Mouse pointer flickers at using DisplayLink

[Felix Griewald]

Using the new official DisplayLink driver for Ubuntu from http://www.displaylink.com/downloads/ubuntu.php for my USB-DisplayLink-Adapter causes on the two main monitors (DisplayPort and internal monitor) a flickering mouse. The pointer doesn't flicker on third monitor (DisplayLink monitor).

This also seems to be related to this bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1278223

Using:

* Ubuntu 14.04.3 (Kernel 3.16)
* DisplayLink Ubuntu driver 1.0.68
* XOrg 1:7.7+1ubuntu8.1

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu8.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-45.60~14.04.1-generic 3.16.7-ckt14
Uname: Linux 3.16.0-45-generic x86_64
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.11
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,regex,imgpng,scale,vpswitch,grid,move,mousepoll,snap,gnomecompat,resize,place,workarounds,unitymtgrabhandles,session,expo,wall,ezoom,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Mon Aug 17 18:31:55 2015
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: trusty
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, if not too technical
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:058b]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-30 (444 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS L322X
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.16.0-45-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 08/28/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A10
dmi.board.name: 0PJHXN
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA10:bd08/28/2013:svnDellInc.:pnXPSL322X:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0PJHXN:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: XPS L322X
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20150313-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.60-2~ubuntu14.04.1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 10.1.3-0ubuntu0.4
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 10.1.3-0ubuntu0.4
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.15.1-0ubuntu2.7
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.8.2-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.3.0-1ubuntu3.1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.910-0ubuntu1.6
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.10-1ubuntu2
xserver.bootTime: Mon Aug 17 18:16:57 2015
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.errors:

xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.outputs:
 product id 22136
 vendor GSM
xserver.version: 2:1.15.1-0ubuntu2.7

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Benjamin Zeller (zeller-benjamin)]

I can confirm this Bug, I use a Dell USB 3.0 docking station for my XPS15.
The Laptop screen flickers, but not the one attached to the docking station (2 Monitor setup).

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Felix Griewald, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better. Anything change for you if you update to the Vivid enablement stack as outlined in https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LTSEnablementStack ?

[Hannes Bochmann (hannes-bochmann)]

I have the same problem.

I installed the Vivid enablement stack like suggested on https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LTSEnablementStack and using now the kernel 3.19 but sadly nothing changed.

If I switch from Unity to Gnome the flickering disappears but I would prefer to keep Unity as I like the launcher. Maybe this helps.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Hannes Bochmann, it will help immensely if you filed a new report with Ubuntu via a terminal:
ubuntu-bug xorg

Please ensure you have the package xdiagnose installed, and that you click the Yes button for attaching additional debugging information.

Also, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

[Hannes Bochmann (hannes-bochmann)]

Done. The new bug report can be found here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1511244

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for xorg (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[sevku (severin-kunz)]

This bug also affects me on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

[penalvch (penalvch)]

sevku (severin-kunz), it will help immensely if you use the computer the problem is reproducible with, file a new report with Ubuntu by first ensuring the package xdiagnose is installed, click the Yes button for attaching additional debugging information after running the following from a terminal:
ubuntu-bug xorg

Also, please feel free to subscribe me to it.