[Dell Precision M3800] DisplayLink USB Graphics adapter not working

[Bernhard Cygan]

Dell USB Docking Station D3000. dmesg says that DisplayLink was found and DisplayLink is visible via lsusb, but nothing happens on the monitor.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-29-generic 3.13.0-29.53
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-29.53-generic 3.13.11.2
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-29-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: bcygan 3606 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC2: bcygan 3606 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Fri Jun 6 09:42:40 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-25 (41 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64 (20131016.1)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Dell Precision M3800
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-29-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=31d8de7d-5798-4462-9c7f-c372c063b991 ro quiet splash ipv6.disable=1 i915.i915_enable_fbc=0 vt.handoff=7
PulseList:
 Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: Home directory not accessible: Permission denied
 No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-29-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-29-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.130~gd~t
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to trusty on 2014-04-25 (41 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 04/16/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A05
dmi.board.name: Dell Precision M3800
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A05
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Not Specified
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA05:bd04/16/2014:svnDellInc.:pnDellPrecisionM3800:pvrA05:rvnDellInc.:rnDellPrecisionM3800:rvrA05:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvrNotSpecified:
dmi.product.name: Dell Precision M3800
dmi.product.version: A05
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

bcygan, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better. Could you please test the latest upstream kernel available (the one all the way at the top, and not the daily folder) following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-3.15-rc8

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

[Bernhard Cygan (bcygan)]

Tested with mainline kernel 3.15.0 with identical outcome

[penalvch (penalvch)]

bcygan, the issue you are reporting is an upstream one. Could you please report this problem through the appropriate channel by following the instructions _verbatim_ at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel ?

Please provide a direct URL to your e-mail to the mailing list once you have made it so that it may be tracked.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Daniel J Blueman (watchmaker)]

DisplayLink who makes the chip involved here doesn't take Linux seriously, so it's probably an idea to help petition them to develop Linux drivers:

http://www.change.org/p/displaylink-support-linux-with-dl-3000-series-chips

[Bernhard Cygan (bcygan)]

According to the response form Greg K-H on the kernel mailing list, the kernel cannot support DisplayLink (as of ID 17e9:4318 DisplayLink ), because there are no specs available. So change.org might be our best hope for now.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

bcygan, could you please post the URL of the upstream mailing list post, as requested in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1327086/comments/5 ?