+You can use decimal portnumbers or symbolic names (as listed in @file{/etc/services}).
@cindex PublicKey
-@item PublicKey = <key> [obsolete]
+@item PublicKey = <@var{key}> [obsolete]
This is the RSA public key for this host.
@cindex PublicKeyFile
-@item PublicKeyFile = <path> [obsolete]
+@item PublicKeyFile = <@var{path}> [obsolete]
This is the full path name of the RSA public key file that was generated
-by ``tincd --generate-keys''. It must be a full path, not a relative
+by @samp{tincd --generate-keys}. It must be a full path, not a relative
directory.
@cindex PEM format
connection with that host.
@cindex Subnet
-@item Subnet = <address[/prefixlength]>
+@item Subnet = <@var{address}[/@var{prefixlength}[#@var{weight}]]>
The subnet which this tinc daemon will serve.
-tinc tries to look up which other daemon it should send a packet to by searching the appropiate subnet.
+Tinc tries to look up which other daemon it should send a packet to by searching the appropriate subnet.
If the packet matches a subnet,
it will be sent to the daemon who has this subnet in his host configuration file.
Multiple subnet lines can be specified for each daemon.
Subnets can either be single MAC, IPv4 or IPv6 addresses,
in which case a subnet consisting of only that single address is assumed,
or they can be a IPv4 or IPv6 network address with a prefixlength.
-Shorthand notations are not supported.
For example, IPv4 subnets must be in a form like 192.168.1.0/24,
where 192.168.1.0 is the network address and 24 is the number of bits set in the netmask.
Note that subnets like 192.168.1.1/24 are invalid!
Read a networking HOWTO/FAQ/guide if you don't understand this.
-IPv6 subnets are notated like fec0:0:0:1:0:0:0:0/64.
+IPv6 subnets are notated like fec0:0:0:1::/64.
MAC addresses are notated like 0:1a:2b:3c:4d:5e.
@cindex CIDR notation
-prefixlength is the number of bits set to 1 in the netmask part; for
+Prefixlength is the number of bits set to 1 in the netmask part; for
example: netmask 255.255.255.0 would become /24, 255.255.252.0 becomes
/22. This conforms to standard CIDR notation as described in
-@uref{ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc1519.txt, RFC1519}
+@uref{https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1519.txt, RFC1519}
+
+@cindex Subnet weight
+A Subnet can be given a weight to indicate its priority over identical Subnets
+owned by different nodes. The default weight is 10. Lower values indicate
+higher priority. Packets will be sent to the node with the highest priority,
+unless that node is not reachable, in which case the node with the next highest
+priority will be tried, and so on.
@cindex TCPonly
-@item TCPonly = <yes|no> (no) [experimental]
+@item TCPonly = <yes|no> (no) [deprecated]
If this variable is set to yes, then the packets are tunnelled over a
TCP connection instead of a UDP connection. This is especially useful
for those who want to run a tinc daemon from behind a masquerading
firewall, or if UDP packet routing is disabled somehow.
Setting this options also implicitly sets IndirectData.
+
+Since version 1.0.10, tinc will automatically detect whether communication via
+UDP is possible or not.
@end table
@c ==================================================================
-@node How to configure, , Host configuration variables, Configuration files
+@node Scripts
+@subsection Scripts
+
+@cindex scripts
+Apart from reading the server and host configuration files,
+tinc can also run scripts at certain moments.
+Below is a list of filenames of scripts and a description of when they are run.
+A script is only run if it exists and if it is executable.
+
+Scripts are run synchronously;
+this means that tinc will temporarily stop processing packets until the called script finishes executing.
+This guarantees that scripts will execute in the exact same order as the events that trigger them.
+If you need to run commands asynchronously, you have to ensure yourself that they are being run in the background.
+
+Under Windows (not Cygwin), the scripts must have the extension .bat.
+
+@table @file
+@cindex tinc-up
+@item @value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/tinc-up
+This is the most important script.
+If it is present it will be executed right after the tinc daemon has been
+started and has connected to the virtual network device.
+It should be used to set up the corresponding network interface,
+but can also be used to start other things.
+
+Under Windows you can use the Network Connections control panel instead of creating this script.
+
+@cindex tinc-down
+@item @value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/tinc-down
+This script is started right before the tinc daemon quits.
+
+@item @value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/hosts/@var{host}-up
+This script is started when the tinc daemon with name @var{host} becomes reachable.
+
+@item @value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/hosts/@var{host}-down
+This script is started when the tinc daemon with name @var{host} becomes unreachable.
+
+@item @value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/host-up
+This script is started when any host becomes reachable.
+
+@item @value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/host-down
+This script is started when any host becomes unreachable.
+
+@item @value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/subnet-up
+This script is started when a subnet becomes reachable.
+The Subnet and the node it belongs to are passed in environment variables.
+
+@item @value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/subnet-down
+This script is started when a subnet becomes unreachable.
+@end table
+
+@cindex environment variables
+The scripts are started without command line arguments,
+but can make use of certain environment variables.
+Under UNIX like operating systems the names of environment variables must be preceded by a $ in scripts.
+Under Windows, in @file{.bat} files, they have to be put between % signs.
+
+@table @env
+@cindex NETNAME
+@item NETNAME
+If a netname was specified, this environment variable contains it.
+
+@cindex NAME
+@item NAME
+Contains the name of this tinc daemon.
+
+@cindex DEVICE
+@item DEVICE
+Contains the name of the virtual network device that tinc uses.
