Manage ANY PC or Server Remotely! - TinyPilot KVM over IP

Huge thanks to Linode for bringing you this video. Wanting your own personal cloud services, but don't have the time, money, or space to set up your own server rack? Let Linode host them for you! Visit linode.com/CraftComputing and get a $100 60-Day credit just for signing up.
There's one tool that was always too costly when I was a SysAdmin... a KVM-over-IP server. The concept is simple. Just capture video from servers or PCs you want to manage, spoof a keyboard and mouse, then make it accessible from an HTML5 web browser. But why did it always seem impossible???
But first... What am I drinking???
From Single Hill Brewing (Yakima, WA), it's the Eastside IPA at 6.8%. A surprisingly malt-forward IPA, all of the hallmarks of a tradition West Coast are there, but made into a much sweeter and richer beer. Definitely recommend you get one of these for yourself.
Links to items below may be affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Check out the TinyPilot repo on GitHub: github.com/mtlynch/tinypilot
Instructions to build your own: mtlynch.io/tinypilot/
Buy a Ready-To-Go TinyPilot: tinypilotkvm.com/
Raspberry Pi 4 2GB: amzn.to/2N148lB
Geekworm HDMI-Camera module for RPi: amzn.to/2Lvu0pb
HDMI Capture Card, 1080/30 over USB: amzn.to/35AwJ7C
Find the parts I recommend on my Amazon store: www.amazon.com/shop/craftcomp...
Follow me on Twitter @CraftComputing
Support me on Patreon or Floatplane and get access to my exclusive Discord server. Chat with myself and the other hosts on Talking Heads all week long.
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Music:
Opportunity Walks by Kevin MacLeod
Link: filmmusic.io/song/4173-opport...
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license

[@TechnoTim]

We still love you personality Jeff!

[@festro1000]

Hey, it's my other favorite networking channel!

[@Dragonheng]

I Fear Jeff, ty to HL-Alyx...

[@grimlox4265]

personality jeff has good fashion sense with the wiskey tribe t shirt

[@patrikwyde2265]

Wow! So glad you found this project and did a video on it. Thanks Jeff!

[@gabrielmanole7101]

Jeff thanks for the wonderful videos! You are the one I choose to watch as soon as I open the youtube app. Source-critical correct and honest content of your videos means that the quality is at the highest level! Continue Continue continue !!!

[@sixtyinsix]

Thank you for 10:43 onward. I'm just teaching myself Remmina and this explanation was very helpful for remote access vs kvm access.

[@DocNo27]

Yes, I’ve been looking for things like this for years but they have only started to get good recently. Thanks for profiling this project!

[@mbryan718]

First video of yours I've ever seen .. not only do I love this product, your presentation of it covered all bases. Subscribed!!

[@john-r-edge]

The fancy back-plane devices used on higher end servers also allow remote hard restart. That feature is not included on this unit - but maybe not too hard to do, connect from the gpio pins to a mains voltage relay. That has to be something which is a must-have when dealing with a frozen or otherwise unresponsive server in a data center.

[@dionelr]

Back when I managed a server room, this would have been amazing. With some added security controls, this could be a great remoting solution. I agree with you that adding more hdmi inputs and a function to switch between them in a 1U form factor would be necessary for a more commercial environment. I like what I’m seeing.

[@Im_Ninooo]

I've been looking for something like this for years!

[@allenfogleson]

I've been looking for exactly this kind of solution. Instantly ordered one after watching

[@7MBoosted]

For home users the hobbyist kit is the way to go. I actually might pick one up when I remote mount all my networking equipment in my garage.

[@hollowknut9473]

Well, I know what I'm doing this weekend. Thanks Jeff!

[@frankjosephjr3722]

I was cruising along to video thinking “pshh this is worthless if you can’t see bios .... “ paused the video at 11:19 to say I am very impressed!

[@maxicx75v]

That's the whole point. It has a regular video input - it doesn't care if it's BIOS or whatever.

[@SeanLucas]

Definitely useful, especially for sites located in remote regions that do not have any IMPI available

[@Gamrman]

Holy crap thank you for making this video!! I had just seen the TinyPilot yesterday and immediately dismissed it because of the price. I had no idea it was open source! I now have a new project!

