Find the perfect KVM Switch for a 10in Rack

[shawngmc]

I'm looking at building a mini rack, and I really want a KVM Switch on there - ideally to use with my JetKVM for remote access.

Must have Criteria:

• At least 4 ports, ideally 8+
• HDMI (vs. DP or VGA - requires fewer converters)
• Hotkey switching
• Less than 8.5" wide
• No special cables
• Not outrageously expensive - at $300, it starts to make sense to just get separate JetKVMs

Nice to have Criteria:

• EDID emulation (remembered or forced) - machines with a desktop OS wouldn't have to redetect the monitor
• RS232 Switching - in theory, this could be better than hotkey switching. Throw a Pi Zero on there with either a very simple webapp or CLI app, or possibly the JetKVM Serial Extension
• LAN Switching - in theory, this could be better than hotkey switching. In practice, vendor LAN implementations leave something to be desired (the something being any sort of decent security!)
• Less than 1.75" tall (1U)
• USB 3.0

So far, I'm looking at:

• Reyoten 8: 8 ports with Hotkey and USB3.0 in 1U... but no EDID, no RS232 make me wonder if I can do better
• CKLau 4: only 4 ports with Hotkey, EDID, and really small... but no RS232 and only USB 2.0... also, this brand's reputation isn't the best
• KCEVE 8: 8 ports, Hotkey... but USB 2.0, no EDID, no RS232? The Reyoten is likely a better option

Updates:

• I was taking 10in too literally - whoops!

[Yethal]

Pikvm v4 plus + pikvm switch is exactly 1U 10in

[shawngmc]

Pikvm v4 plus + pikvm switch is exactly 1U 10in

Hmm... The PiKVM V4 Plus is $350 alone, and the PiKVM switch is another $250.

It does check a lot of boxes - USB3.0, EDID emulation, standard cables - and that expandability is nice. But that's a pretty expensive solution - especially when JetKVM and GL.iNet Comet run about $100 each. Buying 3 more JetKVMs gives me a lot more flexibility since they can be split however I'd want. (Albeit without a physical KVM console, but I don't think that's the end of the world.)

It's a bummer, because PiKVM open source is worth supporting - but that pricing is just a bit hard to swallow.

[Yethal]

There's few more advantages such as physical atx integration for every host connected to the switch, the ability to power the entire thing (pikvm and multiple switches) using single power supply or a PoE splitter, or the lte modem support. I do agree that it's a pricy solution but it's really you get what you pay for situation