+
+@cindex INTERFACE
+@item INTERFACE
+Contains the name of the virtual network interface that tinc uses.
+This should be used for commands like ifconfig.
+
+@cindex NODE
+@item NODE
+When a host becomes (un)reachable, this is set to its name.
+If a subnet becomes (un)reachable, this is set to the owner of that subnet.
+
+@cindex REMOTEADDRESS
+@item REMOTEADDRESS
+When a host becomes (un)reachable, this is set to its real address.
+
+@cindex REMOTEPORT
+@item REMOTEPORT
+When a host becomes (un)reachable,
+this is set to the port number it uses for communication with other tinc daemons.
+
+@cindex SUBNET
+@item SUBNET
+When a subnet becomes (un)reachable, this is set to the subnet.
+
+@cindex WEIGHT
+@item WEIGHT
+When a subnet becomes (un)reachable, this is set to the subnet weight.
+
+@end table
+
+
+@c ==================================================================
+@node How to configure
@subsection How to configure
@subsubheading Step 1. Creating the main configuration file
-The main configuration file will be called @file{/etc/tinc/netname/tinc.conf}.
+The main configuration file will be called @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/tinc.conf}.
Adapt the following example to create a basic configuration file:
@example
-Name = @emph{yourname}
-Device = @emph{/dev/tap0}
-PrivateKeyFile = /etc/tinc/@emph{netname}/rsa_key.priv
+Name = @var{yourname}
+Device = @file{/dev/tap0}
@end example
Then, if you know to which other tinc daemon(s) yours is going to connect,
@subsubheading Step 2. Creating your host configuration file
-If you added a line containing `Name = yourname' in the main configuarion file,
-you will need to create a host configuration file @file{/etc/tinc/netname/hosts/yourname}.
+If you added a line containing `Name = yourname' in the main configuration file,
+you will need to create a host configuration file @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/hosts/yourname}.
Adapt the following example to create a host configuration file:
@example
-Address = @emph{your.real.hostname.org}
-Subnet = @emph{192.168.1.0/24}
+Address = your.real.hostname.org
+Subnet = 192.168.1.0/24
@end example
You can also use an IP address instead of a hostname.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Generating keypairs, Network interfaces, Configuration files, Configuration
+@node Generating keypairs
@section Generating keypairs
@cindex key generation
you can easily create a public/private keypair by entering the following command:
@example
-tincd -n @emph{netname} -K
+tincd -n @var{netname} -K
@end example
-tinc will generate a public and a private key and ask you where to put them.
+Tinc will generate a public and a private key and ask you where to put them.
Just press enter to accept the defaults.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Network interfaces, Example configuration, Generating keypairs, Configuration
+@node Network interfaces
@section Network interfaces
Before tinc can start transmitting data over the tunnel, it must
First, decide which IP addresses you want to have associated with these
devices, and what network mask they must have.
-tinc will open a virtual network device (@file{/dev/tun}, @file{/dev/tap0} or similar),
-which will also create a network interface called something like `tun0', `tap0', or,
-if you are using the Linux tun/tap driver, the network interface will by default have the same name as the netname.
+Tinc will open a virtual network device (@file{/dev/tun}, @file{/dev/tap0} or similar),
+which will also create a network interface called something like @samp{tun0}, @samp{tap0}.
+If you are using the Linux tun/tap driver, the network interface will by default have the same name as the @var{netname}.
+Under Windows you can change the name of the network interface from the Network Connections control panel.
@cindex tinc-up
You can configure the network interface by putting ordinary ifconfig, route, and other commands
-to a script named @file{/etc/tinc/netname/tinc-up}. When tinc starts, this script
-will be executed. When tinc exits, it will execute the script named
-@file{/etc/tinc/netname/tinc-down}, but normally you don't need to create that script.
+to a script named @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/tinc-up}.
+When tinc starts, this script will be executed. When tinc exits, it will execute the script named
+@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/tinc-down}, but normally you don't need to create that script.
An example @file{tinc-up} script:
The netmask is the mask of the @emph{entire} VPN network, not just your
own subnet.
+The exact syntax of the ifconfig and route commands differs from platform to platform.
+You can look up the commands for setting addresses and adding routes in @ref{Platform specific information},
+but it is best to consult the manpages of those utilities on your platform.
+
@c ==================================================================
-@node Example configuration, , Network interfaces, Configuration
+@node Example configuration
@section Example configuration
D: net 10.4.0.0 mask 255.255.0.0 gateway 10.4.3.32 internet IP 4.5.6.7
@end example
-``gateway'' is the VPN IP address of the machine that is running the
-tincd. ``internet IP'' is the IP address of the firewall, which does not
-need to run tincd, but it must do a port forwarding of TCP&UDP on port
+Here, ``gateway'' is the VPN IP address of the machine that is running the
+tincd, and ``internet IP'' is the IP address of the firewall, which does not
+need to run tincd, but it must do a port forwarding of TCP and UDP on port
655 (unless otherwise configured).
In this example, it is assumed that eth0 is the interface that points to
@emph{BranchA} would be configured like this:
-In @file{/etc/tinc/company/tinc-up}:
+In @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/tinc-up}:
@example
# Real interface of internal network:
-# ifconfig eth0 10.1.54.1 netmask 255.255.0.0 broadcast 10.1.255.255
+# ifconfig eth0 10.1.54.1 netmask 255.255.0.0
ifconfig $INTERFACE 10.1.54.1 netmask 255.0.0.0
@end example
-and in @file{/etc/tinc/company/tinc.conf}:
+and in @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/tinc.conf}:
@example
Name = BranchA
-PrivateKeyFile = /etc/tinc/company/rsa_key.priv
Device = /dev/tap0
@end example
-On all hosts, /etc/tinc/company/hosts/BranchA contains:
+On all hosts, @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/hosts/BranchA} contains:
@example
Subnet = 10.1.0.0/16
Note that the IP addresses of eth0 and tap0 are the same.
