Hi,

still no Linux support? I cannot believe it. For the USB 2.0 devices the code lives in less than only 2000 lines here:

https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/ke.../video/udlfb.c

Less than 2000 lines!!! With most of these lines apparently not written by DisplayLink. And DL-3xxx USB 3.0 support would likely share most of code for the previous devices!

Have the authors of udlfb.c listed on top of the file been contacted at all?

Greetings,

Hi frief:


Great idea. Doing that right now!

I just took a moment to write to Roberto, Jaya and Bernie, the authors of the USB 2 driver for DisplayLink products as pointed out by frief above.

I linked to this thread, mentioned the growing demand and the idea that various participants in this thread thought crowdsourced funding could work. [I also offered to help in any way I can - unfortunately that does not extend to coding video drivers.]

Bernie Thompson is apparently the founder of Pluggable. Hopefully he will visit this thread and see the demand for a Linux driver for these USB 3 devices based on DisplayLink technology.


I think DisplayLink should be a little embarrassed in having tried getting more adoption of the older USB 2 devices when clearly everyone has noted the benefits of moving on to USB 3, especially given the desire for multi-monitor setups.

This issue really needs to be addressed NOW.

I will continue to vote with my dollars and my clients with theirs. Right now, everyone we advise on Linux systems is holding off on ANY DisplayLink purchase as these devices are unusable for display extending purposes.


Hopefully a solution for Linux will arrive soon!

Bernie wrote back incredibly quickly:

On 3/5/2013 11:54 PM, Bernie Thompson wrote:
> Hi Felix,
>
> DisplayLink's USB 3.0 chips use an encrypted protocol for sending
> commands (all of which is very different from the USB 2.0 generation
> chips).
>
> A first step is DisplayLink would need to choose to open that up and
> document it. There's no way for someone outside of DisplayLink to
> embark on this effort until then.
>
> Sorry for the bad news,
> Bernie


I responded as follows:


Hi Bernie:


Thanks for the quick response!

In the previously referenced thread, Wim (of DisplayLink) alludes to the problem you cite by mentioning this is all somewhat complicated because (among other issues) "the DL-3000 supports content protection."

Dan, also of DisplayLink, later mentions "we've just released Alpha Mac drivers for DL-3xxx". Might those be of help? Based on BSD, I would assume Mac OSX is somewhat similar to Linux. On the other hand, the display elements are probably almost entirely different since they are now (I believe) based on XQuartz. Of course XQuartz is open sourced, so this may still be of significant help.

Wim suggests that DisplayLink is amenable to helping the Linux driver effort [ http://www.displaylink.org/forum/sho...9&postcount=35 ] if a better solution for the older devices is crafted. [Your company, Pluggable, is in fact referenced in that post as providing no cost test ("seeding") hardware for developers -- thank you! . . . I'm sorry my skill set does not apply].

I'm sure Pluggable would love better Linux support for the older series, but this backward-looking emphasis seems to fly in the face of the technology industry which continually invents a better mousetrap and quickly abandons the older one.

Any way, is there anything else I (or anyone else) might be able to do to help with this situation? [For starters, I will post this in the thread and hope it will inspire DisplayLink to open the requisite data.]

Thanks again for your interest and effort!


Felix


Hopefully something positive will come from all this.

In the previously referenced thread, Wim (of DisplayLink) alludes to the problem you cite by mentioning this is all somewhat complicated because (among other issues) "the DL-3000 supports content protection."

This is indeed true. However, it is "possible" to allow open access to the none content protection sensitive parts of the protocol without compromising the devices security. I would be more than happy to write the open source drivers free of charge but I would need access to documentation that I no longer have access to, and possibly an extremely small level of cooperation from the firmware team, whom I know well.

Andy F

Same situation
 

Hi --

I have nothing to add to the ongoing discussion, though I just thought I should signal my strong interest in USB 3.0 DisplayLink support for Linux. I almost made the mistake to order the lenovo USB 3.0 dock, under the assumption that it would work under Ubuntu; thankfully I cancelled the order after reading this thread..

I take issue with the statement that DisplayLink's USB2 adapters do not work easily on Linux. In ubuntu 12.10 with the kernel updated to 3.6+ (and I assume in ubuntu 13.04 stock) running KDE, if I plug in a displaylink adapter a dialog pops up asking me if I would like ot automatically use the new display plugged in. By default it operates in clone mode, but it is quite simple to use the display preferences panel to use it to extend the desktop.

Currently to my knowledge Ubuntu is the only distro to support this, because they are using an early version of xrandr 1.4 announced here: http://lists.x.org/archives/xorg-ann...ry/002170.html - now that this is released, any distro with current versions of the kernel, xorg, and supporting libraries will have support for using screens from multiple GPUs in the same display.

This honestly works incredibly well - I have been using it since last august, though at the time it required building and installing my own versions of unreleased software. Right now my desk has 4 displays driven off of one laptop - 2 displaylink, one vga, one dvi.

I'll just reiterate my support and interest for having the DL-3xxx devices working on Linux as well... C'mon guys it's not like anyone is going to make cheap knockoffs of your devices... even if it's not a driver, whatever documentation on the protocols would definitely help!

