The first public release of the Pi-KVM project has taken place: a set of software and instructions that allow you to turn your Raspberry Pi into a fully functional IP-KVM. This device connects to the HDMI/VGA and USB port of the server to be controlled remotely, regardless of the operating system. You can turn on, turn off or reboot the server, configure the BIOS and even completely reinstall the OS from a downloaded image: Pi-KVM can emulate a virtual CD-ROM and a flash drive.
The number of parts needed, besides the Raspberry Pi itself, is minimal, which allows you to assemble it in just half an hour, and the total cost will be in the region of $100 even in the most expensive configuration (while many proprietary IP-KVMs with less functionality will cost $500 and more ).
Key features:
- Access to the server through the web interface of a regular browser or VNC client (no Java applets or flash plugins);
- Low video latency (about 100 milliseconds) and high FPS;
- Full keyboard and mouse emulation (including LEDs and wheel/touchpad scrolling);
- Emulation of CD-ROM and flash drives (you can download several images and connect them as needed);
- Server power management using ATX pins on the motherboard or via Wake-on-LAN; IPMI BMC supported for integration into existing network infrastructure;
- Extensible authorization mechanisms: from the usual password and ending with the ability to use a single authorization server and PAM.
- Broad hardware support: Raspberry Pi 2, 3, 4 or ZeroW; various video capture devices;
- A simple and friendly toolchain that allows you to build and install an OS on a Raspbery Pi memory card with just a couple of commands.
- ... And much more.
A special expansion board for Raspberry Pi 4 is also being prepared for release, which implements all the described functions, plus many other features (details on GitHub). Pre-orders are expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2020. The cost is expected to be around $100 or less. You can subscribe to the pre-order news here.
Source: linux.org.ru