PiKVM-A8

From Geekworm Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

PiKVM PCIe, PiKVM-A8
PiKVM-A8 Parts
X630-A8 packing list
PiKVM-A8 connection digram
PiKVM-A8: X630+X630-A8 for Pi 4
X630-A8
PiKVM-A8


READ ME

Refer to the below picture, the I2S cable of the KVM-A8 should be reverse line sequence. If you receive a line that is co-directional, please change it to the correct direction,or attach order number to contact us via email(support@geekworm.com).

Right I2S Cable for KVM-A8

Update History

X630-A8 (The core expansion shield of this kit) was upated from V1.7 to V1.8 in October 2023. But amazon shop still have old version inventory, please ask for the version before purchase if you need new version.

  1. Support WatchDog
  2. RTC function can be used directly, no need to configure.

Overview

PiKVM-A8 is a member of the PiKVM [1]family. It only supports Raspberry Pi 4 Model B. It is directly inserted into the computer case as a PCI card. That is, you can put a computer into your computer. It does not require additional cables and is more convenient to use.

The PiKVM-A8 is composed of X630-A8 and X630:

04-X630-A8-IMG-4940-w1000.jpg

  • X630 HDMI to CSI-2 Board (for video capture)
  • X630-A8 HAT Board (for POE, RTC, ATX Control power in etc)

Note: There is no I2S Audio In connector on the X630-A8 for the first production batch, the I2S Audio In connector I2S-Audio-Connector.png was added since March 2023!!!

How to Power

  • POE power (Recommend, but it's expensive because you need a poe switch, the poe switch must support 802.3af.)
  • Power Input: 5.1Vdc +/-5% , ≥3A (Power Via USB Type-C port of X630-A8)

How to Power PiKVM-A8

How to Cool

X630-A8 (PiKVM-A8 PCIe version) equipped with a active cooling fan(3007 5V PH2.0) that cool your raspberry pi;

Packing List

* 1 x X630 HDMI to CSI-2 Module

  • * 1 x FPC cable (Length: 5cm)
  • * 4 x M2.5x6mm Screws

* 1 x X630-A8 V1.7 Expansion Board

  • * 1 x FPC cable (Length: 5cm)
  • * 1 x ATX Control Cable (Length: 52cm)
  • * 1 x Motherboard Internal USB 2.0 9-pin Female Header to TYPE-C USB OTG Cable (Length: 50cm)
  • * 1 x USB3.0 IDC to TYPE-C (Length: 45cm)
  • * 1 x Standard height PCIe Add-in Card I/O Bracket
  • * 4 x M2.5x12mm F/F Spacers
  • * 8 x M2.5x6mm Screws

* 1x X630-A8-CAB V1.1 Camera Adapter board

  • * 2 x PM3x6mm Screws

* 1 X HDMI cable (30cm length)

Hardware Parameters

X630-A8-IMG-4942-Interface-700px.jpg

Installation Video

PiKVM-A8 Installation Video: https://youtu.be/BV8UkSgqWLo

Connection Diagram

Overall connection diagram:

06-X630-A8-connection.jpg

Wiring of computer front panel IO socket

(Use ASUS motherboard for example, different computers maybe different)

PC Panel

How to connect OLED

X630-A8-OLED.jpg

User Manual

First you need to make sure your hardware connections are correct, please refer to the above video and diagram below.

Important Note: If you receive and are using the black 10pin I2S audio cable, the I2S cable maybe in the wrong wire connection. Refer to below photo. Please do not use the wrong I2S cable for KVM-A8, you need to change the I2S cable to right direction to use or attach order number to contact us via email(support@geekworm.com).

Right I2S Cable for KVM-A8

OS Download & Installation

1. Firstly, need prepair a micro sd card, a minimum 16 Gb class 10 memory card is recommended.

2. Download an appropriate OS image for the PiKVM, the url link is: https://pikvm.org/download/

We recommend that you use the 'V3 Pre-Assembled' version, and this image includes OLED display configuration.
For Raspberry Pi 4, please use PiKVM V3 platform. Only compatible with PiKVM V3 OS, NOT support V4
PiKVM V3 platform

3. Flash it to a microSD memory card by following the simple instructions or Official installation tutorial

4. Power the device, then open explore to login the pikvm web ui.

Enable RTC

Only need to configure the RTC function for the X630-A8 V1.7 version, X630-A8 V1.8 don't need.

