Keyboard & Mouse Over Ethernet
SKAARHOJ Blue Pill products equipped with USB-A can function as a keyboard/mouse transmitter to hardware endpoints connected to one or more computers, allowing remote control via keyboard and mouse over ethernet. This setup is similar to a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) solution, but without the video component, which is assumed to be managed separately.
The goal is not to replace existing KVM solutions on the market, but rather to leverage the existing presence of a SKAARHOJ device with USB-A to potentially transmit keyboard and/or mouse inputs over a network to a server, a concept often contemplated by our users.
A key feature of this solution is that it requires a SKAARHOJ hardware device to be connected to the computer being controlled, eliminating the need for software installation on the target computer. Any device that accepts keyboard input will recognize the connected SKAARHOJ device as a keyboard and mouse, thus simplifying setup.
Each controlled computer requires its own hardware device. The solution here uses an existing SKAARHOJ product called "TCP Link for ATEM" loaded with an alternative firmware, available for free download. On the SKAARHOJ panel side, there are two methods: using the xpanel-hids application to connect a keyboard and/or mouse as Raw Panel devices for peer-to-peer configuration, or using the core-skaarhoj-kmserver device for enhanced performance and support for multiple destination channels. The latter allows for easy selection of channels via device parameters, enabling a SKAARHOJ panel to function as a central control panel for keyboard and mouse operations.
Benefits:
- Reduced clutter and fewer devices in your control room: simply connect the keyboard or mouse to your SKAARHOJ device.
- No software installation required on the destination end: it utilizes a hardware-based solution.
- Ability to send key presses and combinations from SKAARHOJ broadcast panels using the Raw Panel protocol.
- Connect multiple destination endpoints using the high-performance, dedicated core-skaarhoj-kmserver device and select between them on your SKAARHOJ panel.
Limitations
- All keyboard and mouse data is transmitted unencrypted over the network. It is assumed that the network is secure, such as a friendly network or a VPN that provides its own encryption. This is important since sensitive information, such as passwords, might be typed in.
- Only "standard" keyboards and mice are supported, with HID reports of 8 and 4 bytes respectively. More complex HID reports, such as those from advanced gaming mice, may not be compatible.
- It is recommended to test the compatibility of the keyboard and mouse you plan to use, as well as the acceptance of input at the destination endpoint, to ensure functionality.
Security
Once again, remember that
- all data is transferred unencrypted on the network and therefore can be tapped for information such as passwords.
- the TCP server is either a Raw Panel server or the Keyboard/Mouse server of core-skaarhoj-kmserver and in both cases, other clients can connect by default and listen to the traffic unless you set up limitations (such as allowed client IPs)
Setting up "TCP Link for ATEM" as Keyboard/Mouse client
Install alternative firmware
Set IP addresses
If multiple servers and one is failing you will experience lagging periodically every second! So don't do that!