No USB support for Dell XPS 13 9370 running Bionic 18.04

[Joseph Borg]

I recently received an XPS 13 9370. After taking a backup for 16.04 (in case this very thing happened), I installed the daily build of 18.04 as it didn't really make sense for me to hold on to a distro that'll be replaced in a couple of months.

I noticed there were a few Dell repositories in sources.list, but non of them have bionic endpoints (only xenial).

I copied those, in case they would be useful and went to erasing the disk and installing 18.04. Everything seems to work fine, except the USB / Thunderbolt ports. Nothing I try works, whether it be USB or Thunderbolt 3.

If I look in dmesg, I can see the controller is recognising something, but it never lands in userspace:

[ 1807.837379] xhci_hcd 0000:39:00.0: Host supports USB 3.1 Enhanced SuperSpeed
[ 1807.837410] usb usb4: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0003
[ 1807.837412] usb usb4: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
[ 1807.837413] usb usb4: Product: xHCI Host Controller
[ 1807.837414] usb usb4: Manufacturer: Linux 4.13.0-25-generic xhci-hcd
[ 1807.837416] usb usb4: SerialNumber: 0000:39:00.0
[ 1807.837549] hub 4-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 1807.837558] hub 4-0:1.0: 2 ports detected
---
ApportVersion: 2.20.8-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-01-19 (10 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Alpha amd64 (20180118)
Package: linux (not installed)
Tags: bionic wayland-session
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-041500-generic x86_64
UnreportableReason: The running kernel is not an Ubuntu kernel
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip libvirt lpadmin lxd plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True

[Ubuntu Foundations Team Bug Bot (crichton)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. It seems that your bug report is not filed about a specific source package though, rather it is just filed against Ubuntu in general. It is important that bug reports be filed about source packages so that people interested in the package can find the bugs about it. You can find some hints about determining what package your bug might be about at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/FindRightPackage. You might also ask for help in the #ubuntu-bugs irc channel on Freenode.

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[This is an automated message. I apologize if it reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. While running an Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline or third-party kernel) please enter the following command in a terminal window:

apport-collect 1745747

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v4.15 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.15

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

apport information

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

apport information

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

apport information

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

Done, still no joy :( Thanks.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Please try disable thunderbolt security in BIOS menu.

If the issue still happens, please attach full dmesg.

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

Hi Kai-Heng,

Thanks, I'm afraid I'd already disabled it, so isn't the issue. Here is dmesg output after inserting and removing a USB memory stick.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

I have XPS 9370 at hand, I'll keep you posted.

Can you try upgrade BIOS and TBT NVM to latest version first?

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Also I am wondering if this is the culprit:

[ 111.408064] ACPI Error: [SPRT] Namespace lookup failure, AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20170831/dswload2-346)
[ 111.408078] No Local Variables are initialized for Method [XTBT]
[ 111.408080] Initialized Arguments for Method [XTBT]: (2 arguments defined for method invocation)
[ 111.408081] Arg0: 0000000003b16caf <Obj> Integer 0000000000000005
[ 111.408087] Arg1: 0000000025f94152 <Obj> Integer 0000000002060002
[ 111.408091] ACPI Exception: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20170831/psobject-252)
[ 111.408094] ACPI Error: Method parse/execution failed \_GPE.XTBT, AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20170831/psparse-550)
[ 111.408099] ACPI Error: Method parse/execution failed \_GPE.XTBT, AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20170831/psparse-550)
[ 111.408106] ACPI Error: Method parse/execution failed \_GPE._E42, AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20170831/psparse-550)
[ 111.408110] ACPI: Marking method _E42 as Serialized because of AE_ALREADY_EXISTS error
[ 111.408113] ACPI Exception: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, while evaluating GPE method [_E42] (20170831/evgpe-646)

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

The error log from comment #4:

Jan 29 22:45:38 mia kernel: xhci_hcd 0000:39:00.0: xHCI host controller not responding, assume dead
Jan 29 22:45:38 mia kernel: xhci_hcd 0000:39:00.0: Host halt failed, -19
Jan 29 22:45:38 mia kernel: xhci_hcd 0000:39:00.0: Host not accessible, reset failed.

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

Is that something I can try to fix? (I'm a bit lost at this level of Kernel)

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

A few questions:

1)It looks like you did test 4.15 final correct? This happens identically
with both 4.13 and 4.15?

2) Can you please install fwupd from proposed and start fwupd in verbose
mode and share the output?

/use/lib/fwupd/fwupd -v

3) did you try changing thunderbolt security levels after plugging in
thunderbolt device?

4) does booting with thunderbolt or usb device already plugged in affect
the results?

On Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 05:35 Joseph Borg <email address hidden> wrote:

> Is that something I can try to fix? (I'm a bit lost at this level of
> Kernel)
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1745747
>
> Title:
> No USB support for Dell XPS 13 9370 running Bionic 18.04
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1745747/+subscriptions
>

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

Ciao Marino,

Yes, it's the same with 4.13 and 4.15.

I've attached the output of fwupd.