Due to different RTC chips with official PiKVM hardware, you still need to configure RTC to make RTC work normally.

Firstly, insert the C1220 button battery. run the following command in web terminal window:

1. switch to 'root' user

su root

then type the password, and the default password is 'root' also.

2. Switch OS to writable mode

rw

3. Edit the /boot/config.txt file, and change line dtoverlay=i2c-rtc,pcf8563 to dtoverlay=i2c-rtc,ds1307 (due to use the different RTC chip).

sudo nano /boot/config.txt

Then save & reboot the device;

4.Test & setting RTC, write&read the time of Raspberry Pi to RTC DS1307

date
sudo hwclock -w
sudo hwclock -r

5. Swith OS to readonly mode

ro

Enable OLED display

Run the following command in web terminal window to enable OLED display:

rw
systemctl enable --now kvmd-oled 
ro

If you are using PiKVM OS V3 Pre-Assembled, the OLED configuration is already pre-installed, you can ignore this step.

Enable hdmi audio

Refer to Enable pikvm hdmi audio

FAQ

Q: Why PiKVM-A3/A4/A8 does not show the video only display No Signals?

A:

  1. Please check the hardware connection. Double-check that the video capture device is connected correctly and tightly.
  2. Make sure you use the original HDMI port. If your desktop only has a VGA display port, there may be no video signal when you use VGA to HDMI adapter, and there is no way to solve this; However, you can try to lower the resolution and restart the PC to test, but the probability of success is very low.
  3. Change the HDMI cable to test.
  4. Test the X630 separately to check if there is HDMI output.
  5. Some laptops do not output any signal until you switch the output (usually via the FN + and an F5 key on the keyboard).
  6. Your computer maybe enter sleep mode, please exit sleep mode.


Q. How to do if PiKVM-A8 hangs up and has to be started manually?

A. The PiKVM-A8 hardware itself does not cause the system to reboot, and Pikvm-A8 shield is controled by raspberry pi 4;

Please ensure these keys:

1. The PiKVM OS version is correct;

2. Check & use a high-quality power supply;

3. Whether the raspberry pi 4 temperature is too high;

4. Contact us via email to support@geekworm.com


Q. I want to control several pc power. Is it possible with one PiKVM-A8

A. No, one PiKVM-A8 can only control one pc. Please refer to X680 4-port IP KVM Switch.


Q: How to login?

A: Input the XX.XX.XX.XX ip address on the explorer, then input user: admin, the default password is 'admin' also.


Q: How to switch root user?

A:

su root
#default password  is root also

References

  1. PiKVM © belongs to https://pikvm.org
Add your comment
Geekworm Wiki welcomes all comments. If you do not want to be anonymous, register or log in. It is free.


Anonymous user #8

2 months ago
Score 0++
Hello together is the fan directly connected to 5V or is there a way to enable or disable the fan. The original fan started making noises, since it is only needed when accessing the KVM it would make sense to make it switchable.

Anonymous user #9

17 days ago
Score 0++
I would also like to be able to control the fan. It is currently louder than the PC being controlled.

Anonymous user #7

5 months ago
Score 0++

INFO --- => [ERR] [src/audio.c:_pcm_thread:190] == ustreamer/audio -- Fatal: Can't capture PCM f>

Oct 09 04:46:51 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Pipeline closed

Oct 09 04:46:52 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Detected host audio

Oct 09 04:46:52 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Pipeline configured on 48000Hz; capturing ...

Oct 09 04:47:03 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => [ERR] [src/audio.c:_pcm_thread:190] == ustreamer/audio -- Fatal: Can't capture PCM f>

Oct 09 04:47:03 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Pipeline closed

Oct 09 04:47:04 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Detected host audio

Oct 09 04:47:04 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Pipeline configured on 48000Hz; capturing ...

