KVM for Remote Control
The KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) is arguably the most essential tool in the BMC toolkit. It streams the server's video output directly to your browser and redirects your local keyboard and mouse inputs to the server. This allows you to interact with the server's BIOS, install an operating system, or troubleshoot a non-booting machine, all from the comfort of your desk.
This chapter shows you how to launch and use the remote KVM console, and how to troubleshoot common issues.
Launching a KVM session
Getting the KVM session started is straightforward.
In the sidebar menu, navigate to Operations > KVM.
The page will load, and after a moment, the server's live console view will appear in the main panel.
The Status indicator at the top should show Connected.
[Image, EXISTING, Source: 6.1: Screenshot of the KVM page showing a connected session with the host OS login screen visible.]
Key features and controls
The KVM interface provides several tools to handle situations where direct input from your keyboard might not work as expected.
Send Ctrl+Alt+Delete: This button is crucial for logging into Windows or rebooting systems. Your local operating system often intercepts this key combination, so clicking this button ensures the command is sent directly to the remote server.
Open Soft Keyboard: This brings up an on-screen virtual keyboard. It's essential for two main reasons:
Special Characters: For entering complex passwords or characters that don't exist on your physical keyboard.
Keyboard Layout Mismatches: If the server's OS is set to a different language layout than your keyboard, the soft keyboard ensures the correct characters are sent.
Open in new tab: This pops the KVM session out into a full-screen browser tab, giving you more space to work and a less cluttered view. [Image, EXISTING, Source: 6.1
Best Practice: Session sharing for collaboration
The BMC supports up to two concurrent KVM sessions, which is a great feature for collaboration or training.
First user: Gets full keyboard and mouse control.
Second user: Gets a view-only session, allowing them to watch what the first user is doing.
This is perfect for walking a junior technician through a complex procedure or getting a second pair of eyes on an issue.
Troubleshooting common KVM issues
If you encounter problems with the KVM, here are some common issues and their solutions.
Problem: The KVM screen is black or the session won't connect.
Solution: First, check if the host server is powered on. If it is, the issue could be network-related. A firewall between your workstation and the BMC might be blocking the KVM port. Also, verify that the maximum of two sessions isn't already active.
Problem: Mouse movement is slow, laggy, or out of sync.
Solution: This is almost always caused by high network latency. KVM is very sensitive to network conditions. For the best experience, use a stable, wired network connection. If the problem persists, try closing and reopening the KVM session.
Problem: Typing on your keyboard produces the wrong characters (e.g., 'Y' appears as 'Z').
Solution: This is a classic keyboard layout mismatch. The host operating system is configured for a different language layout (e.g., German QWERTZ) than your physical keyboard (e.g., US QWERTY). The most reliable solution is to use the Open Soft Keyboard feature and click the keys directly on the screen to ensure the correct input.
Last updated