[@fox_1047]

check out Pi-KVM It have more features and opensource too

[@Gamrman]

@@fox_1047 Sweet! Thanks!:)

[@magnusboman1576]

Holy shit, this is exactly what I've been looking for, for years!

[@barncatgamer6779]

Came for the kvm info, pleasantly surprised by the orange in the intro...please continue to add more orange

[@ChristianGrams]

1U KVM "of my dreams" - YES PLEASE!

[@John.strong]

This is seriously cool, I'd buy a switch with 8 or 12 inputs if / when the new budget comes around

[@WeatherWX]

Will you be doing a review of the PiKVM?

[@rudiwinkelstein2483]

The software of pikvm is so much better than any comercial solution. I think this is actually a disruptive technology if you think about the price that network-based kvms are usually sold at.

[@oldshield]

been looking for the same.. thank you for your vid.

[@ShinyTechThings]

Shows BSOD screen while advertising Linux hosting at Linode. EPIC!😎

[@konradkathan]

This is neat! 1u 8port KVM sounds about perfect!

[@blueguy09]

You remind me of my brother, Love your vids man. Always passing a like/thumb up.

[@Rogue136]

In addition to more inputs I'd love to see adding serial for each input. It's less common but it's nice to have for when you need it.

[@nikyclau3966]

That cat is gorgeous 🐈😻

[@AlbertoMarchioro]

This is a great idea! In commercial use, you can block via firewall all the remote IPs except your to access to this device, so you can take an old pc and install this open source OS. It's just an idea

[@compumatterllc]

Thank you as always. Well done. Would love to see demonstration of the process of connecting it to a remotely hosted server via a public static IP. The actual configuration over a fixed / static. With a worst case procedure for when you get to the clients location, plug it in and it's not visible. Then how to reconfigure a locked down static in the TinyPilot. Any thoughts on that?

[@KL-bi2un]

Thx for the review. The rapid side motions on the monitor (around 9:30) trigger something called optokinetic nystagmus and can cause nausea in some viewers.

[@StevenHudakdotcom]

Thanks for this, really. I didn't know the Pi had that input available.

[@VinnyVidiVintage]

What a great bit of tech.

[@oldveeh]

It all makes sense at 11:19 ! This is indeed a great tool to have.

[@DanielleWhite]

I remember dealing with the Compaq/HP and Sun lights out offerings. As you said - Java app/version hell.

[@ShuhDonk]

I was just searching for something like this about a month ago, sweet. I used to have a raritan, was over 3000 dollars.. worked fantastic though.. had it set up in canada at a friends house and remoted into it from the US so I could play online poker (pokerstars). :)

[@CraftComputing]

Best use of a Rariton ever 🤣🤣

[@Veeb0rg]

My belkin kvm allows key sequences to change the kvm input. You could use this with a kvm that supports input switching via keyboard command to get your wish.

[@nicholasboccio]

I am wondering if that will work right now and was hoping someone that is using this method would be here to confirm

[@tin2001]

@@nicholasboccio Worked with my Avocent single port IP KVM paired with a Chinese no name 4 port dumb-ish KVM... As long as the IP KVM has a method of sending the correct shortcut keystrokes, it should work.

[@s2d613]

@Craft Computing If you like KVM over IP. I can recommend to have a look on the one from BifrostConnet. I just tested it the last weeks... Keyboard, Video and Mouse over USB-C or HDMI/USB. It also have 4G Mobile access, WiFi and Ethernet. Build in Battery, charged over USB-C, Micro-USB or PoE. It also have RS232 Serial port. Bluetooth so it local can use Bluetooth Keyboard/Mouse and connect it like a USB device...

[@lightmn]

I had heard of PiKVM but not this project before.

[@TecH3PanDa]

PiKVM does seem to be more potent project. Hope he will review that and compare the too

[@accaliaelementia7171]

Pikvm is another very awesome project. He should absolutely try it out! Bonus, it's 100% hardware compatible with the tinypilot hardware. and pikvm has built in support for interfacing with kvm switches, though you may need to do some soldering to build the gpio support... which you should do anyway because pikvm can plug into the front panel connectors on your pc/server to poweron/reset the server too!

