Common Q & A

General

What is LeafKVM?

LeafKVM is a compact, self-contained wireless KVM with a built-in touchscreen. It captures HDMI video/audio, emulates USB keyboard/mouse/storage, and streams to a browser.

No software runs on the target system.

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.

Difference from traditional KVM-over-IP

• 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

Resolution / frame rate

• Up to 4K @ 30 fps
• Up to 1080p @ 90 fps
• Encoding: H.264 / H.265
• Throughput depends on network

Is there much latency?

Depends on:

• Network (LAN vs WAN, wired vs Wi-Fi)
• Codec / bitrate settings
• Client performance

Target use: BIOS, install, debugging. Not suitable for gaming.

Does LeafKVM support 4K?

Yes. LeafKVM supports 4K @ 30 fps.

Connectivity & compatibility

Supported systems

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
• BIOS / UEFI
• 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 a tailscale as VPN for various WAN / NAT traversal scenarios.

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, so it stays cool passively under typical loads.

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.