KVM through another computer?

[SamuelHBRowland]

I wanted to create a Debian Server for games and other things, but I don't have a ton of space in my college dorm, so I don't really want to have to set up another monitor and keyboard. I was thinking I would just set up an old Inspiron behind a bed with some good quiet fans. (sort of a set it and forget it). The only problem is, I don't know how to do this. I was wondering if there was a way to make an ethernet KVM, so that I could plug into the back of my daily driver and make adjustments through my computer. I currently run Fedora 36 and I'm certainly not a command line expert, but I'm comfortable for the most part. My only stipulations are that I would like it to be cheap (less than $75, ideally as close to free as possible). I also don't want to create a KVM system that both of my computers go through, because I use one for gaming, and a lot of FPS's so I don't want to introduce latency to my main. I would like to have one main machine and the ability to access the server through that machine.

[OhYou_]

just use ssh

or if you really need a gui, use some remote desktop application

[manikyath]

- https://pikvm.org/

- just buy a whatever 2-port KVM, the latency is nonexistant.

- just install some form of remote desktop host on the server

- just use ssh

[Jarsky]

PiKVM is expensive. 

If you don't need pre-boot access, then just use a remote viewer for GUI instead of worrying about KVM. 

 

VNC, Team Viewer, or my favorite xRDP with XFCE. Plenty of remote solutions out there

[Needfuldoer]

With SSL and TeamViewer, you won't need a KVM.

 

If you really want one, you can get a simple switch that can toggle your keyboard, mouse, and one monitor between your main PC and the server.

 

KVMs are useful if you need to interact with the machine before it boots, but I like boards with built-in IPMI for that because you get KVM functionality, monitoring, and remote power control.