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Hardware for occasional direct control of personal server
Sorry if the title is weird, please feel free to suggest a rephrase.
I have a personal server in my closet. I host various software on this for my family's use. The vast majority of the time I control it with SSH.
There are occasional times when SSH is not possible. For example, when the server is booting up (for security reasons, I set it up so that a manual password must be entered), the network is malfunctioning, or the system is so impaired that SSH server is broken (can happen when you accidentally fill your hard drive 100% or a buggy update).
Currently, I keep a keyboard and monitor in the same closet, that I connect to the server when I cannot use SSH. This is a bit annoying, because the monitor is bulky, there's a long delay when you first connect, the cables end up in a tangle, etc.
I've looked around and it sounds like the techs at data centers carry around a console that they connect to servers as needed. I've never worked such a job and don't know anyone who has, so it's all a mystery to me. The consoles seem like a laptop but without a computer inside, so just a screen/keyboard combo. However, these seem horrendously expensive ($400+ a few years ago) and I have no idea if they require a special enterprise server to work. My server is simply a regular desktop PC that I run headless. I've never worked such a job and don't know anyone who has, so it's all a mystery to me.
What is a practical way for occasionally managing a personal server, when remote control like SSH is not available?
2 answers
PiKVM is an open source project which offers an internet KVM (keyboard-video-mouse) via a Raspberry Pi. It comprises an HDMI capture capability (also usable with VGA via adapters) which can be viewed on a web page. Keypresses and mouse movements are then delivered to the target machine via a simulated USB keyboard and mouse. Additionally it can present as a simulated USB DVD drive or USB stick to provide boot media to install or recover an OS. It can also control the target PC power via a connection to the buttons header on the motherboard (simulating pressing the PC's power or reset buttons).
The project has official PiKVM modules which comprise all of the hardware necessary to make this connection, which cost about $150 plus accessories (cases etc). Alternatively it's possible to build your own for a lower cost, using an HDMI to CSI module ($30) and some cables. Or there are some Chinese clones of the official modules (cheaper, but not contributing back to the project).
Once you have the hardware, you just need to flash the PiKVM SD card image and the Pi will boot up straight into the web KVM, at which point you can visit its IP address in a browser and be able to control your target machine. This requires no cooperation from the target machine, so full access to BIOS and any other non-networked settings are available.
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I tend to use a keyboard and a video capture card - I run a ~5 dollar one off aliexpress that looks a little like this.
HDMI goes into one end, you plug it into an available USB port, and it acts as a 'webcam' streaming the output of the PC its plugged into. You can use suitable adaptors for VGA and such to HDMI if its an older machine.
Practically, it turns 'any' laptop into a monitor and
There's also 'passthrough' models for when you need both capture and to plug into a monitor - but other than cost, if its going to be permanently there, the pi kvm and clones suggested by Pogo is a better idea.
In theory there's devices that will plug in PC to PC that emulate a keyboard as well but I've never found a 'universal' one - the one I have only works on windows clients and installs its own driver to work, which is less than optimal.
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