sicutdeux@blog:~/links$cat i-tested-every-ip-kvm-in-my-homelab.md
I tested every IP KVM in my Homelab
---
source_url:
source_name:
www.jeffgeerling.com
published:
2026-06-08
status:
published
---
High end server hardware has this feature built-in (HP's ILO, Dell's iDRAC, or IPMI), but not everyone has access to server motherboards. For the rest of us, there's now an explosion of sub-$50 to $400 IP KVM options, each with different tradeoffs.
comprehensive hands-on comparison of IP KVMs from PiKVM down to budget alternatives. geerling tests the practical cases where remote desktop/VNC fall short—benchmarking without resource overhead, accessing locked/powered-off systems, BIOS-level control. real talk on security: these are network doors. needs vendor trust, updates, firewalling. useful prior art review (PiKVM → BliKVM forks → GL-iNet variants) shows how open source becomes the foundation others build cheaper clones on. not hype, just tradeoff analysis: cost vs features vs software maturity vs whether you’re funding the original authors.