This is quite possible, if you make sure that the netmasks of the interfaces are different.
-It is in fact recommended to give give both real internal network interfaces and tap interfaces the same IP address,
+It is in fact recommended to give both real internal network interfaces and tap interfaces the same IP address,
since that will make things a lot easier to remember and set up.
@subsubheading For Branch B
-In @file{/etc/tinc/company/tinc-up}:
+In @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/tinc-up}:
@example
# Real interface of internal network:
-# ifconfig eth0 10.2.43.8 netmask 255.255.0.0 broadcast 10.2.255.255
+# ifconfig eth0 10.2.43.8 netmask 255.255.0.0
ifconfig $INTERFACE 10.2.1.12 netmask 255.0.0.0
@end example
-and in @file{/etc/tinc/company/tinc.conf}:
+and in @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/tinc.conf}:
@example
Name = BranchB
ConnectTo = BranchA
-PrivateKeyFile = /etc/tinc/company/rsa_key.priv
@end example
Note here that the internal address (on eth0) doesn't have to be the
-same as on the tap0 device. Also, ConnectTo is given so that no-one can
-connect to this node.
+same as on the tap0 device. Also, ConnectTo is given so that this node will
+always try to connect to BranchA.
-On all hosts, in @file{/etc/tinc/company/hosts/BranchB}:
+On all hosts, in @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/hosts/BranchB}:
@example
Subnet = 10.2.0.0/16
@subsubheading For Branch C
-In @file{/etc/tinc/company/tinc-up}:
+In @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/tinc-up}:
@example
# Real interface of internal network:
-# ifconfig eth0 10.3.69.254 netmask 255.255.0.0 broadcast 10.3.255.255
+# ifconfig eth0 10.3.69.254 netmask 255.255.0.0
ifconfig $INTERFACE 10.3.69.254 netmask 255.0.0.0
@end example
-and in @file{/etc/tinc/company/tinc.conf}:
+and in @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/tinc.conf}:
@example
Name = BranchC
reserve another port for tinc. It knows the portnumber it has to listen on
from it's own host configuration file.
-On all hosts, in @file{/etc/tinc/company/hosts/BranchC}:
+On all hosts, in @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/hosts/BranchC}:
@example
Address = 3.4.5.6
@subsubheading For Branch D
-In @file{/etc/tinc/company/tinc-up}:
+In @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/tinc-up}:
@example
# Real interface of internal network:
-# ifconfig eth0 10.4.3.32 netmask 255.255.0.0 broadcast 10.4.255.255
+# ifconfig eth0 10.4.3.32 netmask 255.255.0.0
ifconfig $INTERFACE 10.4.3.32 netmask 255.0.0.0
@end example
-and in @file{/etc/tinc/company/tinc.conf}:
+and in @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/tinc.conf}:
@example
Name = BranchD
ConnectTo = BranchC
Device = /dev/net/tun
-PrivateKeyFile = /etc/tinc/company/rsa_key.priv
@end example
D will be connecting to C, which has a tincd running for this network on
will not be called `tun' or `tap0' or something like that, but will
have the same name as netname.
-On all hosts, in @file{/etc/tinc/company/hosts/BranchD}:
+On all hosts, in @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/hosts/BranchD}:
@example
Subnet = 10.4.0.0/16
tincd -n company -K
@end example
-The private key is stored in @file{/etc/tinc/company/rsa_key.priv},
-the public key is put into the host configuration file in the @file{/etc/tinc/company/hosts/} directory.
+The private key is stored in @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/rsa_key.priv},
+the public key is put into the host configuration file in the @file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/company/hosts/} directory.
During key generation, tinc automatically guesses the right filenames based on the -n option and
the Name directive in the @file{tinc.conf} file (if it is available).
@c ==================================================================
-@node Running tinc, Technical information, Configuration, Top
+@node Running tinc
@chapter Running tinc
If everything else is done, you can start tinc by typing the following command:
@example
-tincd -n @emph{netname}
+tincd -n @var{netname}
@end example
@cindex daemon
-tinc will detach from the terminal and continue to run in the background like a good daemon.
+Tinc will detach from the terminal and continue to run in the background like a good daemon.
If there are any problems however you can try to increase the debug level
and look in the syslog to find out what the problems are.
@menu
* Runtime options::
+* Signals::
+* Debug levels::
+* Solving problems::
* Error messages::
+* Sending bug reports::
@end menu
@c ==================================================================
-@node Runtime options, Error messages, , Running tinc
+@node Runtime options
@section Runtime options
Besides the settings in the configuration file, tinc also accepts some
@cindex runtime options
@cindex options
@c from the manpage
-@table @samp
-@item -c, --config=PATH
-Read configuration options from the directory PATH. The default is
-@file{/etc/tinc/netname/}.
+@table @option
+@item -c, --config=@var{path}
+Read configuration options from the directory @var{path}. The default is
+@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/}.
@item -D, --no-detach
Don't fork and detach.
This will also disable the automatic restart mechanism for fatal errors.
