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rkvm is software—not a hardware KVM switch—that lets one Linux computer share its keyboard and mouse with other Linux computers. One machine runs the server, the others run clients, and a configurable keyboard shortcut switches input between them. It is a Linux-only option; “display-server agnostic” means it does not require X or Wayland, not that it supports Windows or macOS.
What rkvm does—and what it does not
The official rkvm project describes the program as a tool for sharing keyboard and mouse input across multiple Linux machines. The server reads mouse movement and key presses, then relays those events to client machines. It is a software-based alternative to switching input between computers, not a physical KVM device that connects displays or peripherals through hardware.
To move control to a client, use a configurable keyboard shortcut. The project says it sends raw keycodes rather than translating typed characters back into keycodes, a design intended to avoid keyboard-layout problems. These are descriptions from the project README, not independent test results.
Compatibility and system requirements
The project documents support for Linux only. Its claim of display-server independence means rkvm does not require X, Wayland, or another display server; it does not imply support for non-Linux operating systems.
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- Kernel input support: The Linux uinput kernel module is required. The README suggests checking whether
/dev/uinputexists. - Build dependencies: The manual build requirements include libevdev development files and Clang/LLVM. The README’s Debian/Ubuntu examples use
libevdev-devandclang; package names and availability may differ by distribution. - Network security: The project says traffic is TLS-encrypted by default using rustls. Its setup instructions include certificates for the server and clients.
The README also characterizes rkvm as having low overhead, but provides no benchmark or measured performance figure. Treat that as the project’s description rather than a quantified performance claim.
Install rkvm
The README recommends installing the AUR package on Arch Linux if it is available. It also documents a manual Cargo release build and copying the client and server binaries, optionally the certificate-generation tool, and systemd service files. Package availability and release details can change, so check the repository for current instructions. The project warns that the master branch may contain untested, breaking changes and recommends the latest release for regular use.
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Configure certificates and client/server settings
- Generate a certificate and private key with
rkvm-certificate-gen, or obtain certificates from another source. - Place the server certificate at
/etc/rkvm/certificate.pemand its private key at/etc/rkvm/key.pem. - Provide the certificate to the client machines.
- Create server and client configuration files using the supplied examples. Change the example password, and adjust the listen address or switch-key bindings if needed.
- Keep your editable configuration separate from packaged example files. The README cautions that package-manager updates may overwrite the examples.
Test input capture before enabling services
The rkvm server grabs all input, so test it interactively before enabling its systemd services. A configuration or input-handling problem could otherwise leave you without a working keyboard or mouse.
- Run
rkvm-server /etc/rkvm/server.toml --shutdown-after 15. - During the test window, check keyboard and mouse behavior, including switching to a client, and confirm that input handling works in your display-server environment.
- If the test succeeds, proceed with enabling and starting the systemd services using the project’s instructions. If it does not, resolve the configuration or input issue before making the services persistent.
Is rkvm the right choice?
Choose rkvm when every machine you need to control runs Linux and you want a software-based client/server setup with shortcut-based switching. If you need a cross-platform solution, rkvm is not documented for that use. The project mentions Barrier and Synergy as alternatives and suggests considering them for a stable cross-platform solution; its README does not independently establish their current capabilities or reliability.
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