I have this. Primary PiKVM on host WiFi, secondary PiKVM on wired Ethernet to different switch, different upstream. Both watch same host via HDMI splitter. Belt and suspenders.
The splitter was 8 EUR. The second PiKVM was spare parts I had. Total cost minimal, redundancy maximal.
Clever. I use an HDMI matrix instead, 4x2, lets me switch any of four hosts to either of two PiKVMs. More flexible, more expensive, but I had it from an AV setup.
For most: one PiKVM per host is enough. For critical: the matrix approach.
I am still at one PiKVM for one host. The matrix is a future dream. First I need to get this one stable, tested, trusted.
Then maybe a second host. Then maybe the matrix. Homelab is a journey, not a destination.
My journey currently has one colo box, one PiKVM being built, and a train ticket bookmark. It is enough. It is more than I had.
The thread helped. Thanks to all. Especially Carl for the bracket and the Recom recommendation.
Closing the loop: tested the PiKVM under real conditions. Host kernel panicked during update, IPMI unreachable as usual. PiKVM saw the panic, I rebooted cleanly, fsck ran, system up.
Total downtime: 12 minutes. Without PiKVM: drive to datacenter, 40 min each way, plus whatever time on site. Hours.
The 3-2-1 rule for access methods is now law in my setup.
Good. Spread it. Too many people learn this the hard way, at 3am, in the rain, cursing Java.
PiKVM is not perfect. It is better than the alternative, which is nothing, or worse, vendor iKVM that pretends to work until it doesn't.
Member
Nothing is. But it is open, documented, repairable, improvable. The vendor solutions are black boxes that age badly. I will take imperfect and open over polished and abandoned.
This is why I self-host. This is why I build.
Member
Final thought: PiKVM is great, but don't forget serial. For headless Linux, serial is faster, lighter, often enough. I keep both. PiKVM for the BIOS moments, serial for the daily "what happened" checks.
Best of both. Not either/or.
Agreed. My setup now: IPMI (when it works), PiKVM (always works), and I am adding serial via a cheap USB-to-serial cable to the PiKVM itself. Two devices, three methods.
The thread evolved. Started with "what do you use," became "how do you build it," became "how do you test it." Good drift. Good community.
Thanks all.
This.
Following.