@cindex debug level
-@item -d, --debug=LEVEL
-Set debug level to LEVEL. The higher the debug level, the more gets
+@item -d, --debug=@var{level}
+Set debug level to @var{level}. The higher the debug level, the more gets
logged. Everything goes via syslog.
-@item -k, --kill[=SIGNAL]
-Attempt to kill a running tincd (optionally with the specified SIGNAL instead of SIGTERM) and exit.
+@item -k, --kill[=@var{signal}]
+Attempt to kill a running tincd (optionally with the specified @var{signal} instead of SIGTERM) and exit.
Use it in conjunction with the -n option to make sure you kill the right tinc daemon.
-
-@item -n, --net=NETNAME
-Connect to net NETNAME. @xref{Multiple networks}.
-
-@item -K, --generate-keys[=BITS]
-Generate public/private keypair of BITS length. If BITS is not specified,
-1024 is the default. tinc will ask where you want to store the files,
+Under native Windows the optional argument is ignored,
+the service will always be stopped and removed.
+
+@item -n, --net=@var{netname}
+Use configuration for net @var{netname}.
+This will let tinc read all configuration files from
+@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/}.
+Specifying . for @var{netname} is the same as not specifying any @var{netname}.
+@xref{Multiple networks}.
+
+@item -K, --generate-keys[=@var{bits}]
+Generate public/private keypair of @var{bits} length. If @var{bits} is not specified,
+2048 is the default. tinc will ask where you want to store the files,
but will default to the configuration directory (you can use the -c or -n option
in combination with -K). After that, tinc will quit.
+@item -o, --option=[@var{HOST}.]@var{KEY}=@var{VALUE}
+Without specifying a @var{HOST}, this will set server configuration variable @var{KEY} to @var{VALUE}.
+If specified as @var{HOST}.@var{KEY}=@var{VALUE},
+this will set the host configuration variable @var{KEY} of the host named @var{HOST} to @var{VALUE}.
+This option can be used more than once to specify multiple configuration variables.
+
@item -L, --mlock
Lock tinc into main memory.
This will prevent sensitive data like shared private keys to be written to the system swap files/partitions.
-@item --logfile[=FILE]
+@item --logfile[=@var{file}]
Write log entries to a file instead of to the system logging facility.
-If FILE is omitted, the default is /var/log/tinc.NETNAME.log.
+If @var{file} is omitted, the default is @file{@value{localstatedir}/log/tinc.@var{netname}.log}.
-@item --pidfile=FILE
-Write PID to FILE instead of /var/run/tinc.NETNAME.pid.
+@item --pidfile=@var{file}
+Write PID to @var{file} instead of @file{@value{localstatedir}/run/tinc.@var{netname}.pid}.
@item --bypass-security
Disables encryption and authentication.
Only useful for debugging.
+@item -R, --chroot
+Change process root directory to the directory where the config file is
+located (@file{@value{sysconfdir}/tinc/@var{netname}/} as determined by
+-n/--net option or as given by -c/--config option), for added security.
+The chroot is performed after all the initialization is done, after
+writing pid files and opening network sockets.
+
+Note that this option alone does not do any good without -U/--user, below.
+
+Note also that tinc can't run scripts anymore (such as tinc-down or host-up),
+unless it's setup to be runnable inside chroot environment.
+
+@item -U, --user=@var{user}
+Switch to the given @var{user} after initialization, at the same time as
+chroot is performed (see --chroot above). With this option tinc drops
+privileges, for added security.
+
@item --help
Display a short reminder of these runtime options and terminate.
@end table
+@c ==================================================================
+@node Signals
+@section Signals
+
+@cindex signals
+You can also send the following signals to a running tincd process:
+
+@c from the manpage
+@table @samp
+
+@item ALRM
+Forces tinc to try to connect to all uplinks immediately.
+Usually tinc attempts to do this itself,
+but increases the time it waits between the attempts each time it failed,
+and if tinc didn't succeed to connect to an uplink the first time after it started,
+it defaults to the maximum time of 15 minutes.
+
+@item HUP
+Partially rereads configuration files.
+Connections to hosts whose host config file are removed are closed.
+New outgoing connections specified in @file{tinc.conf} will be made.
+If the --logfile option is used, this will also close and reopen the log file,
+useful when log rotation is used.
+
+@item INT
+Temporarily increases debug level to 5.
+Send this signal again to revert to the original level.
+
+@item USR1
+Dumps the connection list to syslog.
+
+@item USR2
+Dumps virtual network device statistics, all known nodes, edges and subnets to syslog.
+
+@item WINCH
+Purges all information remembered about unreachable nodes.
+
+@end table
+
+@c ==================================================================
+@node Debug levels
+@section Debug levels
+
+@cindex debug levels
+The tinc daemon can send a lot of messages to the syslog.
+The higher the debug level, the more messages it will log.
+Each level inherits all messages of the previous level:
+
+@c from the manpage
+@table @samp
+
+@item 0
+This will log a message indicating tinc has started along with a version number.
+It will also log any serious error.
+
+@item 1
+This will log all connections that are made with other tinc daemons.
+
+@item 2
+This will log status and error messages from scripts and other tinc daemons.
+
+@item 3
+This will log all requests that are exchanged with other tinc daemons. These include
+authentication, key exchange and connection list updates.
+
+@item 4
+This will log a copy of everything received on the meta socket.
+
+@item 5
+This will log all network traffic over the virtual private network.
