Options for portable (laptop style) KVM?
Hello,
Does anybody happen to know of a portable KVM that is in a laptop style form factor? As in a clamshell design, where you flip up the monitor and it has a keyboard, just like a laptop, except it has no real functionality to it.
Instead, it allows you to plug in a server's monitor output/HDMI/USB (for keyboard/mouse), and since the device has it's own built-in battery, you're good to go.
Basically it would be like a laptop (monitor/keyboard) except it's just a dumb display w/keyboard and touchpad.
Any idea if these exist? If so, could you tell me of some? I've tried searching everywhere including Amazon but I couldn't find it and I think I'm searching for possible the wrong keywords.
Thanks!
Posted Dec 3, 2023, 8:47 AM UTC
610
2 things I can think of that kind of fit the bill.
Nexdock (https://nexdock.com/), basically a laptop without the guts designed to work with Samsung DeX. I believe there are also similar designs available on Aliexpress for cheaper. Of course these are designed to take a signal in via USB-C so you'd need to adapt to that and I don't know how difficult that would be.
GPD Pocket 3 (https://www.gpd.hk/gpdpocket3) This is a mini-laptop but, according to the site, will support a KVM module that does exactly what you're talking about but this is a full on laptop that just happens to also support KVM abilities as well and, based on the IGG pricing, it's going to cost $$$.
Hey there, thanks for the response!
The GPD is actually what gave me the idea. I would imagine that what I'm looking for might be not that uncommon as I could imagine it being very useful for system/server admins to have something they can easily transport around for KVM. That's basically what I'm looking for.
I've never met a server admin who did not have a full laptop TBH - normally with different browsers (inc the odd VM) to cope with the quirks in the supplier software (older HP blades being a real pain to use).
Commercially the larger set ups I've been involved in often had rack mounted KVMs with a monitor / keyboard in slide out trays that connected to a set of servers (full racks in some cases). Other kit had out of band management tools normally over ethernet (though some networking gear still has serial for command line access) and needed a full system or simple web browser.
You could look to repackage a PI based KVM - eBay occasionally have older Pi laptop cases and there are a few DIY projects floating around.
Economies of scale keep KVMs at a premium and I think you have a niche product that would not really be needed for professionals I'm afraid as contractors just push the cost back onto the customer as part of the initial rack build and would not want to scramble around the back of a working rack plugging bits in and out for maintenance jobs.