Hi,
I'm using the VirtualHere KVM/IP kit (KVM Video + KVM Keyboard/Mouse Emulator Dongle) to remotely access a target PC, including BIOS/UEFI access.
Setup:
- Server: Raspberry Pi running vhusbdarm64, started via:
/usr/local/sbin/vhusbdarm64 -b -c /usr/local/etc/virtualhere/config.ini
- Client: VirtualHere Windows Desktop Client, version 6.0.1
- Devices detected via lsusb on the Pi:
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 366b:0001 VirtualHere Pty. Ltd. KVM Keyboard/Mouse
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 366b:0003 VirtualHere Pty. Ltd. KVM Video
(plus VirtualHere 4-Port Hubs 366b:0004 / 366b:0005)
Problem:
The emulated keyboard works perfectly fine once the target OS has booted, but it is NOT recognized during BIOS/UEFI POST on the target machine. I can see the video output fine, but no keyboard input reaches the BIOS setup screen.
I suspect this is related to the USB HID Boot Protocol vs Report Protocol distinction (BIOS/UEFI implementations typically only understand the simpler "Boot Protocol", while the emulator dongle may be presenting itself in the more complex "Report Protocol" mode).
Questions:
1. Is there a setting (client-side or dongle firmware-side) to force the KVM Keyboard/Mouse Emulator Dongle into HID Boot Protocol mode for better BIOS/UEFI compatibility?
2. Is there a firmware update available for the Emulator Dongle itself (separate from the client software), and if so, where can I download it / how do I flash it?
I've already tried:
- Checking Device Properties in the client (no HID mode option visible there)
- Connecting the emulator to a different USB port
Any guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks for the great product!
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I will investigate this over the next few days. It should be changeable without updating the firmware in the emulator. I will give it a test and let you know.
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Can you stop and exit the virtualhere client and download and try this new version
https://www.virtualhere.com/sites/default/files/usbclient/test/vhui64.exe
Does that fix the boot issue?
Thank you for the test…
Thank you for the test version. Unfortunately, keyboard input still doesn't work in the BIOS with this one. In 6.0.1, the mouse works in the BIOS, but in 6.0.2 neither the mouse nor the keyboard works.
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Im wondering if its because the emulator dongle acts as if its a composite mouse/keyboard and your BIOS doesnt understand that. It wants a simple boot keyboard and a separate simple boot mouse.
Originally do you use a separate mouse and keyboard on the target and that worked with the BIOS?
Is it an HP machine? What Make/model/year is it?
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I've tried it with a Lenovo X1 Gen2 and a Lenovo T15 Gen2.
To get the video output via HDMI, the laptop needs to be closed/lidclosed — this works very reliably.
With an external keyboard connected directly to the machine, I can always access the BIOS (visible via the HDMI grabber through VirtualHere).
Keyboard and mouse input do not work with test version 6.0.2.
With the stable release 6.0.1, mouse input works, but keyboard input does not.
I just tested this again with both laptops.