I just finished building a Pi KVM about a month ago using project https://github.com/pikvm. Has been great so far.
Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi
21–30 of 284 posts
Re: Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi
#22Funnily enough I'm waiting for my hdmi to usb capture card to arrive so I can play on my PS3 while also having the option of switching back to the desktop instantly.
That has to add a lot of latency.
Although honestly I think some of the latency complaints by gamers are a little much. Personally I have a Bluetooth mouse/keyboard connected to my desktop with a super duper cheap projector pointed into the living room and can play FPS games on it just fine.
Re: Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi
#23This looks awesome. I was looking for a solution like this last year. I budgeted a few hundred bucks but couldn't find anything. Ideally would have a way to handle a few different boxes.
I did see something called Intel AMT, part of Intel vPro. https://www.howtogeek.com/56538/how-to-remotely-control-your... Does anyone have experience with this? (I have AMD box so doesn't help me) - actually looks like AMD has similar https://developer.amd.com/tools-for-dmtf-dash/
Re: Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi
#24Sorry to ask but what's it cost to buy a KVM over IP device?
Re: Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi
#25I'm all in favor of cool projects, and I have done my fair share of useless experiments. But wouldn't it just be simpler to attach a dumpster-sourced monitor and keyboard to the server in question for the 3-4 times a year you brick it? To me the idea of a locally placed 1:1 KVM "switch" (huh? it's not switching anything if it's 1:1) is crazy. It makes sense if it is remotely located, but not if it's within your own h…
not sure why you talk about "switch"? The word never appears in the article? And at such a no-brainer price (especially if you already have a Pi), kind of worth it just to avoid the hassle of moving a screen around.
Re: Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi
#26Fantastic project. Amazing how you overcame each obstacle, and very well written to boot. Kudos. Quite funny how you brought 1000 ms latency down to 200 ms. I wonder how this compares to iDRAC and that Raritan device.
I've used virtually all of the iDRACs. They're probably in that 200ms area (based on my gut feeling w/ no empirical measurements). They've been fairly responsive in my experience.
Re: Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi
#27Author here. Happy to answer any questions or take any feedback about this post.
Would a Pi Zero W work for this, or do you need a full-size Pi 4? I would think that with the HDMI dongle doing the hardware MJPEG encoding, a Pi Zero might suffice. It'd be really neat to A) bring the cost down another $30 and B) be able to package everything into a tiny 3D printed case.
Thanks for reading!
>Would a Pi Zero W work for this, or do you need a full-size Pi 4?
I tested Key Mime Pi (the keyboard-only version) on the Pi Zero W and it worked great. I haven't tested TinyPilot on the Pi Zero W, but I think it will work. The video encoding is happening in the HDMI dongle, so it doesn't hammer resources much. I don't have a USB to microUSB adaptor on hand, but I'll order one now and see if it works.
>be able to package everything into a tiny 3D printed case.
Yeah, that would be neat! One of the biggest issues I have with TinyPilot's setup right now is that it looks kind of like a bunch of random hobbyist parts stuck together. A 3D printed case would be good and wouldn't have the heat issues that Pi 4 has.[0]
[0] https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2019/best-way-keep-your-co...
Re: Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi
#28Funnily enough I'm waiting for my hdmi to usb capture card to arrive so I can play on my PS3 while also having the option of switching back to the desktop instantly.
That has to add a lot of latency. Although honestly I think some of the latency complaints by gamers are a little much. Personally I have a Bluetooth mouse/keyboard connected to my desktop with a super duper cheap projector pointed into the living room and can play FPS games on it just fine.
It has a lot of latency indeed. I tried the raspberry as a Steam Link alternative, but as far as I know the ethernet port is not suitable (?). I've also read that it actually gets worse if you plug in any USB peripherals. Correct me if I'm wrong though.
Re: Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
That has to add a lot of latency. Although honestly I think some of the latency complaints by gamers are a little much. Personally I have a Bluetooth mouse/keyboard connected to my desktop with a super duper cheap projector pointed into the living room and can play FPS games on it just fine.
It has a lot of latency indeed. I tried the raspberry as a Steam Link alternative, but as far as I know the ethernet port is not suitable (?). I've also read that it actually gets worse if you plug in any USB peripherals. Correct me if I'm wrong though.
Yes the Ethernet port is on USB so you’re sharing (the already small) bandwidth between that and all the peripherals.
This may have changed with the pi4 though.
Re: Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi
#30Sorry to ask but what's it cost to buy a KVM over IP device?
You're not going to find a decent one sub $500. Used devices can be had for less, but most of the older ones I've seen use terrible Java-based clients that are a major pain to get running on modern browsers. For multi-device KVMs you usually have to figure in the prices for the individual interface module dongles that plug into each computer, too.
StarTech makes a USB-to-KVM that looked promising to me, but it's still >$400: https://www.startech.com/Server-Management/KVM-Switches/Port...