GL.iNet Comet X (GL-RM4PE) Hands-On Review – The Remote KVM I Really Wanted from Day One

Introduction

As someone who manages a growing homelab environment with multiple servers, test machines, and networking equipment, remote access is not just a convenience, it's a necessity.

Over the past year, I've had the opportunity to beta test both the GL.iNet Comet PoE and Comet Pro. While both products impressed me with their responsiveness and ease of deployment, there was always one thing I wished for:

The ability to manage multiple machines from a single Comet device.

That is exactly what the new GL.iNet Comet X (GL-RM4PE) delivers.

The Comet X takes everything I liked about previous Comet models and expands it into a four-channel KVM solution capable of controlling multiple systems simultaneously while occupying minimal rack space. That's pretty much combining best of both Comet Pro (touchscreen technology) and Comet PoE (Power over Ethernet), well except they did not include remote access over Wi-Fi on the Comet X.

My Test Environment

For this beta test, the Comet X was installed in my homelab rack and connected to four different devices:

• Proxmox Backup Server
• Proxmox Virtual Environment Host
• Windows 11 Pro Test Machine
• Linux Test Machine

The test was conducted using a Windows 11 Pro desktop workstation connected to a 1000/100 Mbps fibre internet service, with both local access and remote access verified via Tailscale.

Firmware version at the time of testing is V1.8.1 Release1.

The unit was powered using PoE from a TP-Link TL-SG2008P switch.

First Impressions

The Comet X immediately feels like a mature and polished product.

Packaging quality was excellent, the hardware feels well built, and all ports fit securely without any looseness. The device looks production-ready and I did not encounter any unusual noises or build quality concerns during testing.

One of the biggest advantages of the Comet X is the reduction in cabling and hardware clutter.

Instead of deploying multiple individual KVM devices, the Comet X consolidates four systems into a single management platform using only one network connection and one power source when powered by PoE.

For homelab users and IT professionals alike, this creates a much cleaner rack environment.

Performance and Remote Access

The most important aspect of any KVM solution is responsiveness.

In my testing, the Comet X actually felt the same responsiveness just like both the Comet Pro and Comet PoE units I previously tested.

Mouse movement, keyboard input, BIOS access, operating system installation, and general system administration all felt smooth with minimal latency.

File transfers through Virtual Media performed as expected, averaging approximately:

• 22-23 MB/s upload
• 27-29 MB/s download

The Virtual Media functionality remains one of the most valuable features of the platform, allowing ISO deployment, operating system installations, and file transfers without requiring physical access to the hardware. Although, one of my HP Prodesk machine won't let me access BIOS with the virtual keyboard while the Virtual Media is enabled/mounted.

Why Four Ports Matter

This is where the Comet X truly shines.

Previously, managing multiple machines required either multiple KVM devices or physically swapping cables between systems.

With the Comet X, I can instantly switch between all of my devices without touching a cable.

For homelab owners and IT technicians, this dramatically improves workflow efficiency while reducing rack complexity.

The ability to manage four systems through a single device is the feature that transforms the Comet platform from useful to genuinely powerful.

Touchscreen Experience

The built-in touchscreen is responsive and easy to use.

While you can also swap inputs with its dedicated switch button on the unit itself, I primarily manage the device through the web interface, the screen serves as a convenient local status display showing information such as:

• IP address
• Date and time
• Port status
• Input Status (Keyboard/Mouse, HDMI, USB Port)

Being able to quickly identify the unit's IP address directly from the front panel is surprisingly useful during access and troubleshooting.

PoE Simplicity

One of my favourite aspects of the Comet ecosystem continues to be PoE support.

In my environment, the Comet X runs comfortably from an existing PoE switch alongside multiple access points.

Benefits include:

• One less power adapter
• Cleaner cable management
• Reduced rack clutter
• Simplified deployment

For anyone already running managed switches with PoE capability, this feature alone makes installation significantly easier.

Issues and Observations

No beta test would be complete without identifying opportunities for improvement.

During testing, I encountered a few minor issues:

• Switching between ports occasionally felt slower than expected.
• One Windows installation scenario resulted in inactive keyboard and mouse control within BIOS - turned out to be my hardware device not liking the Virtual Media enabled.
• A Proxmox host initially failed to display video output until a GRUB display configuration was adjusted.
• The touchscreen could be improved with larger touch targets for users with larger fingers.

None of these issues prevented successful operation, but they are worth noting.

Feature Requests

There are several additions that I passed on to the development team that would make the Comet X even stronger.

Official Rack Mount Ears

An official 19-inch rack mounting kit would be highly appreciated by rack users. While community-created 3D printed solutions exist, a purpose-built metal rack ear solution would provide a cleaner and more secure installation.

When I received my beta copy, a 10-inch rack mounting kit is included and according to GL-iNet they will supply both 10" and 19" metal rack mount on the production copy.

Kensington Security Slot (Kensington Lock)

This device may be deployed in shared or multi-vendor server rack environments, as well as temporary installations such as public events, where physical security cannot always be guaranteed. Including support for a Kensington lock (or similar physical security mechanism) would provide a simple and effective way to help prevent unauthorized removal or theft of the device.

There’s an ample space for this feature to be added to the back of the unit or sides (unless of course the pcb is in the way).

Custom Port Labels

Being able to reflect ports label on the touch screen panel such as below where I am controlling the following devices:

• PROXMOX
• PLEX
• WIN11PRO
• DEBIAN

rather than PORT1, PORT2, PORT3, and PORT4 would significantly improve usability. Recent firmware updates have already made progress in this area but still not showing on the screen panel. I have to modify the image above and send to the development team what I really wanted to see in my request.

Multi-View Dashboard

My most requested feature would be a "single pane of glass" mode that displays all four connected systems simultaneously, similar to a CCTV monitoring screen.

For administrators monitoring multiple systems at once, this would be a game-changing enhancement.

Technical Specification

For more information about the GL-iNet Comet X (GL-RM4PE) visit: https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-rm4pe

Final Thoughts

The Comet X is the product I envisioned when I first received my Comet PoE Beta.

It delivers the same fast and responsive KVM experience that made the earlier models successful, but expands it into a four-channel platform capable of managing multiple systems without swapping cables, consuming additional switch ports, or adding unnecessary hardware to the rack.

For homelab enthusiasts, IT professionals, and anyone managing multiple servers without an OOB capabilities, the Comet X represents a significant step forward in remote infrastructure management.

After spending time with the device in a real-world homelab environment, it has become one of the most useful pieces of equipment in my rack and a natural evolution of the Comet product family.

Remark

This is a guest post from our friend at Oztech Solutions. You can view the original post and more of their content here: https://oztechsolutions.au/gl-inet-comet-x-gl-rm4pe-hands-on-review-the-kvm-i-really-wanted-from-day-one/

About The Author

Larry, the driving force behind Oztech Solutions, is based in Liverpool, NSW (Southwest Sydney). He brings a wealth of experience, with over 7 years in hands-on IT and a decade in telecommunications, supporting diverse environments from hotels and aged-care facilities to corporate networks. Larry has also contributed valuable insights to GL.iNet through beta testing of new products. You can learn more about Oztech Solutions at https://oztechsolutions.au/about/.