Hi there,

I can understand manufacturers didnt do any effort in making linux drivers 5-10 years ago.. but today Linux is storming foreward as a full blown ready to use desktop.
Even Microsoft knows this, and last year they even contributed with 1% of all development on the linux kernel.
Steam has also made their platform availeble to linux .. so how come this type of producers cant see it? Be among the first and wise, and get out of the windows bubble.. when releasing a product, include drivers for win, IOS and Linux..

( sort of like when MS have to give a choice of browser... )

Thanks for an interresting product, which only lacks a use for all flavours.

/Per

First post, joined this forum only to register my amazement and disappointment that ubuntu is not supported. Have just bought Lenovo's USB 3.0 dock and will be returning it immediately, citing DisplayLink's lack of Linux support as the reason. It is 2013 right? Not 1993?

We need linux support ASAP
 

We need linux support for DL-3000 series soon as possible. We living now year 2013 and these days linux support for this type of product is must have. I am so disapointed for DisplayLink because lack of linux support.

Agreed this is disappointing as well. I only use linux, and trying to find a decent solution that doesn't have refresh issues under linux would be quite welcome. I know other users that require the same support for theirs as well professionally, but the 3.0 adapters remain unsupported.

At some point the hardware manufacturers have to look at the usefulness of the hdcp protection and admit it's thus been defeated in any number of ways to even bother with media company demands. Linux has no drm, or mostly goes against its nature to do so, but will you simply shun an entire market of even server potential?

It'd be huge to have a seamless video solution for linux over usb for desktop or even server room use for crash-cart ability. Auto-spawn x on a new display for repair ability ala vesa if needed.

I drive 6 displays seamlessly with an ati card now at home, but work is a problem with a corporate laptop that supports only 2. Two displays is a... hindrance. I'd love to use the 3.0 usb bus to add a few displays using linux there too.

It *is* 2013, and people do use linux every day now. Please implement a support team for it already. Certainly there would be eager developers available to help both community and paid services.

Wrapper
 

Hello,

While native drivers would be the ideal means of support, until this is possible would the community be able to create a wrapper like the ndiswrapper, for those of us used to working with the old broadcom chipsets. Has this option been explored? Is there anything that would prevent this? I haven't done much work with drivers but I'm willing to contribute time and code if someone more familiar with the process can help guide me.

Free Hardware can Help
 

Free hardware goes a long way in the Linux community. If DisplayLink could seed some to the distribution vendors, who could in turn parcel them out to developers... that could be the right route to full Linux support.

I'd argue the USB3.0/DRM chips should be a 2nd priority, after getting all the legacy DisplayLink devices working smoothly (plug and play) on typical distributions like Ubuntu.

Pluggable has a seeding program that devs can apply to here:
http://plugable.com/projects/plugabl...amples-program

While I have not tried it yet w/ my old DL-195 device, another poster here mentioned Fedora 18 and Ubuntu 13.04 both support Plug&Play for these older devices. I did upgrade my laptop to Ubuntu 13.04 Beta 2 a few days ago to be able to connect reliably to my university's wireless network, so I will update this post when I try it out myself.

I bought the Lenovo USB 3.0 Port Replicator together with my carbon x1, quite disappointed that there is no linux support at all for your chipset :(

Displaylink drivers for Ubuntu
 

I was just wondering, is all this only for show?

Are nobody from displaylink screening these forums?
As far as i can see there has been no response what so ever from display link..

I find this sad.. :(

A Community Based usb graphic display
 

If they are not interested in writting a linux based driver for it, We could try to get a community based open hardware solution out there? I mean if we look at something like the beaglebone black, That has a usb client port, ethernet, hdmi ( And even runs linux its self ) We could use some existing protochal ( X2Go, vnc or something like that ) and get it up and running probably and have the total hardware cost be $50, Just a thought

No Linux drivers in 2013? C'mon!
 

It seems really unbelieveable that this company is not able to provide Linux drivers for its products, in 2013! About every other brand has managed that. Today even on the ISS Windows is replaced with Linux and they still are not able to solve this or are too lazy and wait for whoever could do the job for them. Wake up! Spend some bucks and see how many Linux users will gladly buy your products!

No hope for USB 3.0 docking station and Ubuntu then?
 

Dear all
reading from the posts, it looks like there is no hope to make a docking station USB 3.0 work with a laptop and Ubuntu (13.04)?

Is that really true or is there is hope that this would be solved and if yes on what timescale (best guess?)?

Thanks for any input here: I have bought two docking stations for my Dell XPS13 and it seems that I may have to return both of these to Dell...

Mint Version 14?
 

I've tried every Google article I could find to make this work. Nothing has so far.

When I plug my displaylink into the computer dmesg shows the following output.

