Goodbye IPMI - Blicube BliKVM V4 Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ธ.ค. 2023
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Right around a year ago, I reviewed the BliKVM v2, which aimed to replace or add IPMI features to any computer. The only downside was the nearly $300 asking price... but now we have the BliKVM v4, which has all of the same great features and functionality, but is now just half the cost.
But first... What am I drinking???
Honestly, I wish I wasn't drinking Green Hundreds from Matchless Brewing. AVOID.
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Check out the Blicube BliKVM v4 on AliExpress: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeH...
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Afaik the "Blikvm KVM switch" is a normal KVM switch that is also controllable from the PiKVM project too with some manual configuration of the buttons in the GUI. the KVM switch has a "wired remote" that is just a serial connection so you just connect that to the pikvm/blikvm
"It tastes like I've bitten into a piece of rotten fruit and then rinced my mouth out by sucking on pennies"
They should use that in their promotional material. Pure gold
the KVM switch is just a branded version of the "XH-HK4401 4-port HDMI USB KVM Switch" (and in the PiKVM wiki with instructions to make it work)
Sorry, don't see the similarity.
@@Vic-ky3cc you need your eyes checked then. It's the same device in the same chassis with a different name printed on it. Also on the PiKVM wiki there are instructions to make any pikvm work with this device so they did zero integration on the device firwmare itself
This was a product I saw Tom preview on his podcast and was immediately interested.
Glad to hear you are having a positive experience.
Insane, life changing device!!! Thank you for the excellent review. Just bought 10 BliKVM devices, just what I was looking for!!
If they did a 8 port 1u rack mountable version. This would be amazing
Couldnt anyone just make their own with a mini pc and a switch?
I was wondering why the beer in the glass wasn't going down. Loved the description at then end. Oh, and did you say something about computers before that?
Looking forward a 2nd part of this vid about KVM a couple of different machines
Whoa! This thing is money! Add a standard KVM to this and you could connect to multiple machines right just without power right (USB/HDMI?)? Crazy! Can't wait til their KVM is available.
Agreed! When the kvm comes out, take my money!!!
I did the same thing with a pikvm and the Aimos KVM. The Aimos KVM has a hotkey that switches between computers, so typing the hotkey from the pikvm switches machines for you.
The KVM of my dreams is my ancient Cyclades KVM/NET 32. It supports four IP users and two wired console users at once, and connects to 32 systems via cat5 pigtails that are still inexpensive on ebay. The drawback is that it requires a lot of trickery to use the IP portion if you're using anything newer than IE5. I found resources and built a script to use the KVM well enough for myself in my homelab however. ;-) Caveat emptor: it's VGA-only though it does have USB and PS/2 server dongles.
That first sip taste face...more entertaining than the old "Bitter Beer Face!" used for Keystone Light commercials
Nice! Talk about timing as I was adding the v3 version to my chart yesterday. My local store recently started getting Pi 4b’s back in stock so I figured it’s about time to get KVM over IP going for my remote location backup server.
What OS is this running though? Is it still open source? Can it be reflashed with the proper PiKVM? I feel like that’ll be more future proof than BliCubes own.
at least for my v3 BliKVM, I prefer PiKVM OS
BliKVM hardware supports BliKVM and PiKVM software. I would consider that more future proof..
Has anyone seen the new BliKVM GUI?
@@mofoq Yep. PiKVM OS is awesome. I have a PiKVM V3 and V4 for my home lab. Cool to see now we have more hardware options to run PiKVM OS.
@@Darkk6969 So you’ve got the BliKVM v4 Allwinner H616 and you run it with the normal PiKVM OS?
Owner of a V4 here. You can install pikvm to this device but experience is not great, some functionality is lost (like using GUI to mount ISO/BIN files, atx controls are not directly supported so there is a shitty workaround for that). Overall, I would not recommend this device if you dont mind using it with their extremely basic software.
The AliExpress BliKVMN v4 unit is reported to be no longer available. In Canada, it is $255 which is expensive.
yep, seems like they ran out. This must have been a pretty small production run...
