Graphical session crashes if two external monitors are plugged with DisplayLink dock

[Kabouik]

Hi there,


First of all, thanks for having considered Linux users. I have been waiting for DisplayLink on Linux for a long time, and was very excited when I found out that there was now a solution.

However, for some reason, I can't use my Lenovo Dock USB 3.0 with two external monitors connected to it. My setup is the following:

- a laptop running Mint 17.3 Cinnamon
- a DisplayLink dock with 2 external monitors connected to it with DVI connectors

I am not trying to have a triple-monitor setup, my laptop already stutters enough with 2 x 1920x1200. I would just like to turn off the laptop's built-in monitor when the Dock is connected, and rather use the two external displays. Unfortunately, it doesn't work and every time I connect the dock to the laptop, the graphical session crashes, and I'm asked to log in again. I do it and it crashes again immediately. It will do so until I disconnect one of the external displays (only one stays connected to the dock). At this point, the session will not crash anymore. If I try to connect the second external display, then it crashes again. If I first turn off the laptop's built-in monitor and then connect the second external display, then it crashes again.

There is no way I can use both external monitors at the moment. Any ideas?

Below are details of my hardware and OS:

System:    Host: helix-mint17 Kernel: 4.4.0-13-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 4.8.2)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 2.8.7 (Gtk 3.10.8~8+qiana)
           Distro: Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa
Machine:   System: LENOVO product: 370142G v: ThinkPad Helix
           Mobo: LENOVO model: 370142G v: Win8 Pro DPK TPG
           Bios: LENOVO v: GFET37WW (1.16 ) date: 10/03/2013
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i7-3667U (-HT-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 9976
           clock speeds: max: 3200 MHz 1: 989 MHz 2: 1441 MHz 3: 835 MHz
           4: 1220 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.1 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.0hz, 1920x1200@60.0hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 10.5.9 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 DisplayLink driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 004-005
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-13-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak]
           driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: 84:3a:4b:72:2b:f4
           Card-2: Atmel usb-ID: 002-004
           IF: null-if-id state: N/A speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
           Card-3:  MosChip MCS7830 10/100 Mbps Ethernet adapter
           usb-ID: 003-009
           IF: N/A state: N/A speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 256.1GB (57.5% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_THNSNF25 size: 256.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 35G used: 31G (94%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda7
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 70.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 4389
Info:      Processes: 234 Uptime: 11 min Memory: 1828.1/7802.6MB
           Init: Upstart runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.5
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.111) inxi: 2.2.28

[Kabouik]

Anyone having better success with two monitors connected to a DisplayLink dock, on another Linux distribution maybe? It's starting to be a bit awkward at work with my newly purchased screen still not being turned on, people probably wonder why I prefer using the 12.6" screen of my laptop over the 24" that I just asked.

[mlukaszek]

This kernel version is a bit too new for the Ubuntu driver. EVDI is already ready to support 4.x line, however there's been an incompatible change in libevdi (that changed the API) so DisplayLinkManager would not work with the library built off "devel" branch (we use "master" for Ubuntu releases).

We do plan a refresh for the Ubuntu driver that would enable 16.04 LTS for example - I cannot give exact date though.

In meantime, you could try compiling a version of https://github.com/DisplayLink/evdi from devel branch if you get rid of commit 09b525b which changes the API - then I think this would stil work with DisplayLinkManager, but obviously should contain other changes that enabled 4.x compatibility.

Alternatively, you can use devel branch as is, and try to re-introduce the function that changed signature

void evdi_connect(evdi_handle handle, const unsigned char* edid);

which would call the newer version of evdi_connect, hardcoding the count to 128 (so the resulting logic would be as it was previously).
Please do reply here if you do it and it works.

Cheers,
Michal

[Kabouik]

Originally Posted by mlukaszek

This kernel version is a bit too new for the Ubuntu driver. EVDI is already ready to support 4.x line, however there's been an incompatible change in libevdi (that changed the API) so DisplayLinkManager would not work with the library built off "devel" branch (we use "master" for Ubuntu releases).

We do plan a refresh for the Ubuntu driver that would enable 16.04 LTS for example - I cannot give exact date though.

In meantime, you could try compiling a version of https://github.com/DisplayLink/evdi from devel branch if you get rid of commit 09b525b which changes the API - then I think this would stil work with DisplayLinkManager, but obviously should contain other changes that enabled 4.x compatibility.

Alternatively, you can use devel branch as is, and try to re-introduce the function that changed signature

void evdi_connect(evdi_handle handle, const unsigned char* edid);

which would call the newer version of evdi_connect, hardcoding the count to 128 (so the resulting logic would be as it was previously).
Please do reply here if you do it and it works.

Cheers,
Michal

Thanks a lot for your encouraging answer. Unfortunately, I have to admit that I don't really know how to do what you suggest, I'm not experienced enough to compile anything or re-introduce the function without any step by step guide for dummies. I'll check if I can find a guide an apply it to this particular git, but can't promise I can manage to do what you suggest.

[vampirex]

Hi Kabouik,

My setup is very similar to yours, almost identical. Though our laptops are slightly different, the specs are pretty much the same. (I am using a Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon.)

The only differences are:
- Using Kernel 4.5
- Main laptop monitor max resolution is 1600x900
- 4GB of RAM
- GCC 5.2.1 & 4.9

Thought, I am able to use 2 monitors @ 1900x1080, but it didn't work off the bat, had to do a few reboots and playing around with the cable.

There has been a few issues that I've experiencing:

- Dock Disconnections
- Session logs out when 1 or more monitor turns off
- Both mouse and keyboard lags (wireless)
- Timeout on Data transfer over Ethernet
- System Freezes

Most of these problems occur after the system has been in suspend mode, so a reboot usually fixes it.

In your case, maybe try re-installing the drivers?
http://displaylink.org/forum/showthread.php?t=64470 (simfocien made patches based on the codesource from the github)

Can't wait for the new drivers.

System:    Host: ThinkPad-X1-Carbon Kernel: 4.5.0-040500-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.2.1)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 2.8.8 (Gtk 3.10.8~8+qiana)
           Distro: Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa
Machine:   System: LENOVO product: 3444B7U v: ThinkPad X1 Carbon
           Mobo: LENOVO model: 3444B7U v: Win8 Pro DPK TPG
           Bios: LENOVO v: G6ETB2WW (2.72 ) date: 10/08/2015
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i7-3667U (-HT-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 9976
           clock speeds: max: 3200 MHz 1: 1603 MHz 2: 1405 MHz 3: 1662 MHz
           4: 1201 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.1 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1600x900@60.0hz, 1920x1080@60.0hz, 1920x1080@60.0hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 10.5.9 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 DisplayLink driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 004-005
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.5.0-040500-generic
Network:   Card: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak]
           driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 2256.4GB (10.8% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: SanDisk_SD5SG225 size: 256.1GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: My_Passport_0820 size: 2000.4GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 59G used: 18G (32%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 57.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 3448
Info:      Processes: 219 Uptime: 17:59 Memory: 2069.0/3770.3MB
           Init: Upstart runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.9.3
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.111) inxi: 2.2.28

[jjongsma]

Eagerly awaiting this update - I'm on Ubuntu 15.10 (kernal 4.2.0) and have it *mostly* working to the point where I have 2 external monitors functioning most of the time, but still experience X or kernel crashes due to DisplayLink once or twice a day. Please update this thread when there is a compiler-free way to try the new 4.x branch!

[R.E.L]

Hi,

take a look at my reply http://www.displaylink.org/forum/sho...0070#post80070

DisplayLink is running now without any problem.

Regards Rainer