+
+@end table
+
+@c ==================================================================
+@node Solving problems
+@section Solving problems
+
+If tinc starts without problems, but if the VPN doesn't work, you will have to find the cause of the problem.
+The first thing to do is to start tinc with a high debug level in the foreground,
+so you can directly see everything tinc logs:
+
+@example
+tincd -n @var{netname} -d5 -D
+@end example
+
+If tinc does not log any error messages, then you might want to check the following things:
+
+@itemize
+@item @file{tinc-up} script
+Does this script contain the right commands?
+Normally you must give the interface the address of this host on the VPN, and the netmask must be big enough so that the entire VPN is covered.
+
+@item Subnet
+Does the Subnet (or Subnets) in the host configuration file of this host match the portion of the VPN that belongs to this host?
+
+@item Firewalls and NATs
+Do you have a firewall or a NAT device (a masquerading firewall or perhaps an ADSL router that performs masquerading)?
+If so, check that it allows TCP and UDP traffic on port 655.
+If it masquerades and the host running tinc is behind it, make sure that it forwards TCP and UDP traffic to port 655 to the host running tinc.
+You can add @samp{TCPOnly = yes} to your host config file to force tinc to only use a single TCP connection,
+this works through most firewalls and NATs. Since version 1.0.10, tinc will automatically fall back to TCP if direct communication via UDP is not possible.
+
+@end itemize
+
@c ==================================================================
-@node Error messages, , Runtime options, Running tinc
+@node Error messages
@section Error messages
-What follows is a list of the most common error messages you can see
-when configuring tinc. Most of these messages are visible in the syslog
-only, so keep an eye on it!
+What follows is a list of the most common error messages you might find in the logs.
+Some of them will only be visible if the debug level is high enough.
-@table @strong
+@table @samp
@item Could not open /dev/tap0: No such device
@itemize
@itemize
@item You forgot to `modprobe tun'.
@item You forgot to compile `Universal TUN/TAP driver' in the kernel.
+@item The tun device is located somewhere else in @file{/dev/}.
+@end itemize
+
+@item Network address and prefix length do not match!
+
+@itemize
+@item The Subnet field must contain a @emph{network} address, trailing bits should be 0.
+@item If you only want to use one IP address, set the netmask to /32.
+@end itemize
+
+@item Error reading RSA key file `rsa_key.priv': No such file or directory
+
+@itemize
+@item You forgot to create a public/private keypair.
+@item Specify the complete pathname to the private key file with the @samp{PrivateKeyFile} option.
+@end itemize
+
+@item Warning: insecure file permissions for RSA private key file `rsa_key.priv'!
+
+@itemize
+@item The private key file is readable by users other than root.
+Use chmod to correct the file permissions.
+@end itemize
+
+@item Creating metasocket failed: Address family not supported
+
+@itemize
+@item By default tinc tries to create both IPv4 and IPv6 sockets.
+On some platforms this might not be implemented.
+If the logs show @samp{Ready} later on, then at least one metasocket was created,
+and you can ignore this message.
+You can add @samp{AddressFamily = ipv4} to @file{tinc.conf} to prevent this from happening.
+@end itemize
+
+@item Cannot route packet: unknown IPv4 destination 1.2.3.4
+
+@itemize
+@item You try to send traffic to a host on the VPN for which no Subnet is known.
+@item If it is a broadcast address (ending in .255), it probably is a samba server or a Windows host sending broadcast packets.
+You can ignore it.
+@end itemize
+
+@item Cannot route packet: ARP request for unknown address 1.2.3.4
+
+@itemize
+@item You try to send traffic to a host on the VPN for which no Subnet is known.
@end itemize
@item Packet with destination 1.2.3.4 is looping back to us!
cases be larger. Rethink your configuration.
Note that you will only see this message if you specified a debug
level of 5 or higher!
-@item Chances are that a `Subnet = ...' line in the host configuration file of this tinc daemon is wrong.
+@item Chances are that a @samp{Subnet = ...} line in the host configuration file of this tinc daemon is wrong.
Change it to a subnet that is accepted locally by another interface,
-or if that is not the case, try changing the prefix length into /32.
+or if that is not the case, try changing the prefix length into /32.
@end itemize
-@item Network doesn't work, syslog shows only packets of length 46
-
-@item Network address and prefix length do not match!
+@item Node foo (1.2.3.4) is not reachable
@itemize
-@item The Subnet field must contain a @emph{network} address.
-@item If you only want to use one IP address, set the netmask to /32.
+@item Node foo does not have a connection anymore, its tinc daemon is not running or its connection to the Internet is broken.
@end itemize
-@item This is a bug: net.c:253: 24: Some error
+@item Received UDP packet from unknown source 1.2.3.4 (port 12345)
@itemize
-@item This is something that should not have happened.
-Please report this, and tell us exactly what went wrong before you got
-this message. In normal operation, these errors should not occur.
+@item If you see this only sporadically, it is harmless and caused by a node sending packets using an old key.
@end itemize
-@item Error reading RSA key file `rsa_key.priv': No such file or directory
+@item Got bad/bogus/unauthorized REQUEST from foo (1.2.3.4 port 12345)
@itemize
-@item You must specify the complete pathname.
-Specifying a relative path does not make sense here. tinc changes its
-directory to / when starting (to avoid keeping a mount point busy).
+@item Node foo does not have the right public/private keypair.
+Generate new keypairs and distribute them again.
+@item An attacker tries to gain access to your VPN.
+@item A network error caused corruption of metadata sent from foo.
