USBridge-KVM 2.0 is a compact professional stack for direct infrastructure management. Looking back on a year of continuous engineering iterations, I want to share how the idea of turning BIOS into text evolved into a finished device, which is soon being released on CrowdSupply.
The Graphical BIOS Problem & the Birth of BIOS-in-TerminalThe biggest architectural flaw in classic KVMs was transmitting a heavy 1080p video stream just to change the boot order in the firmware or configure a RAID array. That felt highly inefficient to me.
Therefore, I developed the BIOS-in-Terminal technology. Instead of piping raw pixels, the onboard processor intercepts the raw HDMI signal at the hardware level. Using local optical character recognition (OCR) algorithms, the device converts the graphical BIOS interface into an interactive text stream on the fly. I can simply connect to the KVM via standard SSH and configure the server right in my terminal. It works entirely offline and is a lifesaver over high-latency or unstable LTE/satellite connections.
Translating pixels into text opened entirely new doors for automation:
- Painless Scripting: I built in an automation engine that supports Starlark (Python) scripts. Instead of relying on fragile pixel-matching algorithms, scripts can reliably wait for specific strings (like error codes) to appear before sending keystrokes.
- Hardware-Level AI Agents: Thanks to the MCP (Model Context Protocol), I was able to connect language models (like Claude) to the KVM. The AI can now independently "read" the terminal screen, navigate through BIOS menus, and perform autonomous hardware diagnostics.
Everyday server management shouldn't feel like working underwater. To eliminate input lag, I became the first to natively integrate the Moonlight streaming protocol directly into a hardware IP-KVM.
I optimized the entire video capture and encoding pipeline at the hardware level (up to 1080p @ 45 FPS / 720p @ 60 FPS via UVC). The results exceeded my expectations:
- 720p: 25–50 ms
- 1080p: 50–75 ms
These metrics hold true even when routing traffic through secure Tailscale networks (Zero-Config Mesh VPN). The latency is so low that it allows for comfortable gameplay in fast-paced platformers like Hollow Knight—not to mention the instantaneous response when administering servers.
Drive Emulation & Btrfs IsolationI had long wanted to permanently eliminate the need to physically plug bootable USB drives into server racks. By leveraging the USB OTG capabilities of the Radxa Zero 3W, I implemented hardware-level drive emulation. I can now mount ISO, VDI, or VMDK images directly from my workstation. The target server recognizes them as standard physical hard drives.
To compensate for network latency during data transfer, I utilized high-speed caching in the LPDDR4X memory. And to protect my "golden images," all new session writes are redirected to a separate layer (Read-Write Overlay).
For security, I implemented an immutable snapshot subsystem based on Btrfs:
1. Hardware Isolation: A compromised target server has no physical path to modify or delete existing backups.
2. Ransomware Protection: When changes occur, the original files are never overwritten—only the delta is recorded, and the new state is instantly frozen as read-only.
3. Zero Vendor Lock-in: All data can be read natively on any standard Linux system.
Hardware Power Management ModuleProper bare-metal administration is impossible without independent power control that works regardless of the host's state. That is why for USBridge-KVM 2.0, I designed a dedicated expansion module for direct management at the physical level.
Infrastructure management shouldn't be a matter of juggling dozens of disparate utilities. To solve this problem, I created USBridge-Remote—a completely open-source, cross-platform application (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS) that combines network management and KVM into a single interface.
It uses a hybrid architecture:
Hardware layer: Direct Layer 0 access to USBridge-KVM modules for mounting ISO images, power management, and pre-OS recovery.
Software layer: Native remote desktop agent (works out of the box with Wayland).
USBridge-Remote allows me to completely eliminate the need for commercial products like TeamViewer or AnyDesk. No paid subscriptions, commercial SaaS, or mandatory registration with third-party cloud services.
The source code can be found here - https://github.com/USBridge-Technologies/USBridge-Remote
Technical Specifications (Brief)- Compute Base: Radxa Zero 3W (Rockchip RK3566, Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A55).
- Memory: 1–2 GB LPDDR4X (dedicated for Virtual Media caching).
- Ports: Dual USB Type-C (Port 1 for OTG/emulation/power, Port 2 for video capture and host peripherals), Micro HDMI for local output.
- Video Capture: Hardware UVC capture (up to 1080p @ 45 FPS / 720p @ 60 FPS).
- Networking: Built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Tailscale integration.
I am deeply convinced of the need for Hardware Transparency. All schematics, PCB layouts, Bill of Materials (BOM), and 3D enclosure models (STL/STEP) are completely open and available on GitHub for community audit. The USBridge-Remote client application is also distributed under an open-source license.
The architecture is now fully stabilized, having gone through a year of engineering iterations. PCBs and SMT assembly are handled by my partner factory in Shenzhen using official components. However, the final stage is my personal responsibility. Every assembled board is shipped directly to my lab in Spain, where I run the devices through a custom test jig. I verify everything: from the stability of Moonlight streaming and disk emulation to OCR processing and power module relays, before the unit is approved. They will then be shipped to the global distributor Mouser Electronics.
If you are interested in the project, subscribe for updates on the Crowd Supply campaign page. The base enclosure will be printed from durable, heat-resistant PA12 nylon (SLS), but if I hit the 500-backer stretch goal, I will transition to creating molds for factory-grade injection molding.
Comments