[ 5421.703550] usb 1-5: USB disconnect, device number 6
[ 5426.636018] usb 1-5: new high-speed USB device number 7 using ehci_hcd
[ 5426.769197] usb 1-5: New USB device found, idVendor=17e9, idProduct=4301
[ 5426.769201] usb 1-5: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[ 5426.769204] usb 1-5: Product: StarTech USB32DPPRO
[ 5426.769207] usb 1-5: Manufacturer: DisplayLink
[ 5426.769209] usb 1-5: SerialNumber: YUAN412130131091460369
[ 5426.770572] parse_audio_format_rates_v2(): unable to retrieve number of sample rates (clock 10)
[ 5426.770832] cannot get ctl value: req = 0x83, wValue = 0x201, wIndex = 0x0, type = 4

Is there going to be a linux driver or support soon? I bought this expecting that it would work on Linux.

Same here on a K33970 I thought I was really close after the dmesg below but I'm giving up all hope now and return the device.

Delock USB3.0 Port replicator
 

Hello, any progress with support of this device?
I'm using network and usb hub. I would like to use sound. Is sound transmit also encrypted? Or is there some way to get it working?

Please port these Targus USB3 driver to linux ...
 

I've also a Targus USB3 I bought with a Dell XPS13.

What's working under Ubuntu :D :
- soud output
- network card
- usb port

What's not test :confused: :
- sound input

What's don't work :mad: :
- display(s) output(s)

Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 Dock
 

Without usable DVI Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 Dock under Linux the device is functional kaput.:mad:

Is there any update on this? Will you ever bother helping producing a solution for linux?

Would DisplayLink actually like to NOT sell product to oppose draconian drm rules? Hdcp is entirely broken and useless to bother enforcing it with software, so just do so to minimal spec to pass "certification" like everyone does. It will be broken regardless, so for crying out loud help produce a driver for this device already. Hell, the community that wants to see them actually work for their linux systems would likely do it for you with some understanding of the hardware and mired chipset security.

To what extent would one of your professional driver development firms listed charge for such an effort to adapt libdlo for this chip for gods sake? Kickstarter it - you'd get funded by all the people that read off of your homepage that you offer linux support, but really do not, and are now thus screwed like myself and all these folks.

Otherwise you can just be cursed and spit upon as a vendor by said folk, simply because someone within your organization can't figure out a technical solution to a business problem. Your chipset sales profits far outweigh what it would cost to offer a software solution as a driver for linux, and you don't even realize what kind of a market it would open as a raw crtc device for other gpu's alone.

Please?

By the way, remove off your faq that you support linux please. You do not.

THIS. Or at least clarify that it is only supported on older usb 2.0 devices and that you are not working on a solution for usb 3.0.

Maybe it's time to drop someone at the linux foundation a line about false advertising?

I'd still love to see it happen as it would broaden my choice of next laptop to a lot more ultrabooks but given the pace of this thread i'm not holding my breath and will properbly stick to a laptop with native docking support.

I guess, community needs to keep bumping this thread until you release something open sourced alpha-like for linux :rolleyes:
Hope this will give you an idea that linux support is very much desired ;)

I am very very dissapointed that Displaylink does not support USB 3.0 under linux!

I will not be buying any products, and am advising all linux clients not to either. Thankfully I figured this out before I ordered my new laptop, because this means I won't be purchasing an X1 carbon (I was counting on usb 3.0 working).

Seems displaylink has a monopoly on the market, and just wants to secure their pockets. Very bad and I won't be buying any displaylink product until the protocol is opened up so that systems other than Windows can utilize the hardware. This includes any USB 2.0 products, or any other Pluggable/Displaylink related products.

I just tried finding linux drivers, now considering returning my two displaylink docks

make it work
 

I please make the ThinkPad USB 3.0 video stuff work in linux.

Please DisplayLink create a DL-3xxx driver for Linux
 

I can believe that Linux, the operational system with support for more devices out-of-the-box, doesn't have support to new DisplayLink chips.

I want to use a DisplayLink USB dongle to interface with external high resolution monitor.

Please add support for Linux!

Please may I use my displaylink usb dock work with Ubuntu?
 

I'd like to second all of this and put in my vote for Linux support :)

Dan, is there any update, now that its 8 months later?

Is there a plan for drivers this year?

Pretty much every week now, I come back to check this page.

Not sure anymore what I am hoping for. Initially, I was optimistic that within month some sort of solution could be found. Now, even some sort of encouraging acknowledgement from the DisplayLink guys (even a 'hang in there, we are aware of your legitimate expectations and are working on it') has become, apparently, too much to ask for. Linux is dead to DisplayLink, and DisplayLink is dead to me. Unless a spectacular apology comes really, really soon, I will only ever buy a DisplayLink product again if there is really no other choice, and I will never recommend DisplayLink to anyone.

its been over a year that I've been wanting this to work

any ETA or glimmer of hope would be nice

even a "we have no plan" would be respectful

Disappointed
 

So if what I am hearing there is no support for USB 3.0 Displaylink drivers for USB Displays.

very disapointed
 

We have an organisation running several thousand of these (as OEM docking stations) and a significant group are now using linux on the associated laptops. Because of which they are asking us to provide alternate hardware to enable them to work.

still waiting.. targus usb 3 universal linux support
 

+1
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: