Managing a homelab rack full of machines typically means either expensive enterprise KVM switches or a growing collection of single-port IP-KVM devices. GL.iNet's Comet X (GL-RM4PE) takes a different approach, cramming four independent HDMI and USB-C host connections into a single aluminum unit that runs Linux 6.1 and supports self-hosted remote access. The device includes native support for Tailscale, ZeroTier, and NetBird overlay networks, letting users bypass GL.iNet's own GoodCloud service entirely. The GLKVM software platform underlying the Comet X is a derivative of PiKVM, with the core KVMD daemon published under GPL V3 at github.com/gl-inet/glkvm. A companion open-source project called GLKVM-Cloud provides a lightweight self-hosted cloud platform for managing KVM devices privately, deployable via Docker on x86_64 and arm64 hardware and available at github.com/gl-inet/glkvm-cloud.

Under the hood, the Comet X runs a quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 with 1 GB of DDR3L and 64 GB of eMMC storage for holding system images, backups, and deployment packages. Video passes through at 4K/30fps via HDMI loop-out, so a local monitor and remote session can run simultaneously without a splitter. The front panel carries a 9.4 cm (3.69-inch) TFT touchscreen for status monitoring and channel switching, alongside three USB 2.0 Type-A ports for keyboard, mouse, and peripheral access. Four more USB 2.0 ports sit on the rear. A single Gigabit Ethernet port handles both data and 802.3af/at Power over Ethernet, cutting the cable count for rack installs. The whole unit measures 170 x 90 x 40 mm (6.7 x 3.5 x 1.6 inches), weighs 560 g (1.2 lbs), and draws under 8 W.

The IP-KVM market has grown crowded over the past two years, with options ranging from the open-source PiKVM V4 to the compact JetKVM and GL.iNet's own single-port Comet RM-1. Jeff Geerling's comprehensive comparison of available units noted that security remains a real concern across the category, with firmware audits in early 2026 surfacing vulnerabilities in several low-cost devices. On the source availability side, community members have documented a gap in the Comet line between the GPL-licensed userspace code GL.iNet has published and the device-specific kernel and U-Boot modifications needed for full compliance, with a corresponding issue open on the glkvm repository. GL.iNet is targeting firmware version 1.9.2 for August 2026 with Comet X optimizations ahead of initial shipments. The Comet X differentiates itself on port count and density, fitting four independently controllable hosts into a form factor compatible with both 10-inch and 19-inch racks.

The Comet X is available for backorder at $280 (€260), with US, EU, and AU variants shipping from late August 2026.