[@alexatkin]

What I'd like is a version mounted in a expansion slot, use GPIO headers to control the power on signal/reset headers and run the power from the ATX PSUs 5V STB. That way its completely integrated into the PC and could power it on and off too, so you can recover from a hard lockup.

[@RileyCastine]

Yeah, this looks cool. For handling one server, nice. I would love to have a Pi based solution that could handle 5 devices. That would totally make my day.

[@ryanisflying]

this

[@Wisteso]

The other commercial alternatives aren't nearly as expensive as quoted in the video. The Raritan KX IV-101 goes for $550, supports 4K video, has a metal enclosure, HTML 5 and C# based viewer, and a much nicer interface with lots of bells and whistles.

[@DavidSiebert]

You could connect the gpio to the reset and power. You could even connect the LEDs.

[@c0wqu3u31at3r]

Craft beer and sysadmin... Subscribed

[@juri14111996]

things to add: - poe power option (if your switch dies you have way bigger problems than no remote kvm), you can use gpio to power the pi - virtual media (mount iso as virtual odd to pc) - use gpio for pwr & rest of system, input for pwr and activity led - pcie bracket mount (for install in PC/server) - serial connector to manage a kvm switch - data only usb cable (just cut the pwr + on the cable, power over gpio)

[@lepsycho3691]

Oh man I was waiting for this, thanks Jeff! If only we could prototype a usb board with relays to switch sources remotely! Gives me a lot to think about!

[@CraftComputing]

I'm actually working on a hacked together version of that myself.

[@HotDamnHarry]

@@CraftComputing and add some gpio goodness to also handle the reset/power on the box, so you can remote start the machine if its off too...

[@jpaez82]

Alright, it comes with beer too. Yay 🍺🍻🍺

[@Mobay18]

Most servers have built in management controllers and that is what you use in an enterprise environment. But I can see this being useful for a simple setup.

[@linrobert8208]

This is a good solution for those compoters don't have ipmi.

[@Spudics]

That cat is so cute 😍

[@aboron_]

Many moons ago I got a Lantronix Spider to perform this function. I had stopped using it for a while due to java problems. But, recently it received updated firmware for html5. So, I plugged it into a console kvm to turn the whole thing into an ip remote kvm. You could do the same with this tinypilot. With the right KVM, it can switch PCs using keyboard inputs, no IO connections needed.

[@drescherjm]

As a sysadmin I have wanted this for over a decade. I have a few of my servers with iKVM ports builtin but certainly not all of them have that. Also the software on these tend to not be updated so when the server gets older it it becomes a security concern. I have looked into options for KVM switches with this feature but they were for the most part outside of my budget as a small department system admin. With that said I could use actually use one today for a different purpose. My desktop PC is not responding at work meaning I have to drive 30 minutes to see what is wrong.

[@66racer]

Interesting, finally an affordable way to enter a bios remotely!

[@TimIgoe]

You could always take a free tinypilot, and hide it behind a reverse proxy to provide authentication and encryption. It might add a tiny little latency but not unmanagable.

[@rmenchoachupicachu]

where could i read up on how to do this?

[@ryanebigelow]

With Jeff Geerling’s work on testing dedicated 4-port NICs via a RPi Compute Module 4 board, you might be able to (eventually) build out your dream 8-16 port Open Source KVM over IP device

[@LeonDay]

I look at this from an AV viewpoint rather than server handling, and think of the Pi with that capture card allowing me to double-check information about EDID and signal from a computer, and outputting to the normal display while I am troubleshooting.

[@Banner1986]

I remember two times explicitly whered I'd have given my left nut for a solution like this, but with 8-12 connections. How many 4-5 hour drives that would've saved, ugh.

[@CraftComputing]

Same!

[@PlankensNetworkingTutorials]

Please make a video on how to set this up for us DIY users. I could really use this in my home lab!!

[@marioStortuga]

Dude! I swear you're a mind reader.

[@karloa7194]

It seems like the pikvm is a better product

[@osnix0]

I agree.

[@TehMagilla]

That's how it looks to me.

