---
title: PiKVM V4 Mini & Plus quick start
description: Getting started with PiKVM V4 Mini & Plus
---

# PiKVM V4 Mini & Plus quick start

![PiKVM V4 Mini & Plus](overview.jpg "PiKVM V4 Mini (left) & Plus (right)")

PiKVM is a feature-rich, production grade, open-source, Raspberry Pi based KVM over IP device. It allows you to turn on/off or restart your computer, configure the UEFI/BIOS, and even reinstall the OS using the Virtual CD-ROM or Flash Drive.

You can use your remote keyboard and mouse or PiKVM can simulate a keyboard, mouse, and a monitor, which are then presented in a web browser as if you were working on a remote system directly.

**Datasheets**:

[PiKVM V4 Mini](v4mini_datasheet.pdf){ .md-button } [PiKVM V4 Plus](v4plus_datasheet.pdf){ .md-button }

## What's in the box

- PiKVM V4 Mini or Plus device
- Micro SD card with pre-imaged PiKVM software
- ATX control board
- ATX connection cables
- ATX installation brackets
- 1 x Ethernet cable
- 1 x ATX cable
- 1 x USB C to USB A cable
- 12V 2A Power Supply (international adapters)

## Interface

=== "Front view"

    ![MISSING FRONT VIEW IMAGE](v4-front-view-numbered.svg){ height="250" }

    1. Activity LED (Red) 
    2. Power Input 5.1V 3A
    3. Power LED (Green) 
    4. Micro SD card slot
    5. USB 2.0 Serial console port
    6. Serial console active LED / Beacon LED (Green)
    7. RJ45 1Gb Ethernet port
    8. RJ45 Serial console port **(V4 Plus only)**
    9. USB 3.0 port 1 **(V4 Plus only)**
    10. Power Input 12V 2A **(V4 Plus only)**


=== "Rear view"

    ![MISSING REAR VIEW IMAGE](v4-rear-view-numbered.svg){ height="250" }

    1. Beacon LED
    2. USB 2.0 OTG connector
    3. Mount holes for WiFi SMA antenna connector **(only one in V4 Mini)**
    3. RJ45 ATX control port
    4. USB 3.0 port 2 **(V4 Plus only)**
    5. HDMI video output port 1 **(V4 Plus only)**
    6. HDMI video output port 2 **(V4 Plus only)**
    7. Optional antenna’s mounting holes
    8. Video source ready status LED
    9. HDMI video input port
    10. Video capture ready status LED
    11. Ventilation holes

=== "Right view"

    ![MISSING SIDE VIEW IMAGE](v4-right-view-numbered.svg){ height="250" }

    1. Service switches
    2. Kensington Security Slot

=== "Top view"

    ![MISSING TOP VIEW IMAGE](v4-top-view-numbered.svg){ height="250" }

    1. Display

## Wiring

Let's connect all the wires before you power up the device.

### Network

![Ethernet wiring](v4-ethernet-wiring.svg)

Connect **Ethernet** (**bottom right** on the **front** side) to the network using the cable from the kit. The kit includes two Ethernet cables of different colors: one for the network, the second for ATX. Use whichever one you like best.

### HDMI and USB-C

![HDMI and USB-C wiring](v4-hdmi-usb-wiring.svg)

**HDMI input** (the **bottom right** on the **rear** side) and **OTG** port (USB emulation) should be connected to the computer.

Optionally, the **[ATX port](atx_board.md)** can be connected to control the power. There should be no USB hub between PiKVM and the computer, as some UEFI/BIOS cannot detect them at the boot stage.

## Power up

![Power supply wiring](v4-power-supply-wiring.svg)

V4 Mini and V4 Plus have different power supplies:

- The Mini comes with USB-C 5V power supply
- The Plus comes with with Barrel 12V

The Plus can also work from 5V. In that case, avoid creating a significant power load on USB (external flash sticks, cameras, and so on).

Attach the appropriate connector on the **front** side. Do **not** block the ventilation holes on the sides of the device.

After turning on the power, PiKVM OS generates unique SSH keys and certificates and performs all necessary operations on the memory card. It takes a few minutes. Do **not** turn off the device until it's fully booted for the first time. Once it's done, the PiKVM will show a greeting on the built-in display.

## Connect and set up

### Configure the display

The operating system on your remote computer will treat PiKVM as an additional display and use it in the Extend mode by default. That's why you will see an empty desktop when you first connect.

