A long time ago, when I started working professionally on computer networks, I purchased a four port Cybex Swithview VGA KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse ) Switch for my Homelab. In fact, at the time, it was not really a Homelab, but rather just the computers that I worked on at the time. Typically, i used one port for my personal computer, one for my Linux webserver and two ports were available for client work and / or special projects.
The old KVM was a work horse for me and I used it up until January 2025 when I retired it from service. The KVM suffered many draw backs, simply due to the forward march of technology. PS2 keyboards and mice are simply not in use anymore and VGA ports on computers are really only available on older systems. This really did not hamper me all that much as I typically use SSH or remote desktop to connect to the other systems in my homelab server cabinet. The older tech was only really a problem during operating system installation and troubleshooting when I needed to connect something to a monitor for the first time.
My biggest issue with my old KVM, is that it was not mountable in the rack, so it sat on a shelf taking up lots of room. Also the three cables were just heavy and awkward to route through the server cabinet. Finally, the big heavy VGA cables were secured using only two screws which were physically difficult to secure. The PS2 keyboard and mouse cables would frequently detach whenever the cables were moved. All in all, time for an upgrade!
As part of my homelab reorganization project, a new KVM switch is on order. Obviously, I wanted to connect more devices. Primarily, I wanted to get away from the connection cable for troubleshooting. I also wanted something that could be secured in the rack. On Amazon, I found an MT-VIKI 8 HDMI Port KVM Switch which is perfect for my homelab.
The first order of business is that I am able to mount this KVM in the server cabinet and secure it out of the way. Eight HDMI ports doubles the previous number of devices available. The KVM features a wired remote for the desktop and an IR remote. It is not likely that I will use either of these devices, but it is kinda cool they are included. Eight HDMI cables are included which feature a USB connection which makes it very nice to route the cables within the rack enclosure.
The MT-VIKI 8 HDMI Port KVM Switch supports up to 4K resolution, uses 5 Volts of power an only takes up about 1 U of rack space. The biggest drawback of this KVM, is that it does not lock in the HDMI cable into the switch. This might not be the switch for you if you are gaming and utilizing high end graphics application. However, if you simply need to connect some devices in your homelab, this may be perfect.
1 thought on “KVM Switch Upgrade in the Homelab”
Comments are closed.