[@dazzer529]

i wonder if with something like this it could be configured in a way to use the gpio pins to operate the power switch for when you accidentally shut down

[@wannabsexy]

you earned a sub today

[@Pressbutan]

I just noticed you have Bunny People in the background. I've got a little magenta one hanging in my PC as my "drift charm". Cute.

[@CraftComputing]

Awwww, I don't have a Magenta one 😔

[@kevinramos9401]

This is awesome

[@printfab]

With a power spliter on the motherboard this could be awesome to have the possibility to power it from the pi remotely

[@Spyd77]

Apart from being able to control a physical KVM so you don't have to buy as many TinyPilots as server you want to manage, it lacks something I find almost mandatory: a relay that you can connect to the power-on switch pins on the motherboard, so you can both turn on a powered off server remotely, and force power off and then power on an unresponsive system.

[@nyanates]

I was looking for a more thorough explanation/demo of this product over the holidays. Thanks for providing it.

[@nicolasvi]

Remote reset and power button would make it perfect!

[@loganbull6351]

You could add that with gpio

[@PrimalNaCl]

"perfect" is subjective I guess. For me, I'd have to say that "perfect" would be something as close to an ipmi solution as possible. To the end, adding the ability to toggle reset/power is _almost_ there. Add in the ability to spoof/mount media and _then_ we've, all but the hw monitoring, arrived. I think the reset/power would be relative trivial. Might have to perform some hackery but dupont connectors from pi gpio header to front panel headers w/some tinykvm frontend 'button' mapping and it's done. Worst case you could just ssh into the tinykvm and twiddle those gpio lines w/echo. The media mapping seems tricky. Have to get the pi to present as a storage device hanging off of the kvm'd system usbus. Then loop/fuse mount images and maybe... Cool idea/device regardless.

[@johncoles]

@@PrimalNaCl the PiKVM project has all those features and is free.

[@codycast]

Great review. New to channel. Can I ask why there is a faint Piano music playing in the background? I’m listening to this with headphones on and I literally thought there was something in my house playing piano music before I realized it was the background of this video

[@digantakoner]

Is it me or is it that Rambo has actually put on weight 😂

[@2008mjb]

PoE power the PI and add a relay for the power connection of the "server" so you can power cycle it fully remotely. Obviously you would need either WoL or to set the server for auto power on. Also add a temperature probe with historian.

[@mmitchellhouston]

When they actually get a 1K video version with sound, then we'll be talking. My home environment for professional graphics work (let's leave it at that) requires multiple computers for various clients and having an easy-to use KVM would be a blessing. I would love to remove some of the dozens of cables I have cluttering up my work areas.

[@Jasenz]

Looks good

[@samp8682]

@Craft Computing Hello, thanks for the informative video! Can I also use audio in/out with this? Is there another option? What alternatives does this have?

[@y2ksw1]

With the new RPI microcontroller you even may control a switch and connect to more than one unit.

[@fonte935]

I bought one of these a few weeks ago - great project! I put ZeroTier on it and can access it wherever it is, great for shipping to customers so I can do Windows upgrades, etc...remotely. Great video! Thank you!

[@McTwistedTwisties]

If you have an intel environment you can utilize vPro to get to bios over network.

[@JessicaFEREM]

I wish this system could have a remote-on system, maybe something that interfaces with the motherboard power pins, a relay that click the PC on. that would be super neat, at that point you'd only need the RPI to be running to use the system. or maybe even something to interface with the PSU's 5v standby so you could have the pi be inside the computer. I'm thinking pi in the sky, but it would be simple to implement.

[@cjbht19minaret]

Maybe wake on lan

[@lahmyaj]

10:40 - Thanks for explaining why you'd want a KVM over IP as my knowledge in this area isn't very advanced ;)

[@YOVlogs]

Gr8 video very useful i am very much interested to buy but one simple question if u can help me out can i hear the audio from the source Pc as well in the browser window?

[@sdfglkjhdfkjdhldskfj]

And yes, I too like the idea of a 1U device with 4 or 8 servers connected to it.

[@juri14111996]

please keep in mind: real server (and even some diy have build in kvm, witch was way more funtionality. you can find license key for hp servers online, for my homelab this is fine. if you build a server yourself get an mobo with built in kvm, i use asrock rack, the ip-kvm is perfect, you get kvm, remote media and can even access all sensor data direct, even while an os ist boted up.