To avoid that, go to the display settings in your remote computer's operating system and enable the mirror mode for the external screen that you operating system identifies as PiKVM. Refer to your operating system's documentation on that.

### Access PiKVM

By default, PiKVM receives a dynamic IP address via DHCP and shows it in the top row of the OLED display:

```console
192.168.0.26
(|) iface: eth0
cpu: 1% mem: 13%
```

Let's assume that PiKVM has received the address `192.168.0.26` and has also been assigned a hostname `pikvm`.

Type the URL in the browser's address bar and press **Enter**: https://192.168.0.26/ or https://pikvm/.

![Login screen](login-prompt.png)

Submit the default credentials and click **Login**:

- Username: `admin`
- Password: `admin`
- 2FA Code: disabled by default, skip this field

You will see the initial dashboard screen of the PiKVM where you can access the remote desktop, connect to the PiKVM over SSH, or log out:

![Initial UI](initial-ui.png)

### Change the default passwords

For security's sake, it's best to change the default passwords immediately after running PiKVM for the first time. To do that:

1. On the initial dashboard screen, click the **Terminal** button to open the web terminal. You will see this command line interface:

    ![MISSING SCREENSHOT](pikvm-web-terminal-start.png)

2. Gain superuser privileges:

    ```console
    $ su -
    ```

    When prompted for password, use `root`.

3. Run `rw` to change the access to the SD card to the write mode:

    ```console
    [root@pikvm ~]# rw
    ```

4. Change the password for the superuser:

    ```console
    [root@pikvm ~]# passwd root
    ```

    Submit the new password, retype it the second time to confirm, press **Enter**, and you should see this:

    ```console
    passwd: password updated successfully
    ```

5. Change the password for web access:

    ```console
    [root@pikvm ~]# kvmd-htpasswd set admin
    ```

    Submit the new password, retype it the second time to confirm, and press **Enter**.

6. Run `ro` to change the access to the SD card back to the read-only mode:

    ```console
    [root@pikvm ~]# ro
    ```

7. Press **Ctrl+D** or type "exit" and press **Enter** to drop the root privileges.

8. Go back one page in the browser. You should be back to the initial dashboard screen.

### Access the remote system

1. On the initial dashboard screen, click the **KVM** button to access the remote desktop.

2. You should now see the host system's display and interact with it remotely using a keyboard and a mouse.

    ![Work remotely](remote-screen.png)

## Further steps

1. **Get to know PiKVM OS**: read [this help section](webui.md) to better understand all the possibilities of the web user interface.

2. **Update and customize the system**:

    - [Update](_update_os.md) the PiKVM operating system.
    - [Harden the remote access](auth.md) by enabling 2FA and setting session expiration time.
    - Configure access to PiKVM from the Internet using [port forwarding](port_forwarding.md) or [Tailscale VPN](tailscale.md).
    - Enable a microphone for [two-way audio](audio.md).
    - Enable [HDMI pass-through](pass.md).
    - [Learn](conf_files_structure.md) how configuration files are structured.

3. **Configure hardware**:

    - Set up [ATX connection](atx_board.md).
    - Install and set up [Wi-Fi antenna](wifi.md).
    - Install and set up [LTE/5G modem](modem.md) (**only for PiKVM V4 Plus**).
    - Set up internal [USB 3.0](usb3v4.md) port if you need (**only for PiKVM V4 Plus**).
    - Learn about [DIP switches](dip_switches.md).
    - {!_fahrenheit.md!}

## Known issues and limitations

* There may be compatibility issues with some motherboards, such as **HP** or **DELL**. If there is no image from the BIOS, you can fine-tune the HDMI settings, but it is possible that the mass storage devices will not be available in the BIOS. In the latter case, [USB dynamic configuration](usb.md) will solve the problem.
* While there is a Mini-PCIe slot in the V4 Plus, it was only designed for LTE modems. An NVME card will not work.

## Basic troubleshooting

* Ensure that you are using the right [OS image](flashing_os.md) for your platform
    by running the following command: `pacman -Q | grep kvmd-platform`.

* If you are not getting a display, run the two following commands:

    * `dmesg | egrep 'tc35|1-1.4|uvc'`
    * `systemctl status kvmd-tc358743`

    Note that this is not a hotplug device, and you must first turn off the power.

## Getting user support

If something doesn't work, check out our [FAQ](faq.md). Otherwise, head straight to our [Discord chat](https://discord.gg/bpmXfz5).