I am an early adaptor of one of these. Their software is a deal breaker, I am surprised you didnt mention any problems with it. You can use pikvm with it but that too breaks couple of features and work arounds are janky. After having to deal with this device for over 6 months, I personally would not get any KVM device that doesnt run pikvm.
You got a thumbs up just for the beer review! LOL!!
I just realized youtube stopped recommending me your videos 4 months ago
I shall buy this next year.
Does this new V4 model not have a web terminal access like the older models?? It was really useful to be able to ssh into the BliKVM box remotely from the web server, but I don't see that option with the new redesigned web interface ...
Sweet shirt!
can POE and USB-C and or barrel jack DC power be attached at the same time and power fail over power in cases of power source failure?
Their kvm switch for 4 PCs is now on their aliexpress store but currently out of stock.
Random, probably fairly unique usecase. But a question i'd like to propose, as i'm really keen to get one of this (having previously looked at PiKVM and found its availability and cost prohibitive) as per the video.
Absoutely agree that this KVM tool is incredible for homelab and working with legacy servers. My homelab servers specfically are really old and only have VGA output.
The usecase i have is all of the display outputs are VGA. This KVM is HDMI only, do you know if it will support VGA to HDMI input converter? (with usb aux power of course) I ask this because i know when i use my 2nd Gaming Monitor over HDMI via VGA it complains out of signal range and wont display. I have to hook this up to my TV instead for it to give me a display.
you can make a pikvm based on a raspberry pi 2w for less than $100
@@giusn yeah but surely you still need the hat?
@@fooby1420 you don't. Actually I build a pikvm only using stuff I already had lying around(a pi2, an arduino mini, a usb capture card and a breadboard with jumpers)
@@giusnah thats useful to know. Unfortunalty i have litterally zero in bits hanging around i could use to make shift one. Other than this iDRAC 6 Enterprise card that i hate with a passion.
But bringing back to my question, do you know if either piKVM or this would operate with VGA to HDMI? Or is it just gonna have to be a case of buy it and test.
What do you think about using this to control a mac mini? I am looking for something to help troubleshoot my parent's computer.
As much as I love what the pi has done for computing, the shortages, failed implementation of USB-C, and the recent move to mini/micro HDMI has very much made me lose interest in them. Very glad to see people moving good complete products away from being based on the pi just because it exists.
Nice review :)
Can Power control (on/off/reset) be made to work with a beelink? Asking for a friend. Thx
Have you had any success with a multiport switch after this video.
Love our content. Keep up the great work!
I want that IPKVM with the 4 port switch... as soon as you find it i will get one!!! lol... BTW best beer review ever!!! lol
Very cool product, I had that older model in my mind since your last video. Minor bit of pedantry though: the CPU manufacturer is allwinner, not aliwinner
Props for reviewing a product without actually installing it into your rack!
Does the KVM switch have any options for power control for multiple systems? I’ve seen it work with PIKVM but seems useless without power control
it can use USB HID relay boards, like the PiKVM (as the software is just a reskinned PiKVM)
Thought that maybe it might be a contender for the PiKVM V4 full version. Looks like it lacks a number of things.
i have the blikvm! i bought it from china when Pi's were super high cost!
does it support 4K only @ 30fps or 4K60 is also possible?
The fact that it's made to be rack mounted alone is worth a lot. My server setup is in a closet in a wooden rack I knocked up and this is something I can just mount into the rack. And a good Saison beer is hard to find. Only met a few I like and only two I'd drink again.
Discussions on their Discord also talk about them working on a bracket to allow mounting 4x v4s side-by-side in 1U.
Can someone explain the "BliKVM KVM Switch" controlling up to 4 computers by IP?
It's beautiful to see how stuff is starting to move away from the Raspberry after the shortage debacle
whats the TLDR why?
