closed source?

[frostworx]

interesting device, found it via https://www.cnx-software.com/2024/07/08/20-nanokvm-is-a-tiny-low-power-risc-v-kvm-over-ip-solution/#comments

but are you really planning to keep it closed source?

edit: finally ordered one 2 month later :)

[frostworx]

mount -t ext4 -o loop,offset=16777728 20240702_NanoKVM_Rev1_0_0.img /random/mountpoint

for the curious

edit:

whoops, forgot

mount -t vfat -o loop,offset=512 20240702_NanoKVM_Rev1_0_0.img /random/mountpoint

for the first partition

[frostworx]

a bit random grepping reveals that at least

https://github.com/hodgef/react-simple-keyboard
is used in the firmware

server/web/assets/index-u2n1Wr7j.css: * https://github.com/hodgef/react-simple-keyboard

[frostworx]

see also
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40903461

[Zepan]

We are wondering wheter open or not.
At the early time (3month ago), we want make it opensource, only make the hardware, and port PiKVM on it with few develop work. but we realize it is not easy to run PiKVM on it, as it not support V4L2.
We send the hardware sample to some community developer who familiar with PiKVM, and they worked for 3month to port V4L2, and still working...(may finished in few month, when it finished, we will open PiKVM port)
we have to develop FW ourself, it takes about 2~3month, and we see >95% commit of PiKVM is written by author, so we think it may not help much if we opensource at the first time? keep this as a bug report repo maybe better?
Welcome feed back if you have better suggestion to work with community, we want a good balance with opensource and commerce.

[Zepan]

At least, we will open most interfaces/API for images,HID operations, that DIYer can customize their own functions without dig hard into complex bsp sdk.

[Zepan]

I make a vote on twitter: https://x.com/SipeedIO/status/1810508366336115192

[frostworx]

thank you for the comprehensive answer and also thanks for creating the poll.
(personally I don't use x-twitter, so I won't take part)

[ThomasKaiser]

Not using X/Twitter either but wanting to emphasis on the open source aspect -> trust into the device being not equipped with a backdoor.

Folks are fine using whatever commercial iKVM solution but once it's open hardware but comes from China they start to worry. Especially residents of the Five Eyes states who are absolutely fine with their governments/agencies spying on everyone on this planet are trained to believe that everything that originates from China must be evil.

As such allowing users to build their own firmware image from sources will at least be a try to stop these 'concerns' your KVM device being backdoored by design.

[shangri26199]

+1 for opensource without X account

[Zepan]

Not using X/Twitter either but wanting to emphasis on the open source aspect -> trust into the device being not equipped with a backdoor.

Folks are fine using whatever commercial iKVM solution but once it's open hardware but comes from China they start to worry. Especially residents of the Five Eyes states who are absolutely fine with their governments/agencies spying on everyone on this planet are trained to believe that everything that originates from China must be evil.

As such allowing users to build their own firmware image from sources will at least be a try to stop these 'concerns' your KVM device being backdoored by design.

what about open backend(go), close frontend(react)?

[ThomasKaiser]

what about open backend(go), close frontend(react)?

I don't think that will stop people talking about your device being backdoored...

[seichold]

I bought a full and lite through the pre-order to check them out, but without the firmware being open source I do not think this will gain wide traction.

I really want this project to be successful as it brings a near order of magnitude cost reduction (and size!) to the ip based KVM world .

So take this as my (non X using) vote to work toward open source firmware.

[ElbPirat]

Also +1 on open source.
Pre-Ordered one for personal use, but searching something similar for my workshop/lab at work, other professional devices are too expensive for my superior... Would try to order a few once released.

[mintisan]

If it's just for playing around, closed-source is fine, but if it involves projects or production data, then I wouldn't use it [I have already bought one].

[bilogic]

i need HDMI to a monitor as well, is it possible with this hardware? or splitter?