[@insnprsn]

I have been considering this thing for over a week now... guess I'm sold

[@juri14111996]

i just got a asrock rack mobo for my diy server. has integrated ip-kvm with way more functions

[@insnprsn]

ok, that's great ... not my use case I've got multiple Raspberry Pis and a NUC that are headless, but this would make an effective remote crash cart.

[@Ziggurat1]

Would have been so funny if editing Jeff was actually Jeff Geerling

[@JeffGeerling]

🤔

[@uuu12343]

For whoever that wants to use this, use this alongside a (preferably) dedicated IPSEC VPN Server to access your home through a VPN Tunnel before accessing your kvm

[@ericdeltoro8484]

If cooling is a concern, cheapo stick on aluminum heatsinks could easily work but I really doubt it'll ever get that hot.

[@JamesHalfHorse]

Could use an existing kvm with it. I do not remember who made it but the one in my server rack had a front panel switcher but it would also cycle through with a special keystroke which would work with the existing hardware.

[@tiredoftheliesalready]

Of course, what I've been looking for over the years is now available, when a certain issue has taken away our jobs for the past 6-9 months. *grumble* Well, once things are less hectic, and we aren't drowning, I know where to potentially look. Thanks for the video! Also...it would be cool if you could perhaps get your hands on a gurkenradler (beer) and try it on one of these videos.

[@itayov]

hey thanks i was looking 4 that. and can u tell what s the red ball u have on ur desk thanks in advance

[@nettyvoyager6336]

you can get pid cables on usb and monitor converters it will do

[@KikiNation1]

This is freakin' awesome! Any idea if this is pretty OS independent? I constantly have to setup Mac OS (Mac Mini, iMacs) for a far away site and this would save me a 4-hour trip! Great video, subscribed, and thank you!

[@marcosv8426]

What prevents you from hooking this TinyPilot box to a KVM switch such as the rackmounted Trendnet TK-803R and use the Trendnet's KVM hotswap key combinations to swap between computers?

[@famitory]

while we're asking for features, it'd be great to use the pi's GPIO to add a relay module that could remotely "press" the power and reset buttons by being wired in parallel with them, for hardware that doesn't support WOL.

[@denmanfite3156]

That's one way to void your warranty.

[@The_Benjamins]

Can you compare this vs PiKVM, i use that on my setup but which is better?

[@RobsonBenedito]

it was awesome, congrats. I'd like to know if you think that would be OK working using a VNC connection through a Pi KVM, in terms of keyboard and mouse speed using Internet to work in day-by-day use like text editing.

[@peterfixit7221]

i would be interested in this if it could manage 2-4 servers. the server im using right now has ipmi but in the future I will be adding pc based servers so something with 4 ports would be great

[@trueriver1950]

Whisky logo on tee shirt; beer in hand. Did anyone ever explain about the effects of mixing your drinks? But more seriously good content: thanks :)

[@ktraglin]

I wonder if you could do something similar using "barrier", a software based kvm switch that uses encryption and does not require a Raspberry Pi. There are trade-offs: you would have to install the software on the server (controlling machine), as well as each of the clients you want to control (up to 14). Have you tried using barrier?

[@mozamboni]

Awesome product... But seeing the ring remaining on the glass throughout the video makes me thirsty for that IPA 😋

[@JwyanzeLibert]

man this is what I need would like two inputs. it would be great if he did make a 8 input version of it in a 1u form factor

[@Jimmyhuybrechts]

tiny pilot actually got this idea from Pi-KVM, not the other way around :)

[@jasontoland7608]

We love PI-KVM it has more features features that this wich are useful for remote reboots the lot

[@bryantallen703]

The Great Wendell over at Level1Techs actually designed a KVM switch and is selling them.

[@holeinthesest]

No link?

[@coldhardwick]

Link?

[@aemonblackfyre4159]

But that’s something else! The DP1.4 KVM is for 2 or more computers on the same Monitor+keyboarb and Mouse setup. This is for managing a server over the network.

[@JulesArchinova]

Link ?

[@abdulmuhaimin5274]

*Spoiler Alert*