@@SummerSausage1 what
Double whammy. Covid strained supply chains. And everyone and their mother decided to build something with a Pi because it was a novelty thing, promoted by every tech creator under the sun. Regardless of how adequate the use case was. The rise of scalper tactics didn't help either. I do not remember a time when the Pi4 was in stock at my local supplier. Since it's announcement, it's always been with 3-4 weeks of lead time.@@SummerSausage1
@@SummerSausage1 COVID and scalpers is basically why there were shortages
@@SummerSausage1 There was a shortage of Raspberry Pis because supply chain issues destroyed their ability to meet market demand.
What is the power usage?
Most of my concerns around hardware from these companies surrounds the need to fortify firewall rules and monitor PCAPs for anything odd...
The first thing that popped into my head, I wouldn't let this thing touch the internet. Would make me actually setup a management vlan.
it's a device that has console access to your servers. If you don't trust it don't buy it
@@BKHD605 you should do that anyway for any such device
How does it compare to Wendell's KVMs at Level1 techs? Are they the devices you're looking for?
Wendell's KVM is designed for workstation, and has some pretty exacting standards for high resolution and refresh rates supported.
I want a KVM over IP that isn't thousands of dollars. Completely different device.
@@CraftComputing Thanks for responding and thanks for the content. That's a very fair assessment. Looking forward to the next update.
The vulture video was good, reminded me of thank you for smoking staf secene.
Bummer seems it’s currently not available on AliExpress, hope that temporarily.
Or heck they might already be working on v5 in a 1U after seeing Jeff’s video 😁
does it support other keyboard layouts (german?), i had a kvm and it was complete useless bc i couldnt enter or paste anything usefull into it... imported it from us for 400 or 500€ overall... xD
Rather than add a KVM off the back why not incorporate it? So you have a 4 port device that let's you power on/off all devices? I'm guessing that's v5
Real integrated IPMI nowadays is HTML5. At least what i know from f.e. recent supermicro boards. (H10/X10 and upwards)
Real IPMI also has some benefits, namely that you can monitor all sensors and shutdown/start the computer, press reset and so on.
Those addon-IPMI-stuff lacks all this stuff or you have to crimp some custom cables to make it work.
And for the additional 150$ i can get a ipmi-capable serverboard without problems.
It's a nice solution for older hardware or cheap hardware where you don't have IPMI as an option or maybe when you often move the KVM around to different PCs (as a solution to give your customers remote access on demand to their consumer-grade-servers)
This supports most of what you said. It can start and restart a system.
@@RaoulHira But you have to wire it somehow to your existint hardware buttons/mainboard. It's a hacky thing, not something you will show your customers.
you can't read sensors, check powerstate, check consumption of your PSUs etc... IPMI is tightly integrated in your server boards.
And when your IPMI doesn't support HTML5 and relies on Java, it's maybe time to get a new server altogether. No server i owned the last 8 years was missing HTML5-KVM in its ipmi.
Also the price... it's much cheaper to get it integrated.
Sure, you can use it as a mobile KVM-device for using on different equipment and switch regularly, it has it's place. And you can use it to control real low power consumer hardware misused as a server ;-)
Is Bli short for Blinky?
tell me about it, i'm just reneging with an old proliant ml110 with lo100, using java for the KVM -_-
Wait, if I understand correctly, with this, you can have 4 simultaneous remote access to different LAN servers through ethernet am I right ? Like a four channel parsec ?
Not quite. Access to one at a time.
Does it support ISO mounting remotely? I looked at the aliexpress page and didn't find that feature.
Yeah it does.
I hate that these always use hdmi instead of vga. And vga adaptors don't see low unusual resolutions.
i'd like something like this but for network switch usb console ports
This is how you do advertisement on your content. Bravo.
Jeff, literally you have the best ads.. I even watch them! Congrats my friend, you rock dude! 🎉
EDIT: Fantastic video too, and looks like a revolutionary KVM as well, props!
GeekWorm recently put out their X680 which is CM4 powered and has a built in 4 port HDMI switch....pretty solid so far, but no video passthrough 😢
Dayum it has power control for all 4 devices and an M.2 slot too, looks very good even if it's a little more expensive
But it's not rackmountable, what a silly oversight.
Is it possible to review an HM76 chipset (3rd gen Intel Mobile) motherboard?
