9/11/2023 0 Comments Network kvm switchSo far, Pi-KVM has been through a couple different hardware variations. So what’s Pi-KVM all about anyways? It’s an open-source project for building your own IP-KVM. It’s almost like I knew that a couple months later, I would be tinkering with something I liked way better than any IPMI interface that I’d used. When I bought an extension for my desk, a new switch for my 10Gb network, and moved around both my DIY NAS and homelab servers, I decided to just leave the IPMI interfaces disconnected and removed the network cables on each machine. When I encountered these difficulties, I simply reverted to old behavior and grabbed my spare monitor and keyboard from my closet for the following reasons: it’s less effort, and the IPMI’s web interfaces have been pretty terrible. However, each time that I have attempted to access their IPMI interfaces, I have run into minor issues. Both machines have been tremendously stable and do their jobs without much interaction from me. Thankfully, I’ve rarely actually needed to use the IPMI interfaces. Since then, you know how much I’ve successfully used those IPMI interfaces? Almost zero! When I built my homelab server, I made sure to pick a motherboard that included an IPMI interface. That upgrade also meant that I was able to retire my KVM switch and all of its cables. That feature (among others) helped convince me to use the same motherboard when I upgraded my personal NAS later the same year. The DIY NAS: 2016 Edition was the first motherboard I used with an IPMI interface. Using a web browser or an IPMI client, you’re able to access this interface and interact with the hardware as if you were sitting in front of the computer with a keyboard, mouse, and monitor plugged into it. The motherboard has a dedicated network interface that gets plugged into a switch and assigned an IP address by your router. Simplifying things a bit-maybe tremendously-IPMI is quite similar to having a built-in IP-KVM incorporated on the motherboard. When people advocate for using enterprise hardware, the two reasons that resonate the most to me are support from the manufacturer (potentially including longer warranties) and that most server-grade motherboards have an IPMI interface. The most controversial parts of my DIY NAS build blogs is how frequently I recommend consumer-grade hardware. In enough scenarios, that’s simply not enough. Most remote access options require the operating system to be up and running first. You’re able to see the machine POST, access the BIOS, and watch it load the operating system. The keyboard, mouse, and display that you’re using aren’t actually plugged into the remote computer.īoth a KVM and IP-KVM are superior to remote access (TeamViewer, Remote Desktop, VNC, etc.) because you’re accessing the actual hardware remotely. Whenever I needed to use one of those three computers, I’d hit a button and the KVM would switch me between the three computers.Īn IP-KVM is very similar: you plug the IP-KVM device into the keyboard, video, and monitor of a computer but then you access it over a network. For a very long time, I had my own DIY NAS, primary workstation, and work laptop all plugged into a KVM switch. As a bonus, I’d get to play with his Christmas present a bit before deciding if I wanted to build one of my own!Ī KVM (or KVM switch) is basically a device that allows you to share a keyboard, video, and mouse between two computers. Part Two: Pi-KVM: Controlling a 4-port KVM and setting up TailscaleĪ few days later, I recalled this conversation later when wracking my brain for a Christmas gift idea for Pat and immediately decided then that I’d build a Pi-KVM for Pat.Part One: Pi-KVM: an inexpensive KVM over IP.Pat nodded in agreement and remarked, “There’s this neat project, Pi-KVM, that lets you build a cheap IP-KVM out of a Raspberry Pi! You should check it out.” We talked about different possible uses for it and then got busy repairing a quadcopter or playing some video games. When the DIY NAS: 2020 Edition was burning in, I had to get up and go into the other room to see what it was up to, but I didn’t think it was worth the price premium to move up to a motherboard which included IPMI among its features. Only two of the computers at my house have an IPMI interface, all the rest did not. I recall griping at Pat one day he was over for dinner that I wished everything had an IPMI interface or that nothing did.
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