I've disabled the security in BIOS. I've looked into doing the /sys/bus/thunderbolt auth trick, but the device does't appear in there.

I'll try the reboot with the device and let you know.

Grazie!

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

To add, with it plugged in from boot deosn't work either.

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

Thanks for sharing. It looks like you're on latest BIOS and thunderbolt
controller isn't running in native mode.

Can you also share fwupdmgr get-devices output with a Thunderbolt device
plugged in?

On Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 08:05 Joseph Borg <email address hidden> wrote:

> Ciao Marino,
>
> Yes, it's the same with 4.13 and 4.15.
>
> I've attached the output of fwupd.
>
> I've disabled the security in BIOS. I've looked into doing the
> /sys/bus/thunderbolt auth trick, but the device does't appear in there.
>
> I'll try the reboot with the device and let you know.
>
> Grazie!
>
> ** Attachment added: "fwupd.out"
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1745747/+attachment/5045580/+files/fwupd.out
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1745747
>
> Title:
> No USB support for Dell XPS 13 9370 running Bionic 18.04
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1745747/+subscriptions
>

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

Without anything plugged in:
Intel AMT (unprovisioned)
  DeviceId: 088df415cdee883ec89563e41e6d495924250174
  Guid: 2800f812-b7b4-2d4b-aca8-46e0ff65814c
  Summary: Hardware and firmware technology for remote out-of-band management
  Plugin: amt
  Flags: internal|registered
  Vendor: Intel Corporation
  Version: 11.7.0
  VersionBootloader: 11.7.0
  Icon: computer
  Created: 2018-01-30

XPS 13 9370 System Firmware
  DeviceId: 8a21cacfb0a8d2b30c5ee9290eb71db021619f8b
  Guid: 7ceaf7a8-0611-4480-9e30-64d8de420c7c
  Plugin: uefi
  Flags: internal|updatable|require-ac|registered|needs-reboot
  Version: 0.1.0.2
  VersionLowest: 0.1.0.2
  Icon: computer
  Created: 2018-01-30

Unknown Device
  DeviceId: ca9f93cb97772027f45ba73c86cf4980fb02745b
  Guid: 8eb8bd2e-0fca-5aba-9aa8-f341e0aa4482
  Plugin: udev
  Flags: internal|registered
  Vendor: Intel Corporation
  VendorId: PCI:0x8086
  Icon: audio-card
  Created: 2018-01-30

XPS 9370 Thunderbolt Controller
  DeviceId: 8cd114f17ced092466b63697348281cc8c4a1b17
  Guid: 4eeb9d07-a96c-56d6-92d3-4a23ee7a6e4a
  Summary: Unmatched performance for high-speed I/O
  Plugin: thunderbolt
  Flags: internal|updatable|registered
  Vendor: Dell
  VendorId: TBT:0x00D4
  Version: 23.0
  Icon: computer
  Created: 2018-01-30

With USB plugged in:

Intel AMT (unprovisioned)
  DeviceId: 088df415cdee883ec89563e41e6d495924250174
  Guid: 2800f812-b7b4-2d4b-aca8-46e0ff65814c
  Summary: Hardware and firmware technology for remote out-of-band management
  Plugin: amt
  Flags: internal|registered
  Vendor: Intel Corporation
  Version: 11.7.0
  VersionBootloader: 11.7.0
  Icon: computer
  Created: 2018-01-30

XPS 13 9370 System Firmware
  DeviceId: 8a21cacfb0a8d2b30c5ee9290eb71db021619f8b
  Guid: 7ceaf7a8-0611-4480-9e30-64d8de420c7c
  Plugin: uefi
  Flags: internal|updatable|require-ac|registered|needs-reboot
  Version: 0.1.0.2
  VersionLowest: 0.1.0.2
  Icon: computer
  Created: 2018-01-30

Unknown Device
  DeviceId: ca9f93cb97772027f45ba73c86cf4980fb02745b
  Guid: 8eb8bd2e-0fca-5aba-9aa8-f341e0aa4482
  Plugin: udev
  Flags: internal|registered
  Vendor: Intel Corporation
  VendorId: PCI:0x8086
  Icon: audio-card
  Created: 2018-01-30

XPS 9370 Thunderbolt Controller
  DeviceId: 8cd114f17ced092466b63697348281cc8c4a1b17
  Guid: 4eeb9d07-a96c-56d6-92d3-4a23ee7a6e4a
  Summary: Unma...

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

OK so that's an older Thunderbolt NVM. It wouldn't hurt to upgrade to the latest to see if it helps.

Unfortunately it's not yet on LVFS yet, but if you want to try to build it and flash it yourself here are the pieces you need:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverId=3H3DP
https://github.com/hughsie/fwupd/tree/master/contrib/firmware-packager

Download the archive and those tools and follow the README.md in the link to the tools to build yourself a CAB with the update.

