Single system IP console, HDMI, DP, or DVI video?

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ferzerp

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  • #1
    I have come upon a need for a cheap single system IP console for a system that doesn't have any sort of idrac/ilo support. I would think this is a readily available product, but I'm coming up short somehow. Does anyone know of such a product?

    I'm doing a little project on my home network that I want as much isolation as possible between this system and my trusted network, but I'd like console access from my trusted network. Obviously I can go enterprise grade IP KVM/console to do this, but I'm just looking for a simple single system solution.
     
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    ferzerp

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  • #3
    I guess I could do a self-build tinypilot raspberry pi build to get by cheaply.

    edit: I was able to put together a set of parts to deploy tinypilot on a pi 4 with the free distribution (since this sits on my fully trusted network, I don't need the extra security) that ended up the same price as a used, old lantronix spider while being HDMI which I wanted. It also lets me actually touch technology which I rarely get to do these days.
     
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    ferzerp

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  • #6
    SandyTech said:
    You mind sharing the BOM?
    Click to expand...

    tinypilotkvm.com

    TinyPilot: Build a KVM Over IP for Under $100

    Using only a Raspberry Pi and an $11 video capture dongle, you can create your own KVM over IP device, allowing you to send keyboard input to a remote computer and capture its display.
    tinypilotkvm.com

    I used this blog post as a basis. I ended up at about $150, but I pretty much used the list there.
     
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    ferzerp

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  • #7
    Paladin said:
    Tinypilot looks cool but I'd be more willing to give it a shot in the sub $200 range. They need a cheaper option or to make up the profit in bulk. It's a niche product though.

    Personally, I would be looking for a machine with IPMI if I had to spend $400 to get remote console access.
    Click to expand...

    Hence rolling my own at ~$150. I don't need security in this case because it's sitting on my fully trusted network, controlling something on my untrusted network, so I won't be paying them and using the fully free software.
     
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    SandyTech

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  • #8
    ferzerp said:
    tinypilotkvm.com

    TinyPilot: Build a KVM Over IP for Under $100

    Using only a Raspberry Pi and an $11 video capture dongle, you can create your own KVM over IP device, allowing you to send keyboard input to a remote computer and capture its display.
    tinypilotkvm.com

    I used this blog post as a basis. I ended up at about $150, but I pretty much used the list there.
    Click to expand...
    Thanks.

    Paladin said:
    Tinypilot looks cool but I'd be more willing to give it a shot in the sub $200 range. They need a cheaper option or to make up the profit in bulk. It's a niche product though.

    Personally, I would be looking for a machine with IPMI if I had to spend $400 to get remote console access.
    Click to expand...
    It is, but there are more than a few places in MSP land where this would come in super handy. Especially for software vendors that like to supply their own appliances, as they love to use Dell Precision towers that don't have an iDRAC port on 'em.
     
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    teubbist

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  • #9
    An alternative to TinyPilot is PiKVM. I have both the Kickstarter versions Maxim Devaev did(PiKVM v3 and v4 Pro), but you can buy them at retail from various sellers(https://pikvm.org/buy/). Seems the retail price for the v4 is a bit spendy though.

    Like Tinypilot there is a DIY version also available on the Github repo for PiKVM: https://github.com/pikvm/pikvm#diy-getting-started

    If you want something a bit more contained, Geekworm do a PiKVM v3 spin that fits in a PCI slot and can be PoE powered: https://geekworm.com/products/pikvm-a8
     
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    ferzerp

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  • #10
    SandyTech said:
    Thanks.


    It is, but there are more than a few places in MSP land where this would come in super handy. Especially for software vendors that like to supply their own appliances, as they love to use Dell Precision towers that don't have an iDRAC port on 'em.
    Click to expand...
    This combined with an IP managed power socket (or extending the pi to shorting the power/reset headers as needed for power functions would cover most situations. Still not true ipmi, but as close as possible with stuff like desktops.
     
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    teubbist

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  • #12
    There are low profile versions, but they use the CM4 module which can come with its own availability issues.

    BliKVM v2 PCIe - supports PoE
    Geekworm X650 - no native PoE, you have to use a splitter

    Then there's the Asrock Rack PAUL if you don't have onboard graphics, but I've never seen it available locally so usually forget it exists. It's also an AST2500 based device, which has its own quirks.
     
    stevenkan

    stevenkan

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  • #14
    I have the same requirement as the OP, and like the OP, I'm frustrated by the lack of affordable, quiet offerings in the 1-device space.

    I have purchased two 16-port MergePoint Unity IP KVMs for <<<$150 recently, for the server closet at the office, but those are large (relatively speaking) and have fans.

    It pains me to have to spend more than that for less capability.

    I did find these StarTech KVM-over-IP units (SV1107IPEXT) for <<$50, but neither unit for sale includes the proprietary console cables, so they're sorta useless.
     
    stevenkan

    stevenkan

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  • #15
    stevenkan said:
    I did find these StarTech KVM-over-IP units (SV1107IPEXT) for <<$50, but neither unit for sale includes the proprietary console cables, so they're sorta useless.
    Click to expand...
    Ah, the manual says it also uses Java in the browser, which just doesn't work any more these days.

    I wonder if one of those MergePoint units would fry if I disabled the fans and only ever used 1 port.
     
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    waqar

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  • #16
    got one of these with a Pi 4b
    works well. Stick on a cheapo multiport kvm.
    Get the kit 2 as that comes with a case. Uses PiKVM as the OS. Just make sure you get the right version, otherwise the OLED won't do jack.
    Looks of it PiKVM is a archlinux variant.
    Got mine hooked up with a generic brand 4 port kvm off of relentless.com. Its a bit funny with mounting flash drives/CD ROMs remotely if you're running it on something like a hardware KVM, but that can be mitigated with usb splitters (whole nother rabbit-hole)
    Plugged into a single box it's very much a production product.
     
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    waqar

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  • #18
    ferzerp said:
    Not sure I'd trust an aliexpress KVM that comes with software preinstalled... Protect your supply chain folks.
    Click to expand...
    The pi 4 was from Pi Hut in the UK. The SD card from there too. The OS was from the PiKVM project website.
    Very much a crafted option. Pile of fiddly bits to put together. But the end result? I like it.
     
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