What is PiKVM used for?

PiKVM is a DIY IP-KVM based on Raspberry Pi that lets you control servers remotely, including BIOS access, virtual media and power control. It is a good fit for managing headless servers in a homelab and reinstalling an OS remotely.

Is PiKVM open source?

Yes. PiKVM is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at pikvm/pikvm.

Yes. PiKVM is open source, so the software itself is free to use.

Can I self-host PiKVM?

Yes. PiKVM can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What are some alternatives to PiKVM?

Similar open-source tools in the Infrastructure & Containers category include Umbrel, HomeDock OS and CasaOS. SaaS products in the same category include Amazon ECR, Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS.

Is PiKVM actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to PiKVM was on 21 September 2026. The project has 10k stars on GitHub.

PiKVM: open-source infrastructure & containers

About PiKVM

PiKVM is an open and inexpensive do-it-yourself IP-KVM built around a Raspberry Pi. It provides keyboard, video and mouse access to a server or workstation over the network, regardless of the health of its operating system or whether one is installed. You can configure the BIOS or reinstall an OS using a virtual CD/DVD or flash drive.

It can be built on Raspberry Pi 2, 3, 4, 5 and Zero2W boards, with full HD video via an HDMI-to-CSI bridge or a USB dongle. Video is delivered over WebRTC, H.264 over HTTP or MJPEG. The device emulates a USB keyboard and mouse, controls server power through ATX functions, and can be reached through a web UI or VNC. IPMI, Redfish and Wake-on-LAN are supported.

PiKVM runs a ready-made OS with a read-only filesystem, HTTPS and extensible authorization, and it monitors the health of the Pi and controls GPIO ports and USB relays. The software is licensed under GPL-3.0. Beyond DIY builds, the project also offers its own fully assembled V3 and V4 devices, with community help on Discord and a support forum.

Key features

Remote keyboard, video and mouse over IP
Virtual CD/DVD and flash drive images
ATX power control for connected servers
Web UI and VNC access
IPMI, Redfish and Wake-on-LAN support
Read-only OS built for Raspberry Pi

Good fit for

→Managing headless servers in a homelab
→Reinstalling an OS remotely

Tags: ip-kvm; raspberry-pi; remote-management; homelab; hardware; vnc; ipmi; self-hosted

PiKVM: questions and answers

What is PiKVM used for?: PiKVM is a DIY IP-KVM based on Raspberry Pi that lets you control servers remotely, including BIOS access, virtual media and power control. It is a good fit for managing headless servers in a homelab and reinstalling an OS remotely.
Is PiKVM open source?: Yes. PiKVM is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at pikvm/pikvm.
Is PiKVM free?: Yes. PiKVM is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host PiKVM?: Yes. PiKVM can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What are some alternatives to PiKVM?: Similar open-source tools in the Infrastructure & Containers category include Umbrel, HomeDock OS and CasaOS. SaaS products in the same category include Amazon ECR, Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS.
Is PiKVM actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to PiKVM was on 21 September 2026. The project has 10k stars on GitHub.