@end itemize
@end table
@c ==================================================================
-@node Technical information, About us, Running tinc, Top
+@node Sending bug reports
+@section Sending bug reports
+
+If you really can't find the cause of a problem, or if you suspect tinc is not working right,
+you can send us a bugreport, see @ref{Contact information}.
+Be sure to include the following information in your bugreport:
+
+@itemize
+@item A clear description of what you are trying to achieve and what the problem is.
+@item What platform (operating system, version, hardware architecture) and which version of tinc you use.
+@item If compiling tinc fails, a copy of @file{config.log} and the error messages you get.
+@item Otherwise, a copy of @file{tinc.conf}, @file{tinc-up} and all files in the @file{hosts/} directory.
+@item The output of the commands @samp{ifconfig -a} and @samp{route -n} (or @samp{netstat -rn} if that doesn't work).
+@item The output of any command that fails to work as it should (like ping or traceroute).
+@end itemize
+
+@c ==================================================================
+@node Technical information
@chapter Technical information
@c ==================================================================
-@node The connection, The meta-protocol, Technical information, Technical information
+@node The connection
@section The connection
@cindex connection
-tinc is a daemon that takes VPN data and transmit that to another host
+Tinc is a daemon that takes VPN data and transmit that to another host
computer over the existing Internet infrastructure.
@menu
@c ==================================================================
-@node The UDP tunnel, The meta-connection, The connection, The connection
+@node The UDP tunnel
@subsection The UDP tunnel
@cindex virtual network device
and `tap' style, which are Ethernet devices and handle complete Ethernet frames.
So when tinc reads an Ethernet frame from the device, it determines its
-type. When tinc is in it's default routing mode, it can handle IPv4 and IPv6
+type. When tinc is in its default routing mode, it can handle IPv4 and IPv6
packets. Depending on the Subnet lines, it will send the packets off to their destination IP address.
In the `switch' and `hub' mode, tinc will use broadcasts and MAC address discovery
to deduce the destination of the packets.
there is no problem for the kernel to accept a packet.
However, if it is a `tap' device (this is the only available type on FreeBSD),
the destination MAC address must match that of the virtual network interface.
-If tinc is in it's default routing mode, ARP does not work, so the correct destination MAC
+If tinc is in its default routing mode, ARP does not work, so the correct destination MAC
can not be known by the sending host.
-tinc solves this by letting the receiving end detect the MAC address of its own virtual network interface
+Tinc solves this by letting the receiving end detect the MAC address of its own virtual network interface
and overwriting the destination MAC address of the received packet.
In switch or hub modes ARP does work so the sender already knows the correct destination MAC address.
@c ==================================================================
-@node The meta-connection, , The UDP tunnel, The connection
+@node The meta-connection
@subsection The meta-connection
Having only a UDP connection available is not enough. Though suitable
@c ==================================================================
-@node The meta-protocol, Security, The connection, Technical information
+@node The meta-protocol
@section The meta-protocol
The meta protocol is used to tie all tinc daemons together, and
@cindex ADD_EDGE
@cindex ADD_SUBNET
@example
-daemon message
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-origin ADD_EDGE node1 node2 21.32.43.54 655 222 0
- | | | | | +-> options
- | | | | +----> weight
- | | | +--------> UDP port of node2
- | | +----------------> real address of node2
- | +-------------------------> name of destination node
- +-------------------------------> name of source node
-
-origin ADD_SUBNET node 192.168.1.0/24
- | | +--> prefixlength
- | +--------> network address
- +------------------> owner of this subnet
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+message
+------------------------------------------------------------------
+ADD_EDGE node1 node2 21.32.43.54 655 222 0
+ | | | | | +-> options
+ | | | | +----> weight
+ | | | +--------> UDP port of node2
+ | | +----------------> real address of node2
+ | +-------------------------> name of destination node
+ +-------------------------------> name of source node
+
+ADD_SUBNET node 192.168.1.0/24
+ | | +--> prefixlength
+ | +--------> network address
+ +------------------> owner of this subnet
+------------------------------------------------------------------
@end example
The ADD_EDGE messages are to inform other tinc daemons that a connection between
message
------------------------------------------------------------------
DEL_EDGE node1 node2
- | +----> name of destination node
+ | +----> name of destination node
+----------> name of source node
DEL_SUBNET node 192.168.1.0/24
------------------------------------------------------------------
REQ_KEY origin destination
| +--> name of the tinc daemon it wants the key from
- +----------> name of the daemon that wants the key
+ +----------> name of the daemon that wants the key
ANS_KEY origin destination 4ae0b0a82d6e0078 91 64 4
| | \______________/ | | +--> MAC length
KEY_CHANGED origin
+--> daemon that has changed it's packet key
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+------------------------------------------------------------------
@end example
The keys used to encrypt VPN packets are not sent out directly. This is
@cindex PONG
@example
daemon message
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+------------------------------------------------------------------
origin PING
dest. PONG
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+------------------------------------------------------------------
@end example
There is also a mechanism to check if hosts are still alive. Since network
with each PING and PONG message, to make sure that long sequences of PING/PONG
messages without any other traffic won't result in known plaintext.
-This basically covers what is sent over the meta connection by
-tinc.
+This basically covers what is sent over the meta connection by tinc.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Security, , The meta-protocol, Technical information
-@section About tinc's encryption and other security-related issues.
