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Device Approval

Defines how devices are approved and join a network

Overview

Netmaker provides flexible device enrollment, allowing either automatic joins or admin approval through the Auto-Join setting.

Network Join Flow

When a device attempts to join a Netmaker network, one of two things happens:

  • It joins the network immediately (Auto-Join enabled)

  • It waits for admin approval (Auto-Join disabled)

This allows teams to balance speed, automation, and security depending on the use case.

Auto-Join

How it works

  • When Auto-Join is enabled, any device using valid enrollment key is added to the network instantly. No admin interaction is required, devices appear directly in the Nodes interface as active nodes.

  • When Auto-Join is disabled, devices requesting access are placed in Pending Devices window and require manual admin approval before joining.

Enable or disable Auto-Join

  1. Navigate to the All Networks screen

  2. Click Edit on the network you want to configure


  3. Toggle Auto-Join on or off

  4. Save the changes

Pending Devices

When Auto-Join is disabled, device enrollment requests are held for review under Pending Devices.

Accessing Pending Devices

  • Navigate to Networks → Your Network → Nodes

  • Click Pending devices in the top-right corner

  • The panel shows how many requests are waiting for review

What admins can do

From the Pending Devices panel, administrators can:

  • Approve a device to allow it to join the network.

  • Decline a device to deny access.

  • Review device name and request time before deciding.

Approved devices immediately appear in the Nodes list and begin participating in the network.

Security Best Practices

  • Enable Auto-Join in trusted internal environments or automated environments.

  • Disable Auto-Join for externally accessible networks.

  • Regularly monitor the Pending Devices list.

  • Decline unexpected or unknown device requests.

Summary

The Auto-Join feature give administrators full control over how devices enter a Netmaker network. Whether prioritizing speed or security, these tools ensure device enrollment aligns with your operational and security requirements.

By choosing the right configuration, teams can scale confidently while maintaining visibility and control over network access.