BLIKVM is an open-source KVM over IP software that helps you manage servers or workstations remotely regardless of the health of the target system, and currently working with Raspberry Pi CM4 hardware, a Raspberry Pi HAT, or a PCIe board, and a new model based on MangoPi’s Allwinner H616 CPU module is coming soon.
We’ve previously written about the Raspberry Pi-based PiKVM DIY project, followed by the PiKVM v3 Raspberry Pi HAT from the same project, and now I can see there’s a CM4-based PiKVM V4 that was on Kickstarter last month and raised over $800,000… You’d think this kind of system would be rather a niche market, but there’s even demand to have a similar open-source project called BLIKVM offering many of the same features since it’s based on PiKVM, except for the option to use a PCIE card fitted with a CM4 module.
Highlights of the BLIKVM project:
- Support for Raspberry Pi 4B SBC, Raspberry Pi CM4, and PCIe card.
- Video capture through HDMI, DVI, or VGA interfaces
- Keyboard and mouse forwarding
- Controls the server power using ATX functions
- Fullscreen mode
- Access via Web UI
- Support multi-language switching
- Health monitoring of the Raspberry Pi Pi
- Serial console port
- Misc – I2C display connector, PWM FAN controller, Real-Time Clock (RTC)
- Power Supply
- 5V via USB-C port or header
- PoE supported
You’ll find the software and scripts for BLIKVM on GitHub, while the detailed documentation is hosted on Blicube. They also have a table comparing various hardware running PIKVM, BLIKVM, or TinyPilot software.
| FEATURE NAME | BliKVM CM4 | BliKVM Pi4 HAT | BliKVM PCIe | BliKVM PCIe(PA) | PiKVM V3 HAT | PiKVM V3 HAT (PA) | TinyPilot Voyager 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (without tax + shipping) | 67$ | 67$ | 111$ | 206$ | 160$ | 250$ | 400$ |
| Serial Console | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ATX controls | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| FAN PWM controls | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| OLED | 128x64 | 128x32 | 128x64 | 128x64 | 128x32 | 128x32 | No |
| POE | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, but you can use poe splitter | No, but you can use poe splitter | No (optional $59) |
| Real Time Clock (pcf8563) | ds1307 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| USB Power/Data Splitter | Yes(built-in) | Yes (external) | Yes(built-in) | Yes(built-in) | Yes(built-in) | Yes(built-in) | Yes(built-in) |
| TC358743 CSI Video capture | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Case | Yes (steel - black) | Yes (steel - blue and black) | No | No | No | Yes (steel - black) | Yes (3d print black) |
| Dedicated software devs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pi4 or CM4 2GB Included | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| 32GB SD Card | No | Yes (OS included) | Yes (OS included) | Yes (OS included) | No | Yes (OS included) | Yes (OS included) |
| HDMI backpower mitigation | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| HDMI Passthru EDID dongle | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
You can check our GeerLing Engineering video review of the BLIKVM CM4 model to better understand its capabilities and what can be done with it.
Blicube sells all three versions of the hardware on Aliexpress with the BliKVM CM4 going for $68.32 (or $146.30 with all accessories including a CM4), the PiKVM v3 BliKVM HAT kits for $96.40, and the BliKVM PCIe for $118.50.
As mentioned in the introduction, there’s also a more compact, and possibly cheaper, model in the works that features Mango Pi’s tiny mCore-H616 Allwinner H616 CPU module.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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I bought one of the blue boxes off AliExpress last Christmas, but I swear it is a CM4 unit, because it was a 2GB unit, which is only suitable for testing (not running) my Axzez 5x SATA & my DeskPi Super6C boards – unfortunately I physically can’t get the system to check ATM
How does this control ATX power?
Yes.