When I started building my portable NanoPi Neo mini-cluster, one big challenge was how to connect and manage the nodes while on the road. I didn’t want to lug around an unmanaged switch, nor did I want to deal with clunky VPN setups just to SSH into three low-power SBCs.

The solution? Tailscale + a GL.iNet Slate AX travel router.

The Setup

My mini-cluster consists of three NanoPi Neo boards, each running Debian Bookworm. They’re wired into a GL.iNet Slate AX (AX1800) travel router, which not only handles networking but also has built-in Tailscale integration.

Instead of installing Tailscale on every single NanoPi board, I simply enable subnet routing on the Slate AX. This way, the router acts as the gateway between my Tailnet and the cluster network.

The benefits are immediate:

  • I can SSH into any NanoPi node from anywhere on the internet.

  • The entire subnet (192.168.8.0/24 in my case) is reachable through Tailscale.

  • No need to individually manage keys or logins on each SBC.

Why Subnet Routing Matters

Normally, Tailscale works by giving each device a unique Tailnet IP. That’s fine for laptops, desktops, or even a single server. But with three headless SBCs sitting behind a router, I’d either have to:

  1. Install and manage Tailscale on each board (extra overhead), or

  2. Expose the subnet behind a single Tailscale exit node (elegant solution).

Subnet routing gives me option #2. The Slate AX advertises routes like 192.168.8.0/24 to my Tailnet. Any device in my homelab—or even my phone on LTE—can then connect to the NanoPi Neos as if I were sitting at home.

Remote Homelab Integration

The real magic happens when this portable cluster ties back into my main homelab, which is already on my Tailnet.

From my main Proxmox cluster, I can directly talk to the NanoPi nodes.

From the road, I can push updates, sync files, or test apps hosted on the cluster.

It effectively makes the cluster an extension of my homelab, even if I’m powered by a battery pack in a hotel room or campsite.

Why the GL.iNet Slate AX?

There are a few reasons the Slate AX is perfect for this setup:

USB-C powered (matches the rest of my battery-powered lab)

Compact but includes multiple gigabit Ethernet ports

Feature-rich firmware with OpenWrt under the hood

Tailscale baked in — no compiling, no hacks, just enable and log in

This combination means the Slate AX isn’t just a router, it’s the bridge between my micro-cluster and the rest of my world.

What’s Next

So far, I’ve used Tailscale + subnet routing mainly for SSH and basic service access (including this blog). But the possibilities are wide open:

Running distributed apps across the portable cluster and main homelab together

Syncing code or containers via Tailnet

Setting up monitoring dashboards I can view from anywhere

Even tunneling internet traffic through the portable lab when I want a secure connection back home

Closing Thoughts

The NanoPi Neo mini-cluster might be modest in specs, but paired with Tailscale and the GL.iNet Slate AX, it punches way above its weight. Subnet routing transforms the setup from three isolated boards into a fully accessible, portable extension of my homelab.

It’s not just about portability—it’s about flexibility. Whether I’m home, traveling, or completely off-grid, I can always reach my cluster securely.