I have a Toshiba satellite C855 that got upgraded from an i3 3120m to an i7 3612qm. Because there is no demand for such an old piece of silicon, I plan on repurposing it. I found a motherboard from PCWINMAX and ASUS VC60
Won't happen, it's 12 year old low end stuff
sounds like you got a real funky beer .... lol.
Can I install custom software on this thing? Like Tailscale?
yes it's the whole point. It's running Arch Linux
Another thing to add to my xmas list perhaps?
it's a present for the servers
I do love a saison to be honest, specifically because you never really know what you're getting. I've had barely palatable saison's, all the way to, well, the best beer I've ever had, which was a short run from a local spot, which was an absolute carnival in your mouth.
I will say, if you really like hops and the bitter/vegital/floral/citrus thing, and you want it in spades, a saison isn't really a great place to look for that. Personally, I love malt, probably because of my childhood infatuation with breakfast cereal, and my mother's refusal to purchase it for us (which looking back, it was incredible to have eggs and toast and some breakfast meat product every day, god bless that woman).
What's keeping you from using an off the shelf KVM like Wendell's L1T KVM or a cheapo IOGEAR?
Those are KVM switches. This is a KVM-over-IP
@@marcogenovesi8570 That is blatantly obvious. If you watch the video he goes into how blicube has a KVM switcher that allows you to hook this IP KVM up to multiple systems and how he'd like to see that implemented into a 1U formfactor. My questions isn't why don't you just use a KVM switcher versus this product, because that's obvious. My question is will this blicube IP-KVM work with with other non-blicube KVM switches.
@@Chad_at_Big_CAT_Networking sorry it's not obvious, there is plenty of people that don't know the difference between KVMs and I don't know you.
As for your question it can work with others if they have key combination switching or if they have a usb-to-serial port (like the blicube kvm switcher) or through GPIO. You can configure the keypress/serial/buttons in pikvm software. See the pikvm wiki
@@marcogenovesi8570 I'm hoping he does a part 2 of this video showing exactly what you described. I ordered one of these months ago, but won't be able to test it until I get back stateside. I'm surprised CC or L1T haven't already done a video on it. Both have had great reviews of the device.
I really wish someone would make this in a form factor that slots into a 5.25in bay. Except for one machine, _All_ of my servers in my rack have at least one free 5.25in bay.
perhaps 3D print some brackets?
@@TRD_2zz The current 1U (?) form factor looks like it's too thick for a direct slot-in. However, it looks like you could gut one and mount the board to a new enclosure. You might have to lose the LCD though.
those are some pretty old servers or some odd atx cases
@@marcogenovesi8570 Kinda', but not really. Epyc CPUs In Rosewill and iStar branded chassis. My _oldest_ chassis is the only one that doesn't have a 5.25in bay. Even my 2u case has 5.25in bays.
How do i power on several servers with only one device?
ethernet relay board connected to power on pins?
Here's the proper sultion for the F11 issue 2 ways first hold fn the keep tapping f11 or go to setting keyboard check the box use standard keyboard that way if you want to adjust vol you use f11 or f12 with fn key down as a I.T guy I switched to the standard layout fixes that issue its just a simple check box on the updated macpos go to settings keyboard then keyboard shortcuts then left panel select function keys enable F1 F2 key turn on that toggle you now have full keyboard access to adjust volume just hold fn then f11 or f12 this gives you full access for task that need the function keys
Nice, but doesn't handle VGA, so it can't be really used for my old servers.
Just use a VGA to HDMI adapter?
@@KS-wr8ubyou can only do that conversion with a powered logic device. Vga is analog. HDMI Is digital.
@@RowanHawkins thats why cheap as chips VGA to HDMI adapters come with these extra power cable,job done, works fine.
@@RowanHawkins yes, the vga to hdmi adapters require aux power, but they do exist and work
FUNKY!
No retro games in the background 😢.
Nevertheless, great video anyway.
I have this device and its only 100 mbit ethernet. The product specifications state as much. Is there a different version, did they change it after the release of the video or was it just a honest mistake @craft computing?