Walker

5 months ago
Score 0++
you can contact us via our email: support@geekworm.com we will do our best to solve your problem

Anonymous user #7

5 months ago
Score 0++

Is audio over hdmi supported on this model? It is supported by pikvm, and everything looks right but sound doesn't come through. I checked the Janus journal file and noted a repeating pattern of the following:

INFO --- => [ERR] [src/audio.c:_pcm_thread:190] == ustreamer/audio -- Fatal: Can't capture PCM f> Oct 09 04:46:51 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Pipeline closed Oct 09 04:46:52 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Detected host audio Oct 09 04:46:52 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Pipeline configured on 48000Hz; capturing ... Oct 09 04:47:03 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => [ERR] [src/audio.c:_pcm_thread:190] == ustreamer/audio -- Fatal: Can't capture PCM f> Oct 09 04:47:03 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Pipeline closed Oct 09 04:47:04 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Detected host audio

Oct 09 04:47:04 pikvm kvmd-janus[522]: kvmd.apps.janus.runner INFO --- => == ustreamer/audio -- Pipeline configured on 48000Hz; capturing ...

Walker

5 months ago
Score 0++
Hello, PKVM-A8 supports audio in hardware, but we have not tested it in software. Although there is an audio interface on x630-A8, the current product list does not come with a matching audio cable.

Anonymous user #6

5 months ago
Score 0++
Is there a way to use the NVME X876 module with the KVM-A8 kit?

Walker

5 months ago
Score 0++
Hello, we have not tested PIKVM-A8 and X876 used together. You can refer to X652, This product may meet your needs.

Anonymous user #5

6 months ago
Score 0++
Anyone know if this device will work with an orange pi 4 compute module? It is far more cost effective.

Walker

6 months ago
Score 0++
Hello, KVM-A8 only supports Raspberry Pi 4B and does not support orange pi 4 compute module.

Anonymous user #4

7 months ago
Score 0++
Why is the A8 so much more than the A3? It has less parts and no case!

Walker

7 months ago
Score 0++
KVM-8 is designed for user convenience, it is directly inserted into the computer case as a PCI card. So, you can put a computer into your computer. It does not require additional cables and is more convenient to users

Anonymous user #4

6 months ago
Score 0++
Yes, I can see that - the A8 is the one I'd prefer. But it has less cables, no case, one less PCB, so it's cheaper for you to make... but it's 20% more expensive to buy! It's made me not want to buy it

Walker

6 months ago
Score 0++
Hello, KVM-A8 may be different from KVM-A3 in terms of chip and composition. So the cost of KVM-A8 is higher

Anonymous user #2

8 months ago
Score 0++

Hello, What is the polarity of the "TO PANEL" connector? Is the pin on the side closest to the board positive or negative?

Sorry if I missed the description. Thanks in advance.

Harry

8 months ago
Score 0++

What is the polarity of the "TO PANEL" connector?

Answer: The end of the cable from the PANEL will have an identifier


Is the pin on the side closest to the board positive or negative?

Answer: This depends on your computer motherboard, please refer to your motherboard manual, you can find your motherboard manual on the Internet

Anonymous user #2

8 months ago
Score 0++

Harry, thanks for your reply.

I was writing vaguely. I was understanding the polarity of the LEDs on the case. I couldn't figure out which pin of the "TO PANEL" connector on the X630-A8 board should have positive polarity. But it resolved. I looked at the packing list. The polarity was written on the silk on the side that was hidden after assembly.

Thank you.

Harry

8 months ago
Score 0++
You are welcome ^_^

Anonymous user #3

8 months ago
Score 0++
This was kind of driving me nuts, too. The diagram doesn't really show the polarity. To add what Anonymous user #2 said for anyone who comes here looking for the same thing we were. The top row is positive, and the bottom row is negative.

Anonymous user #1

8 months ago
Score 0++

Hello,

In your example with the Asus motherboard the connections with the power switch and the reset switch are reversed. Why?

Walker

8 months ago
Score 0++
Hello, we don't know what kind of interface inside the Asus motherboard, this may be related to the type of computer