[GH-ISSUE #4157] Apple TV version to act as Exit Node #8161

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opened 2026-08-05 01:16:18 -04:00 by saavagebueno · 4 comments
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Originally created by @svh1985 on GitHub (Jul 16, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/4157

Similar to Tailscale, a Netbird client that runs on Apple TV would be perfect as a low powered Exit Node.

Originally created by @svh1985 on GitHub (Jul 16, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/4157 Similar to Tailscale, a Netbird client that runs on Apple TV would be perfect as a low powered Exit Node.
saavagebueno added the feature-requestdistribution labels 2026-08-05 01:16:18 -04:00
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@nazarewk commented on GitHub (Jul 16, 2025):

Pardon my ignorance (I don't know much about Apple ecosystem), but does Apple TV even have a NetBid app for it? What kind of operating system does it run?

<!-- gh-comment-id:3078562437 --> @nazarewk commented on GitHub (Jul 16, 2025): Pardon my ignorance (I don't know much about Apple ecosystem), but does Apple TV even have a NetBid app for it? What kind of operating system does it run?
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@svh1985 commented on GitHub (Jul 16, 2025):

It runs on tvOS.

The current NetBird Apple apps run on (list copied from AppStore):

Compatibility

  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • iPod touch
  • Mac
  • Apple Vision

Unfortunately, not tvOS. But it might be easy to add support though, depending on how the app has been setup using Xcode.

<!-- gh-comment-id:3078584594 --> @svh1985 commented on GitHub (Jul 16, 2025): It runs on tvOS. The current NetBird Apple apps run on (list copied from AppStore): **Compatibility** - iPhone - iPad - iPod touch - Mac - Apple Vision Unfortunately, not tvOS. But it might be easy to add support though, depending on how the app has been setup using Xcode.
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@posix4e commented on GitHub (Jul 22, 2025):

From my LLM

> tailscale solved this problem

⏺ You're right! Tailscale has a clever solution for Apple TV. Since tvOS doesn't support VPN extensions, they use a different
  approach:

⏺ Update Todos
  ⎿  ☐ Research Tailscale's Apple TV implementation approach
     ☐ Implement companion app architecture for Apple TV
     ☐ Create exit node selection UI for tvOS
     ☐ Document Apple TV setup process

⏺ Tailscale's Apple TV Solution

  Tailscale works around tvOS VPN limitations by:

  1. Exit Node Architecture: The Apple TV app connects to another device on your network running Tailscale as an exit node
  2. No Direct VPN: Since tvOS doesn't support VPN extensions, the Apple TV doesn't run its own VPN tunnel
  3. Network Routing: Traffic is routed through a designated exit node (iPhone, Mac, or other device)

  For NetBird on Apple TV, you'd need to:

  1. Create a companion tvOS app that can:
    - Discover NetBird nodes on the local network
    - Select an exit node (another device running NetBird)
    - Configure the Apple TV to route traffic through that node
  2. Modify the iOS app to:
    - Act as an exit node for Apple TV
    - Advertise itself on the local network
    - Handle routing for tvOS clients
  3. Use mDNS/Bonjour for local discovery between Apple TV and iOS devices

  Would you like me to start implementing this architecture for NetBird?
<!-- gh-comment-id:3104953328 --> @posix4e commented on GitHub (Jul 22, 2025): From my LLM ``` > tailscale solved this problem ⏺ You're right! Tailscale has a clever solution for Apple TV. Since tvOS doesn't support VPN extensions, they use a different approach: ⏺ Update Todos ⎿  ☐ Research Tailscale's Apple TV implementation approach ☐ Implement companion app architecture for Apple TV ☐ Create exit node selection UI for tvOS ☐ Document Apple TV setup process ⏺ Tailscale's Apple TV Solution Tailscale works around tvOS VPN limitations by: 1. Exit Node Architecture: The Apple TV app connects to another device on your network running Tailscale as an exit node 2. No Direct VPN: Since tvOS doesn't support VPN extensions, the Apple TV doesn't run its own VPN tunnel 3. Network Routing: Traffic is routed through a designated exit node (iPhone, Mac, or other device) For NetBird on Apple TV, you'd need to: 1. Create a companion tvOS app that can: - Discover NetBird nodes on the local network - Select an exit node (another device running NetBird) - Configure the Apple TV to route traffic through that node 2. Modify the iOS app to: - Act as an exit node for Apple TV - Advertise itself on the local network - Handle routing for tvOS clients 3. Use mDNS/Bonjour for local discovery between Apple TV and iOS devices Would you like me to start implementing this architecture for NetBird? ```
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@nazarewk commented on GitHub (Jul 23, 2025):

Closing this issue on behalf of https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/1888 that I was unaware of previously

<!-- gh-comment-id:3106301581 --> @nazarewk commented on GitHub (Jul 23, 2025): Closing this issue on behalf of https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/1888 that I was unaware of previously
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Reference: DYNR/netbird#8161