DOS ain't dead

I just had a crazy idea! Try an TCP/IP KVM!

I have been really enjoying trying to get various things working on my FreeDOS system, including networking and various utilities. One thing I have really wanted to do is get remote control and viewing of the DOS system working. I have tried RMENU (Successfully!) and other things, with varying levels of success. However, I really think I just want to run this system headless without too much additional overhead of running something on the DOS system itself. What could I do? Then I remembered, I have an ADDERLink® ipeps mini KVM device over there on the shelf! It's an entirely hardware solution to give a secure remote view and control of any computer, and OS as far as I can tell. Why not DOS??? Should work. I am going to give it a try!

~Bill

> I remembered, I have an
> ADDERLink® ipeps mini KVM device over there on the shelf! It's an entirely
> hardware solution to give a secure remote view and control of any computer,
> and OS as far as I can tell. Why not DOS??? Should work. I am going to give
> it a try!
>
> ~Bill

It worked! No problem at all. The KVM was already configured for my local network, so just hooked it up to the Zimaboard running FreeDOS and gave the DOS system a reboot. The KVM picked up the DOS video mode no problem and I have networked control of the system just like if I was sitting at it. Of course, that is entirely the point of any KVM.

I must emphasize that while it works GREAT, it is expensive. The fortunate thing is that I already had the ADDERLink ipeps KVM for another purpose. These units cost about $700, which is WAY more than the Zimaboard itself did. However, functionally it is perfect!

~Bill

> > I remembered, I have an
> > ADDERLink® ipeps mini KVM device over there on the shelf! It's an
> entirely
> > hardware solution to give a secure remote view and control of any
> computer,
> > and OS as far as I can tell. Why not DOS??? Should work. I am going to
> give
> > it a try!
> >
> > ~Bill
>
> It worked! No problem at all. The KVM was already configured for my local
> network, so just hooked it up to the Zimaboard running FreeDOS and gave the
> DOS system a reboot. The KVM picked up the DOS video mode no problem and I
> have networked control of the system just like if I was sitting at it. Of
> course, that is entirely the point of any KVM.
>
> I must emphasize that while it works GREAT, it is expensive. The fortunate
> thing is that I already had the ADDERLink ipeps KVM for another purpose.
> These units cost about $700, which is WAY more than the Zimaboard itself
> did. However, functionally it is perfect!
>
> ~Bill

In conclusion, this is the Zimaboard computer (as labeled in the center of the photo). To its right is an outboard PCIe card carrier for the NVMe M.2 drive it is booting from. Upper left is a mini travel wireless router in client mode. Down and to the left is an ADDERLink IP KVM which is giving me keyboard, mouse, and video access to it across the network via its internal VNC server. Current running FreeDOS (as shown in the other photo).

This has been a fun little project!
~Bill