ESP-KVM

ESP-KVM

Build-your-own remote KVM

WHO USES ITHomelab and mini-PC owners · Home Assistant users · Embedded developers working with the ESP32-P4 or HDMI capture

Self-host

ESP32-P4 IP-KVM: a PC's BIOS screen, keyboard and mouse in a browser, about $40 in parts

★ 422▲ +12 / 7dlast 14 days · stars per dayhollow = no dataAs of 09-16 21:00 UTC

422 stars · checked on GitHub 09-15 19:35 UTC GitHub check 30 h late · 7-day +12 observed via GH Archive (as of 09-16 21:00 UTC)

BACK CATALOG

The ESP-KVM browser console driving a real machine: its desktop with a right-click menu open, the live status bar and the video settings panel

TESIGN TAKE

It earns its keep exactly where remote desktop dies, and fills that gap with $40 of parts and a browser flasher — but take the author's 'do not put this on the public internet' literally.

AT A GLANCE

WHY IT MATTERS

Remote desktop needs a running OS; this board plugs into the target's HDMI output and a USB port and shows the BIOS, boot menu or a machine with no OS at all in a browser. It is built from an ESP32-P4 board and a Toshiba TC358743 HDMI-to-CSI bridge (Geekworm C790), and the homepage puts the parts at about $40. Measured at 1080p: MJPEG 20 fps on the Waveshare ESP32-P4-ETH, H.264 22–24 fps on the Function EV (rev 3.2). Virtual-media boot, Wake-on-LAN, ATX power control, Home Assistant over MQTT and WireGuard/Tailscale are included; it flashes from the browser, latest release v0.48.0 (2026-09-14).

BUILD FROM THIS

Fit one to each homelab server or mini-PC as a stand-in for a BMC, or combine runbooks (a macro that waits for 'Press F2' on screen, then presses F2) with the cron scheduler for text-screen jobs such as BIOS setup and boot menus, and for overnight checks.

WHO IT'S FOR

Homelab and mini-PC owners: enter the BIOS and reinstall an OS remotely
Home Assistant users: MQTT auto-discovery exposes a screen still, power buttons and sensors
Embedded developers working with the ESP32-P4 or HDMI capture: TC358743 bring-up and CSI register code to study

START IN 5 MINUTES

# 1. Download your board's espkvm-<version>-<board>-merged.bin from Releases (e.g. -p4-eth-, -funcev-)
# esptool --chip esp32p4 -b 921600 write-flash 0x0 espkvm-<version>-<board>-merged.bin
# # or flash straight from Chrome/Edge at https://espkvm.io/flash/
# 2. Connect Ethernet, HDMI from the target and the board's USB 2.0 OTG-HS port to the target, then open https://espkvm.local/
# 3. Sign in as admin / admin → the console will not continue until the password is changed

CAVEATS

Apache-2.0; the author notes H.264 is patent-encumbered whatever licence the code carries
Hardware: an ESP32-P4 board with 32 MB PSRAM and 16 MB flash plus a TC358743 capture board (Geekworm C790) — about $40 per the homepage; chip revision (below/above 3.0) changes the build
No security review yet, so keep it off the public internet (VPN built in); HDMI audio not implemented; H.264, keyboard and mouse need HTTPS with the device CA trusted

RECEIPT

SIMILAR TOOLS

Up to five from HARDWARE by ★ total: edited entries first, then repository cards; this entry is highlighted. Drawn from the same stored snapshot as the rankings — a comparison, not a recommendation. As of 09-16 21:00 UTC

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ESP-KVMBuild-your-own remote KVMTHIS ENTRY	★ 422	▲ +12	Apache-2.0permissive	web	2026-09-15
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