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

Actually here you go:
https://fwupd.org/downloads/2ab30ba0769a84029af4e055270444f9391c71c8-3H3DP_NVM28.00.cab
See if that helps.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Upgrade the TBT NVM to 28.0.
I can observe the same symptom on *some* USB Type-C devices get plugged to TBT port.
Plug the same device to the non-TBT port, it works correctly.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Do you feel the sluggishness when the device gets plugged into TBT port?
I can hardly type anything.

Interestingly, I don't see any spike in /proc/interrupts.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Overhead of acpi_os_read_port() skyrocketing in perf.

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

Hi Kai-Heng and Mario, I'll try the update when I have a moment.

Yes, I get a ~1 second freeze and I plug anything or take it out.

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

I wouldn't recommend to waste time investigating the lag mentioned in the
past few comments.

Due to the way that Thunderbolt works while enumerating in BIOS assist mode
(also known as legacy mode) I would expect a small lag like that. In native
mode the enumeration is handled by the OS ACPI hotplug subsystem.

Enumerating the Thunderbolt tree is assisted by a BIOS SMI in this
instance. The CPU goes into SMM during this time.

Native isn't supported yet by 4.15 and also the thunderbolt controller
needs special firmware for it to work in this mode that's not currently
available for the XPS 9370.

On Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 04:01 Joseph Borg <email address hidden> wrote:

> Hi Kai-Heng and Mario, I'll try the update when I have a moment.
>
> Yes, I get a ~1 second freeze and I plug anything or take it out.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1745747
>
> Title:
> No USB support for Dell XPS 13 9370 running Bionic 18.04
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1745747/+subscriptions
>

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

@Joseph,

After you upgrade NVM if you can still reproduct can you please share more information on which USB-C (non TBT devices) and which TBT devices you are testing with?

Also for the ones that are not TBT can you please try them in the other USB-C ports? As Kai Heng mentioned the XPS 9370 doesn't have every USB-C port wired to the TBT controller. You should look at the silkscreen to tell which ones are TBT.

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

@Mario,

I've not done the upgrade yet but I can confirm I've already tried all ports on the laptop and they all behave in exactly the same way.

I've tried several USB storage devices, a USB eth NIC and 2 different TB3 GFX enclosures.

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

@Joseph,

Hmm, OK. So you may already know this but USB and Thunderbolt devices are handled differently. I would treat these as two distinct separate issues.

Do you have any TBT devices that are not eGPU? It would be good to know if the problems are specific to eGPU.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

@Joseph
The Type-C port (the one with Display port icon) should work out of the box.
At least it works on the XPS 9370 here.

@Mario
I am not talking about lag, mine is like a GPE event storm slow the whole machine down.
I'll dig further and see if I can find anything.

[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

Hi Kai-Heng,

For me, the DP shows exactly the same behavior as the TB3 ports, which is why I think all the issues are related in my case.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Okay, I guess you unchecked "Enable External USB Port" in BIOS. I can see similar dmesg if it's unchecked.

It's in BIOS "Settings" -> "System Configuration" -> "USB Configuration".

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

@Mario,

The device I mentioned is a USB Type-C to HDMI UHD dongle, it uses a NXP PTN5002 inside:

T: Bus=03 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=12 MxCh= 0
D: Ver= 2.01 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=1fc9 ProdID=5002 Rev=01.00
S: Manufacturer=NXP
S: Product=PTN5002
S: SerialNumber=0000039e5595
C: #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=100mA
I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 0 Cls=fe(app. ) Sub=01 Prot=01 Driver=(none)

I just tried to use this dongle under Windows 10, same result. So probably a hardware/firmware issue.

The NXP PTN5002 works on Precision 3520's TBT port.

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

There's a lot of reports of failures when using dongles with that chip.
Some people have had success when switching to HDMI cables with better
shielding.

On Fri, Feb 2, 2018, 01:40 Kai-Heng Feng <email address hidden>
wrote:

> @Mario,
>
> The device I mentioned is a USB Type-C to HDMI UHD dongle, it uses a NXP
> PTN5002 inside:
>
> T: Bus=03 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=12 MxCh= 0
> D: Ver= 2.01 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
> P: Vendor=1fc9 ProdID=5002 Rev=01.00
> S: Manufacturer=NXP
> S: Product=PTN5002
> S: SerialNumber=0000039e5595
> C: #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=100mA
> I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 0 Cls=fe(app. ) Sub=01 Prot=01 Driver=(none)
>
> I just tried to use this dongle under Windows 10, same result. So
> probably a hardware/firmware issue.
>
> The NXP PTN5002 works on Precision 3520's TBT port.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1745747
>
> Title:
> No USB support for Dell XPS 13 9370 running Bionic 18.04
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1745747/+subscriptions
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[Joseph Borg (joeborg)]

Hey Kai-Heng, You're right, that was the issue for USB - I was focused on TB settings :(

I don't understand how I managed to install the OS via USB in this case. Thanks for finding it though!

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

@Mario,
Yea, it might be a hardware problem..

@Joseph
Good to know. So I'll close this issue then ;)

[Björn Daase (invisibleshadowghost)]

Yesterday Dell released BIOS version 1.5.1 which fixes all ACPI, USB... issues I observed.
You could give it a try.