Waiting for a revised PCIe version.
Which features you are expecting?
@@audreydavis6533 I would assume this box but as a pcie card.
That's pretty much my reaction to any sour tbh
.
yeah the next thing they need is a switchboard to switch around the power/reset/whatever buttons over and control 4+ systems.
If they integrated a KVM into it as Geoff said, they could also have those connections integrated. That would be a "shut up and take my money" moment from me.
@@ParanoidMarvinMk2 there is Geekworm X680 that does that, although it requires a raspi CM4
I felt like I could smell and taste that beer just with that expression. ohf.
Pretty cool. Wish I could justify this for my setup. But, I have a nice little 24U rack with a KVM sitting on top of it for local access outside of the OS. Any in OS stuff I just use SSH. Pretty cool though.
BTW, I am sipping on a glass of Chattanooga Bottled In Bond 2018 bourbon. Neat with a couple metal chillers.
someone reply to me when it available again i rather not buy a scalped one!
Also for those wondering it apparently does work on lvl1 tech products which is dope
Now this looks Fantastic!
My homelab servers are in my basement. I am getting older and would like to not have to go down that long and steep staircase to power off and power on a server, or to do something on those servers Pre-boot.
Given that I already do all of my day-to-day admin over SSH, I'm much more likely to invest $100 in a decommissioned serial terminal server than any sort of graphical terminal solution.
do you access the server's BIOS interface and reinstall the OS through serial only too?
Jeff Geerling has now disowned you.
Nice for homelab, but sad Datacenter Tech here... no VGA or Console - thats what all my customers want and I would love to replace this shitty old raritan java shit we have :/
(no, VGA to HDMI adapter I tried... most are shit/have no DPI Switches to emulate a speciffic resolution)
Interesting, the device is listed as no longer available on aliexpress. Sold out to views like you?
Few questions about this doesnt rhis random item from aliexpress cause security risk? You dont even know whst else is loaded on it or if theynwill ever do security updates forit
Secondly snyway yo get this working with dell, hp lenvoo server that dont have rge standard atx pin out for power switch, reset etc.
okay but the v3 seems to be half the cost of the v4. how is that one?
the v3 needs a raspberry pi 4 CM or normal (not included)
Good KVM, bad beer LMAO
No Fullscreen (you cannot remove the menu on the side), No web SSH, no detailed settings. very dissapointed for the software
This device also doesn't give me the things I want for remote management ... status of the power coming into the system and access to the I2C bus for true remote diagnostics.
I really hate the term RJ45. The connector is an 8p8c. All of the registered jacks which is what RJ stands for are specific pinouts with specific functions. Ethernet uses the same cable but that's not the only protocol you can run over the wires that are in that connector. If everyone called the thing what it is, then there would be a brief retraining of your brain and we would all get useful information about the hardware.
8 position 8 conductor.
8p8c is even fewer syllables than RJ45. You COULD even shorten further to m8c (modular) or even just 8p or 8c and still be resonable accurate about what you are referencing. The Ethernet standard calls it an 8p8c too!
sometimes its sounds like someone is running around above you or so. Probably your children, right?
Would prefer a cheaper alternative to this. One without the LED screen, WiFi or USB ports.
i never log off - i have no need for pikvm
Watched video and still not sure what this does. oWell
time to watch the older video about the original device
I still like IPMI in modern systems as a technology. The extortionist licensing fees? Not so much.
The aftertaste of pennies - YUM? Nope, it's a stinker.
I'm a Saison man myself, better luck next time eh?
I can't believe that nobody is talking about security here.
How can we all trust so easily a Chinese firm with our most intimate servers??
All of your passwords and most secure connections are running through an unknown Chinese device that we have to trust that is not sending all that data back home.
Yeah right... 😢
It's not often we see a full beer glass while you're closing off the video, rotten fruit and pennies! Easy to imagine, sounds awful!
