We’ve been writing about some low-cost KVM over IP solutions like the Sipeed NanoKVM Cube or GL.iNet Comet in recent times, but the JetKVM has been pointed out to me as another alternative with the benefit of having open-source software (which the NanoKVM also got last month).
The JetKVM was launched for $69 on Kickstarter last fall and the crowdfunding campaign was amazingly successful with over 4 million dollars raised from just over 30,000 backers. Key features include 1080p60 video with 30-60ms latency using H.264 encoding, mouse and keyboard emulation, remote management via JetKVM Cloud using WebRTC for accessing the devices from outside the LAN, and open-source software written in Golang on Linux.
JetKVM specifications:
- SoC – Rockchip RV1106G3
- CPU – Arm Cortex A7 @ 1.0GHz
- VPU – H264 & H265 hardware encoder
- Memory – 256 MB DDR3L on-chip
- Storage – 16 GB eMMC flash
- Display – 1.69-inch IPS capacitive touchscreen display with 280 x 240 resolution
- Video Input – mini HDMI port
- Networking – 100Mbps Ethernet RJ45 jack for host access
- USB – USB 2.0 Type-C port (480Mbps) for mouse and keyboard emulation
- Expansion – JetKVM RJ11 extension port, for instance, to connect an ATX control board or DC power control board
- Power Supply – 5V via USB Type-C port (the same used for mouse and keyboard emulation)
- Dimensions – Fits in 60 x 43 x 31 mm volume
The JetKVM ships with a mini HDMI to HDMI cable for video, a USB-C to USB-A cable for emulation, and a USB-C power/data splitter in case the power from the target is not enough and a separate 5V power supply, like a phone charger, is needed.
It runs a Linux 5.10 image built with Buildroot. Four main software components are available on GitHub:
- System Image – The Linux-based operating system running BusyBox in user space.
- KVM Runtime – The core application written in Go handling the device functionality.
- Local UI – The web dashboard you interact with through the device’s local IP address
- Cloud API & UI – The cloud services, including the API and web dashboard, used for remote access and management.
I can also see the firmware for the ATX and DC power control boards there. Some documentation is available on the website, but they managed to write it without a single screenshot of the web dashboard… However, the company sent a few samples to various YouTubers last year, and I took the screenshot below from Jeff Geerling’s video review of the JetKVM.
Besides the documentation, the website is more or less empty. They still take orders from Kickstarter even though the crowdfunding campaign itself was completed last December, and (most) backers already received their reward(s).
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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