In the case of Pi-KVM, the general term GPIO refers not only to the [physical interface of the Raspberry Pi](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/usage/gpio),
Setting up GPIO is quite complex. The interface is divided into several layers for flexibility. All configuration is performed using a file `/etc/kvmd/override.yaml` which has the [YAML syntax](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/reference_appendices/YAMLSyntax.html). We will look at each part of the configuration separately in a small test example.
The first layer that reflects the hardware that represents the IO ports (standard GPIO of Raspberry Pi, USB relay, and so on). Each driver has a type (a plugin that implements the hardware support) and an unique name. Multiple drivers of the same type can be defined at the same time.
For example, you can connect multiple relays and give each one its own name. By default, one driver is configured with the name `__gpio__`, representing the physical GPIO interface of the Raspberry Pi.
```yaml
kvmd:
gpio:
drivers:
# This example shows how the __gpio__ driver is defined. You don't need to write it in your configuration.
__gpio__: # Names that start and end with two underscores are reserved. You don't have to define similar names yourself.
type: gpio
state_poll: 0.1
# You can define another gpio driver with a different polling interval
The second layer that reflects how the various driver ports are configured. Each port has a unique name, mode (`input` or `output`), a pin number, and refers to the driver that provides it.
Two interaction modes are available for outputs: `pulse` and `switch`. In pulse mode, the output quickly switches its state to logical 1 and back (just like a button). In switch mode, it saves the state that the user set. When KVMD starts and finishes, all output ports are reset to 0. This can be avoided using the `initial` parameter.
If no driver is specified for the port in the scheme, `__gpio__` will be used as default.
```yaml
kvmd:
gpio:
scheme:
# A certain device sends signals to the RPi and we want the Pi-KVM to display this as an led
led1:
pin: 19
mode: input
led2:
pin: 16
mode: input
# Two outputs of RPi's GPIO
button1:
pin: 26
mode: output
switch: false # Disable switching, only pulse available
button2:
pin: 20
mode: output
switch: false
relay1: # Channel 1 of the relay /dev/hidraw0
pin: 0 # Numerating starts from 0
mode: output # Relays can't be inputs
initial: null # Don't reset the state to 0 when initializing and terminating KVMD
relay2: # Channel 2
pin: 1
mode: output
initial: null
pulse:
delay: 2 # Default pulse value
max_delay: 2 # The pulse interval can be between min_pulse (0.1 by default) and max_pulse=5
```
### View
This is the last layer of the scheme. It describes what the menu with GPIO functions will look like. It is easier to show by example.
```yaml
kvmd:
gpio:
view:
header:
title: Switches # Menu title
table: # The menu items are rendered in the form of a table of text labels and controls
- ["#Generic GPIO leds"] # Text starting with the sharp symbol will be a label
- [] # Horizontal separator and start of a new table
- ["#Test 1:", led1, button1] # Text label, one input, one button with text "Click"
- ["#Test 2:", led2, button2]
- []
- ["#HID Relays /dev/hidraw0"]
- []
- ["#Relay #1:", "relay1,Boop 0.1"] # Text label and button with alternative text
- ["#Relay #2:", "relay2,Boop 2.0"]
```
This will be rendered as:
<imgsrc="../img/gpio_menu.png"alt="drawing"/>
Here the rules:
- Text starting with the `#` symbol will be a label.
- To place a port in a cell, just put its name from the scheme.
- The inputs are displayed as round LEDs.
- The outputs are displayed as a switch AND a button.
- If the switch mode is disabled, only a button will be displayed. If pulse is disabled, only a switch will be shown.