+@node Security
+@section Security
@cindex TINC
@cindex Cabal
-tinc got its name from ``TINC,'' short for @emph{There Is No Cabal}; the
+Tinc got its name from ``TINC,'' short for @emph{There Is No Cabal}; the
alleged Cabal was/is an organisation that was said to keep an eye on the
entire Internet. As this is exactly what you @emph{don't} want, we named
the tinc project after TINC.
But in order to be ``immune'' to eavesdropping, you'll have to encrypt
your data. Because tinc is a @emph{Secure} VPN (SVPN) daemon, it does
exactly that: encrypt.
-tinc by default uses blowfish encryption with 128 bit keys in CBC mode, 32 bit
+Tinc by default uses blowfish encryption with 128 bit keys in CBC mode, 32 bit
sequence numbers and 4 byte long message authentication codes to make sure
eavesdroppers cannot get and cannot change any information at all from the
packets they can intercept. The encryption algorithm and message authentication
algorithm can be changed in the configuration. The length of the message
authentication codes is also adjustable. The length of the key for the
-encryption algorithm is always the default length used by OpenSSL.
+encryption algorithm is always the default length used by LibreSSL/OpenSSL.
@menu
* Authentication protocol::
* Encryption of network packets::
+* Security issues::
@end menu
@c ==================================================================
-@node Authentication protocol, Encryption of network packets, Security, Security
+@node Authentication protocol
@subsection Authentication protocol
@cindex authentication
client ACK 655 123 0
| | +-> options
- | +----> estimated weight
- +--------> listening port of client
+ | +----> estimated weight
+ +--------> listening port of client
server ACK 655 321 0
| | +-> options
- | +----> estimated weight
- +--------> listening port of server
+ | +----> estimated weight
+ +--------> listening port of server
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@end example
decrypted correctly, and that can only be done with knowledge of the private
key.
-Fourth: the first thing that is send via the symmetric cipher encrypted
+Fourth: the first thing that is sent via the symmetric cipher encrypted
connection is a totally random string, so that there is no known plaintext (for
an attacker) in the beginning of the encrypted stream.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Encryption of network packets, , Authentication protocol, Security
-@subsection Encryption of network packet
+@node Encryption of network packets
+@subsection Encryption of network packets
@cindex encryption
A data packet can only be sent if the encryption key is known to both
the MACLength configuration variable.
@c ==================================================================
-@node About us, Concept Index, Technical information, Top
+@node Security issues
+@subsection Security issues
+
+In August 2000, we discovered the existence of a security hole in all versions
+of tinc up to and including 1.0pre2. This had to do with the way we exchanged
+keys. Since then, we have been working on a new authentication scheme to make
+tinc as secure as possible. The current version uses the LibreSSL or OpenSSL library and
+uses strong authentication with RSA keys.
+
+On the 29th of December 2001, Jerome Etienne posted a security analysis of tinc
+1.0pre4. Due to a lack of sequence numbers and a message authentication code
+for each packet, an attacker could possibly disrupt certain network services or
+launch a denial of service attack by replaying intercepted packets. The current
+version adds sequence numbers and message authentication codes to prevent such
+attacks.
+
+On the 15th of September 2003, Peter Gutmann posted a security analysis of tinc
+1.0.1. He argues that the 32 bit sequence number used by tinc is not a good IV,
+that tinc's default length of 4 bytes for the MAC is too short, and he doesn't
+like tinc's use of RSA during authentication. We do not know of a security hole
+in this version of tinc, but tinc's security is not as strong as TLS or IPsec.
+We will address these issues in tinc 2.0.
+
+Cryptography is a hard thing to get right. We cannot make any
+guarantees. Time, review and feedback are the only things that can
+prove the security of any cryptographic product. If you wish to review
+tinc or give us feedback, you are stronly encouraged to do so.
+
+
+@c ==================================================================
+@node Platform specific information
+@chapter Platform specific information
+
+@menu
+* Interface configuration::
+* Routes::
+@end menu
+
+@c ==================================================================
+@node Interface configuration
+@section Interface configuration
+
+When configuring an interface, one normally assigns it an address and a
+netmask. The address uniquely identifies the host on the network attached to
+the interface. The netmask, combined with the address, forms a subnet. It is
+used to add a route to the routing table instructing the kernel to send all
+packets which fall into that subnet to that interface. Because all packets for
+the entire VPN should go to the virtual network interface used by tinc, the
+netmask should be such that it encompasses the entire VPN.