In my opinion no. I would not buy one because i need a grafikscard in Order to be Funktion. I would rater buy a pcie Card with a aspeedcontroler also i can manage more stuff because i am connect over the pcie Bus. Also i can use a CPU without Grafik or a system without a grafikscard on it. Having a CPU without Grafik core can handle more Power because the tdp. Also grafikcards getting in the was for c states and preventing often getting lower on Power in idle or Low compute state. I Had build a system that currently in use wit only 1to 7% of load. in the past that would Not go lower as c4 because the Grafik unit in the CPU. So i tryed a Low Power GPU in stead a100 or so, deactivated the internal gpu and this was even worse. So i bought a pcie ipmi Card with a aspeedcontroler and now the system will Go down to c10 and usen in idle only 5w and on 7% load only 10w. Befor the system uses in idle 11w and and under load 12w. The system idles about 95% over the day and 1kwh cost me 0.42€ so yea Power was a big concern for me.
No vomit on you tube. It violates the terms of service.
This new BliKVM V4 Allwinner version is a MAJOR step backwards in the software department! I'm very disappointed with it compared to the BliKVM V1 CM4 version I also own. There is no longer the option to access the SSH Terminal remotely from the web interface. The new software seems like a very early alpha build on an unreleased device, not something you'd expect on a 4th+ generation device!
Im also pretty disappointed with Jeff for not mentioning ANY of these obviously glaring drawbacks. The only reason I can see for him avoiding all the issues with this new V4 is because he didn't want to upset Blicube so they'll keep sending him free devices to "review".
what other obviously glaring drawbacks are their? No beeing able to SSH into my IPMI isn't such a dealbreaker for me
@cdspiele I've had trouble SSH'ing into the box locally via USB cable as well, but that may have been an issue with my PC, because I tried it on another machine and was able to SSH in via USB just fine.
The new web UI feels like a major step backwards, something like you'd expect on an early beta version or something, but it does seem to all work. There is no longer keyboard shortcut buttons or macros, but it at least still has ISO mounting.
The software is no longer PiKVM, since they switched to a new CPU instesd of using Pi's, they had to basically write their own PiKVM-like software to run under the hood and it's definitely lacking compared to the real PiKVM OS running on previous BliKVM products.
If you already have a Pi 4 or CM4 to use, I'd recommend getting the older models that used Pi boards. Otherwise this new version is an OK place to start and will be cheaper than buying the older model plus a Pi board.
The one thing I do love about this new model is the built-in HDMI pass-through. That's why I actually bought it (I already had the older Pi CM4 model). It makes keeping the local monitor working without having to set it up as a secondary mirrored display.
@@bluegizmo1983 thanks 👍.
Anything expect not running pikvm isn't such a problem. For me it only has to replace a keyboard/mouse, monitor, a Flash USB and be afordable too. Anything more fance is a nice to have.
Not running piKVM could be a problem in the long run if blicube doesn't support this sku anymor tho.
@cdspiele I have read online there are some people who have managed to get PiKVM running on this new box, but it breaks some things that required weird work arounds. So it's possible in the future someone will be able to fully port PiKVM to it.
chinese characters on the login button. it probably phones home to china
Yes, because your homelab Plex collection is priority one to infiltrate.
if they didn't screw up localization it would all be fine and you would trust it
I need to stop watching your videos. I have spent more money buying things you show than on any other channel. 😂
Just saying, the name "BliKVM" has nothing in it grammatically that makes the "i" pronounce the name. So, it's pronounced "Bl-ee-K-V-M"
Except it's based on the PiKVM project, so...
pass.
Such insight.
@@CraftComputing thanks, it took a while to come up my thoughts. my main issue is all my homelab stuff are old pcs or new pcs, not entprise hardware. This device doesnt allow me to start my machines if turned off, the PCI card version, i think you can plug in the motherboard pins to allow me to boot the machine from a cold start or force a hard reset.
@BigFourHead ...you missed a really important section where I talk about this still allows you to remotely manage power through the use of a blank PCI port and an RJ45 cable to connect to the internal IO headers.
yes i did miss that part, i dont know why i missed that. @@CraftComputing