Common Q & A

General

What is LeafKVM?

LeafKVM is a compact, self-contained wireless KVM with a built-in touchscreen. It captures HDMI video and audio, emulates a USB keyboard/mouse/drive, and streams everything to your browser or RustDesk — without installing any software on the target machine.

Who is LeafKVM for?

LeafKVM is designed for:

• Remote and on-call IT engineers.
• Server and homelab operators.
• Embedded and robotics developers working with headless devices.
• Anyone who needs a portable way to control machines that might not have a working OS or network.

How is LeafKVM different from traditional KVM-over-IP solutions?

• Integrated 2.4″ touchscreen for local preview and configuration.
• Wi-Fi 5 support and AP mode for cable-free setups.
• Clean, Buildroot-based firmware with source-first philosophy.
• Hardware schematics released under CERN-OHL-W.

Video & performance

What resolutions and frame rates are supported?

The target for LeafKVM v1 is up to 1080p at 60 fps with H.264 or H.265 video encoding, subject to firmware tuning and network conditions.

Is there much latency?

Actual latency depends on:

• Network quality (wired vs. Wi-Fi, local vs. remote).
• Chosen codec and quality settings.
• The performance of your viewing device.

LeafKVM is optimized for interactive remote control (BIOS work, OS installs, debugging), not for gaming.

Does LeafKVM support 4K?

The initial LeafKVM focuses on 1080p workflows. A future model, tentatively referred to as LeafKVM Pro, is being explored with 4K/30, Gigabit Ethernet, and USB 3.x host support. The campaign is scheduled to launch in 2026Q3.

Connectivity & compatibility

What operating systems does LeafKVM support?

LeafKVM appears as:

• A USB keyboard and mouse.
• A USB mass storage device (for virtual media).

Any OS or firmware that supports these standard USB devices will work, including:

• Windows
• Linux
• BSD
• macOS (with USB and HDMI)
• BIOS/UEFI firmware screens
• Many embedded boards with HDMI/USB

Do I need to install any software on the target machine?

No. LeafKVM requires no agents, drivers, or software on the target machine. It is completely external.

How do I access LeafKVM remotely?

You can:

• Use a modern desktop browser over your LAN via WebRTC.
• Use RustDesk for various WAN / NAT traversal scenarios, depending on your RustDesk setup.

Details may evolve between firmware versions — please check the docs.

Power & hardware

How is LeafKVM powered?

• USB-C: 5 V / 0.5 A via either USB-C port.
• PoE (optional): IEEE 802.3af via the Ethernet port (37–57 V).

What is the power consumption?

• Typical idle (Wi-Fi/Ethernet enabled): ~250 mA @ 5 V.
• Active HDMI input: ~350 mA @ 5 V.

Is the enclosure metal? Does it get hot?

Yes, the enclosure is CNC-milled aluminum and also acts as a heatsink. It is designed for passive cooling under typical use.

Open source & hacking

Is LeafKVM open source?

Yes, both software and hardware are largely open:

• Software is released under GPLv2/GPLv3/AGPL-3.0 depending on component.
• Schematics are released under the CERN-OHL-W hardware license.
• Build recipes will let you compile everything (except unavoidable vendor blobs) from source.

See the Open Source page for details.

When will the sources and design files be available?

All open materials — including schematics, firmware, build instructions, and CI pipelines — are planned to be published after the campaign is funded but before fulfillment, so backers can inspect and extend the platform.