pikvm/pikvm
Pikvm
PiKVM is an IP-KVM remote access solution for out-of-band server management. It enables remote control of a host computer's hardware and operating system through a web browser or VNC client, allowing access to the BIOS or boot sequence when the main operating system is unresponsive.
The system provides remote hardware control by managing physical power switches and GPIO triggers. It emulates human interface devices, such as keyboards and mice, and supports the emulation of mass storage to mount virtual disk images for bare metal operating system installation and recovery.
Additional capabilities include real-time video streaming via HDMI with low-latency encoding and the recording of keyboard and mouse sequences for server automation workflows. The platform also exposes its functions through a REST-based HTTP API for programmatic control and integrates encrypted connections for secure remote access.
Features
- Video Streaming - Captures host video signals via HDMI and streams them in real-time to a web browser.
- Web-Based Remote Clients - Streams real-time video and transmits user input to a host machine through a web browser interface.
- Hardware Accelerated Media Encoders - Uses on-chip hardware acceleration to encode HDMI capture streams for low-latency remote viewing.
- GPIO Pin Controllers - Provides low-level GPIO pin control to interact with physical server power buttons and relays.
- HID Emulations - Sends keyboard and mouse inputs to a host server using Bluetooth HID, PS/2, or mouse jiggler functions.
- Remote Desktop Streaming - Captures host video via HDMI and streams it with low-latency encoding to a remote client.
- Software KVM Switches - Provides a software-based KVM solution to stream video and transmit inputs to a host over IP.
- Power State Controllers - Triggers system power events such as restart and shutdown via motherboard headers and Wake-on-LAN.
- Out-of-Band Management - Enables access to the BIOS or boot sequence when the main operating system is unresponsive.
- Remote Hardware Controls - Manages physical power switches and GPIO triggers on a server using a Raspberry Pi interface.
- Remote Server Management Tools - Provides a comprehensive suite of tools for connecting to and controlling remote server hardware.
- Input Device Emulators - Simulates a USB keyboard and mouse to control a host system via low-level HID reports.
- HID Event Emulators - Simulates keyboard and mouse hardware by sending low-level HID reports via the Linux USB gadget driver.
- Input Macros - Records and plays back keyboard and mouse sequences to perform repetitive tasks across attached servers.
- Input Sequence Automations - Saves keyboard and mouse sequences as scripts to repeat complex tasks across attached servers.
- Programmatic Lifecycle Control - Offers programmatic control over the system's operational lifecycle through a standardized set of API calls.
- HTTP API Interfaces - Provides an HTTP interface to execute any system action available in the user interface.
- OS Installation Media - Allows mounting virtual disk images to a remote server to install or recover an operating system.
- Input Sequence Macros - Records and stores timed keyboard and mouse events as macros for automated playback on target hosts.
- Mass Storage Deployment - Emulates a USB mass storage device to mount virtual disk images for OS installation and recovery.
- Remote Hardware Controllers - Provides remote hardware control of physical peripherals such as relays, lamps, and smart plugs.
- Control Planes - Exposes a centralized HTTP-based control plane for managing remote access and hardware configurations.
- Mass Storage Emulation - Presents local or network disk images as physical USB mass storage devices to the host.
- Operational Task Automation - Automates system maintenance and recovery tasks by replaying recorded keyboard and mouse sequences.
- Hardware Control Interfaces - Provides a web-based interface for toggling GPIO ports and USB relays to interact with hardware.
- Networking and Servers - DIY KVM-over-IP for remote computer management via web.
