Introducing 'innernet' by tonari
innernet is an innovative, open-source network management tool built on top of WireGuard, designed to simplify the creation and management of private networks. Developed by tonari, it offers an opinionated configuration system that caters to various network sizes—be it for organizations, projects, or personal social circles. Released on March 30, 2021, innernet addresses the pain points of manual WireGuard configurations by automating peer management and network organization.
Key Features
- Peer Management: Unique, permanent IP addresses for each peer, ensuring cryptographic authentication via WireGuard.
- CIDR Grouping: Organizes peers into IP-based groups (CIDRs) for structured access control and subnet management.
- Associations: Controls visibility and communication between CIDRs, enhancing security by limiting peer interactions.
- Conveniences: Includes peer naming, auto-updating peer lists, and NAT hole punching for seamless connectivity.
- Self-Hosted & Open Source: Free to use, with a simple SQLite server/client model, avoiding dependency on external proprietary services.
- Security Focus: Minimal server exposure, peer key caching, and invite-based onboarding to mitigate attack risks.
Use Cases
- Organizational Networks: Securely connect infrastructure, laptops, and tools within a company, as demonstrated by tonari's own setup.
- Project Teams: Create isolated networks for collaborative projects with controlled access.
- Personal Networks: Build private, idealistic internet spaces for social circles or hobbyist groups.
Unique Selling Points
Unlike alternatives like Tailscale (which relies on a closed-source backend) or Nebula (with a slower userspace protocol), innernet leverages WireGuard's kernel module for performance and prioritizes self-hosting for autonomy. Its IP-based access control integrates with existing OS firewall tools, reducing complexity. Whether you're an IT admin, a developer, or a privacy enthusiast, innernet empowers you to shape secure, scalable networks with ease.
