This document outlines the system requirements necessary for the successful installation and operation of Functionize Advanced Connection Security (ACS). ACS is a software-defined networking (SDN) feature built on top of Tailscale, enabling the creation of secure, private networks with flexible configuration and access control.
Key Considerations
Software-Defined Networking (SDN)
ACS leverages the principles of SDN to simplify network configuration and management. It creates a secure mesh network among your devices, allowing them to communicate directly and privately, regardless of their physical location or underlying network infrastructure.
Proxy Compatibility
ACS can operate behind a proxy provided the proxy supports TCP tunneling over port 443, such as an HTTP CONNECT-capable proxy, a TCP proxy, or a SOCKS5 proxy. Proxies that only support standard HTTP traffic are not compatible.
Additionally, the proxy must not perform traffic inspection, decryption, or Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) interception, as these interfere with ACS secure, end-to-end encrypted communication and will prevent proper operation.
Hardware Specifications
The following table details the recommended hardware specifications for systems running ACS. These specifications are general guidelines, and actual requirements may vary based on the number of devices in your network and the volume of traffic.
| Component | Minimum Specification | Recommended Specification | High-Performance Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2 cores | 4 cores | 8 cores |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | 24 GB |
| HDD | Size recommended for the chosen OS | Size recommended for the chosen OS | Size recommended for the chosen OS |
Processor considerations
Tailscale performs efficiently on most modern processors. In high-throughput scenarios, performance depends primarily on network bandwidth and the CPU’s cryptographic performance. Faster clock speeds generally yield greater benefit than additional cores. Hardware with built-in encryption acceleration (such as AES-NI or ARMv8 crypto extensions) further enhances throughput. ARM-based systems deliver excellent performance at lower cost and power consumption, making them an efficient choice for many deployments.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
The recommended hard disk drive (HDD) size for installing ACS is dependent on the operating system chosen. It is imperative that the selected OS's minimum storage requirements are met. ACS’ installed footprint is around 100 MB.
Supported Operating Systems
ACS supports a wide range of operating systems, including but not limited to:
- Linux (modern distributions including Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Fedora, and Arch Linux) — recommended for optimal performance, as Linux can run Tailscale at the kernel level.
- Windows (10 and later, Server 2016 and later)
- Kubernetes – version 1.25 or newer.
- macOS (10.15 Catalina and later)
For the most up-to-date list of supported operating systems and specific version requirements, please refer to the official installation documentation .