+
+For IPv4 addresses:
+
+@multitable {Darwin (Mac OS X)} {ifconfig route add -bla network address netmask netmask prefixlength interface}
+@item Linux
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @var{address} @code{netmask} @var{netmask}
+@item Linux iproute2
+@tab @code{ip addr add} @var{address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @code{dev} @var{interface}
+@item FreeBSD
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @var{address} @code{netmask} @var{netmask}
+@item OpenBSD
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @var{address} @code{netmask} @var{netmask}
+@item NetBSD
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @var{address} @code{netmask} @var{netmask}
+@item Solaris
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @var{address} @code{netmask} @var{netmask}
+@item Darwin (Mac OS X)
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @var{address} @code{netmask} @var{netmask}
+@item Windows
+@tab @code{netsh interface ip set address} @var{interface} @code{static} @var{address} @var{netmask}
+@end multitable
+
+For IPv6 addresses:
+
+@multitable {Darwin (Mac OS X)} {ifconfig route add -bla network address netmask netmask prefixlength interface}
+@item Linux
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @code{add} @var{address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength}
+@item FreeBSD
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @code{inet6} @var{address} @code{prefixlen} @var{prefixlength}
+@item OpenBSD
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @code{inet6} @var{address} @code{prefixlen} @var{prefixlength}
+@item NetBSD
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @code{inet6} @var{address} @code{prefixlen} @var{prefixlength}
+@item Solaris
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @code{inet6 plumb up}
+@item
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @code{inet6 addif} @var{address} @var{address}
+@item Darwin (Mac OS X)
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @code{inet6} @var{address} @code{prefixlen} @var{prefixlength}
+@item Windows
+@tab @code{netsh interface ipv6 add address} @var{interface} @code{static} @var{address}/@var{prefixlength}
+@end multitable
+
+On some platforms, when running tinc in switch mode, the VPN interface must be set to tap mode with an ifconfig command:
+
+@multitable {Darwin (Mac OS X)} {ifconfig route add -bla network address netmask netmask prefixlength interface}
+@item OpenBSD
+@tab @code{ifconfig} @var{interface} @code{link0}
+@end multitable
+
+On Linux, it is possible to create a persistent tun/tap interface which will
+continue to exist even if tinc quit, although this is normally not required.
+It can be useful to set up a tun/tap interface owned by a non-root user, so
+tinc can be started without needing any root privileges at all.
+
+@multitable {Darwin (Mac OS X)} {ifconfig route add -bla network address netmask netmask prefixlength interface}
+@item Linux
+@tab @code{ip tuntap add dev} @var{interface} @code{mode} @var{tun|tap} @code{user} @var{username}
+@end multitable
+
+@c ==================================================================
+@node Routes
+@section Routes
+
+In some cases it might be necessary to add more routes to the virtual network
+interface. There are two ways to indicate which interface a packet should go
+to, one is to use the name of the interface itself, another way is to specify
+the (local) address that is assigned to that interface (@var{local_address}). The
+former way is unambiguous and therefore preferable, but not all platforms
+support this.
+
+Adding routes to IPv4 subnets:
+
+@multitable {Darwin (Mac OS X)} {ifconfig route add -bla network address netmask netmask prefixlength interface}
+@item Linux
+@tab @code{route add -net} @var{network_address} @code{netmask} @var{netmask} @var{interface}
+@item Linux iproute2
+@tab @code{ip route add} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @code{dev} @var{interface}
+@item FreeBSD
+@tab @code{route add} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @var{local_address}
+@item OpenBSD
+@tab @code{route add} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @var{local_address}
+@item NetBSD
+@tab @code{route add} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @var{local_address}
+@item Solaris
+@tab @code{route add} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @var{local_address} @code{-interface}
+@item Darwin (Mac OS X)
+@tab @code{route add} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @code{-interface} @var{interface}
+@item Windows
+@tab @code{netsh routing ip add persistentroute} @var{network_address} @var{netmask} @var{interface} @var{local_address}
+@end multitable
+
+Adding routes to IPv6 subnets:
+
+@multitable {Darwin (Mac OS X)} {ifconfig route add -bla network address netmask netmask prefixlength interface}
+@item Linux
+@tab @code{route add -A inet6} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @var{interface}
+@item Linux iproute2
+@tab @code{ip route add} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @code{dev} @var{interface}
+@item FreeBSD
+@tab @code{route add -inet6} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @var{local_address}
+@item OpenBSD
+@tab @code{route add -inet6} @var{network_address} @var{local_address} @code{-prefixlen} @var{prefixlength}
+@item NetBSD
+@tab @code{route add -inet6} @var{network_address} @var{local_address} @code{-prefixlen} @var{prefixlength}
+@item Solaris
+@tab @code{route add -inet6} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @var{local_address} @code{-interface}
+@item Darwin (Mac OS X)
+@tab @code{route add -inet6} @var{network_address}@code{/}@var{prefixlength} @code{-interface} @var{interface}
+@item Windows
+@tab @code{netsh interface ipv6 add route} @var{network address}/@var{prefixlength} @var{interface}
+@end multitable
+
+
+@c ==================================================================
+@node About us
@chapter About us
@menu
-* Contact Information::
+* Contact information::
* Authors::
@end menu
@c ==================================================================
-@node Contact Information, Authors, About us, About us
+@node Contact information
@section Contact information
@cindex website
-tinc's website is at @url{http://tinc.nl.linux.org/},
+Tinc's website is at @url{https://www.tinc-vpn.org/},
this server is located in the Netherlands.
@cindex IRC
We have an IRC channel on the FreeNode and OFTC IRC networks. Connect to
-@uref{http://www.freenode.net/, irc.freenode.net}
+@uref{https://freenode.net/, irc.freenode.net}
or
-@uref{http://www.oftc.net/, irc.oftc.net}
+@uref{https://www.oftc.net/, irc.oftc.net}
and join channel #tinc.
@c ==================================================================
-@node Authors, , Contact Information, About us
+@node Authors
@section Authors
@table @asis
-@item Ivo Timmermans (zarq) (@email{ivo@@o2w.nl})
-@item Guus Sliepen (guus) (@email{guus@@sliepen.eu.org})
+@item Ivo Timmermans (zarq)
+@item Guus Sliepen (guus) (@email{guus@@tinc-vpn.org})
@end table
We have received a lot of valuable input from users. With their help,
@c ==================================================================
-@node Concept Index, , About us, Top
-@c node-name, next, previous, up
+@node Concept Index
@unnumbered Concept Index
@c ==================================================================
projects / tinc / blobdiff