Problems with Dock Station Displaylink for Thinkpad X1 Carbon 2nd gen

Hi, I’m a new user of Opensuse Tumbleweed and I have installed it on a X1 Carbon laptop. I have a dock station for it, a Displaylink, that is recognized, but not in a stable form. That is, the dock is connected, but after a minute or two it is disconnected and quickly reconnected. And this happens continuously, almost every minute. This causes a temporary fall of internet connection and the unmounting of the external hard drives associated through the dock station.

When the dock is connected lsusb give this output:

$ lsusb
 Bus 002 Device 003: ID 04f2:b3f5 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd 
 Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:8000 Intel Corp. 
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 003 Device 020: ID 17e9:431f DisplayLink 
 Bus 003 Device 011: ID 2109:0812 VIA Labs, Inc. VL812 Hub
 Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 138a:0017 Validity Sensors, Inc. VFS 5011 fingerprint sensor
 Bus 001 Device 014: ID 1199:a001 Sierra Wireless, Inc. 
 Bus 001 Device 020: ID 0424:2513 Standard Microsystems Corp. 2.0 Hub
 Bus 001 Device 019: ID 2109:2812 VIA Labs, Inc. VL812 Hub
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

When the dock station is disconnected the output of lsusb is:

$ lsusb
 Bus 002 Device 003: ID 04f2:b3f5 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd 
 Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:8000 Intel Corp. 
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 138a:0017 Validity Sensors, Inc. VFS 5011 fingerprint sensor
 Bus 001 Device 014: ID 1199:a001 Sierra Wireless, Inc. 
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

The output of dmesg is:


  9538.394170] usb 3-1.3: new SuperSpeed Gen 1 USB device number 7 using xhci_hcd
  9538.414777] usb 3-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=17e9, idProduct=431f, bcdDevice= 1.02
  9538.414780] usb 3-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
  9538.414782] usb 3-1.3: Product: ThinkPad Basic USB 3.0 Dock
  9538.414784] usb 3-1.3: Manufacturer: DisplayLink
  9538.414785] usb 3-1.3: SerialNumber: 4551135101001447A162
  9538.430300] usb 3-1.3: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=511), cval->res is probably wrong.
  9538.430304] usb 3-1.3: [16] FU [Lenovo USB Audio Playback Volume] ch = 2, val = -8176/0/16
  9538.430761] usb 3-1.3: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=767), cval->res is probably wrong.
  9538.430764] usb 3-1.3: [13] FU [Mic Capture Volume] ch = 2, val = -4592/7680/16
  9538.455362] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: MAC-Address: 40:2c:f4:97:9e:09
  9538.455367] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: setting rx_max = 16384
  9538.455465] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: setting tx_max = 16384
  9538.455722] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: register 'cdc_ncm' at usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, CDC NCM, 40:2c:f4:97:9e:09
  9539.945897] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: 100 mbit/s downlink 100 mbit/s uplink
  9539.946891] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: network connection: connected
  9539.946923] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): usb0: link becomes ready
  9589.727475] usb 3-1.3: USB disconnect, device number 7
  9589.728894] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: unregister 'cdc_ncm' usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, CDC NCM
  9591.314232] usb 3-1.3: new SuperSpeed Gen 1 USB device number 8 using xhci_hcd
  9591.334976] usb 3-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=17e9, idProduct=431f, bcdDevice= 1.02
  9591.334982] usb 3-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
  9591.334986] usb 3-1.3: Product: ThinkPad Basic USB 3.0 Dock
  9591.334989] usb 3-1.3: Manufacturer: DisplayLink
  9591.334991] usb 3-1.3: SerialNumber: 4551135101001447A162
  9591.345980] usb 3-1.3: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=511), cval->res is probably wrong.
  9591.345983] usb 3-1.3: [16] FU [Lenovo USB Audio Playback Volume] ch = 2, val = -8176/0/16
  9591.346439] usb 3-1.3: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=767), cval->res is probably wrong.
  9591.346443] usb 3-1.3: [13] FU [Mic Capture Volume] ch = 2, val = -4592/7680/16
  9591.367316] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: MAC-Address: 40:2c:f4:97:9e:09
  9591.367321] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: setting rx_max = 16384
  9591.367437] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: setting tx_max = 16384
  9591.367824] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: register 'cdc_ncm' at usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, CDC NCM, 40:2c:f4:97:9e:09
  9592.873667] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: 100 mbit/s downlink 100 mbit/s uplink
  9592.874655] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: network connection: connected
  9592.874688] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): usb0: link becomes ready
  9600.622195] usb 1-1: USB disconnect, device number 15
  9600.622200] usb 1-1.4: USB disconnect, device number 16
  9602.102187] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 17 using xhci_hcd
  9602.257311] usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=2109, idProduct=2812, bcdDevice=50.80
  9602.257319] usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
  9602.257322] usb 1-1: Product: ESSENTIAL DOCK         
  9602.257325] usb 1-1: Manufacturer: LENOVO                 
  9602.258541] hub 1-1:1.0: USB hub found
  9602.258831] hub 1-1:1.0: 4 ports detected
  9602.566183] usb 1-1.4: new high-speed USB device number 18 using xhci_hcd
  9602.678324] usb 1-1.4: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=2513, bcdDevice= b.b3
  9602.678328] usb 1-1.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
  9602.679357] hub 1-1.4:1.0: USB hub found
  9602.679379] hub 1-1.4:1.0: 3 ports detected
  9602.906179] usb 3-1: USB disconnect, device number 3
  9602.906184] usb 3-1.3: USB disconnect, device number 8
  9602.910486] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: unregister 'cdc_ncm' usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, CDC NCM
  9603.694191] usb 3-1: new SuperSpeed Gen 1 USB device number 9 using xhci_hcd
  9603.953448] usb 3-1: New USB device found, idVendor=2109, idProduct=0812, bcdDevice=50.84
  9603.953450] usb 3-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
  9603.953451] usb 3-1: Product: ESSENTIAL DOCK         
  9603.953452] usb 3-1: Manufacturer: LENOVO                 
  9603.955983] hub 3-1:1.0: USB hub found
  9603.956114] hub 3-1:1.0: 4 ports detected
  9604.346217] usb 3-1.3: new SuperSpeed Gen 1 USB device number 10 using xhci_hcd
  9604.370889] usb 3-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=17e9, idProduct=431f, bcdDevice= 1.02
  9604.370895] usb 3-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
  9604.370898] usb 3-1.3: Product: ThinkPad Basic USB 3.0 Dock
  9604.370900] usb 3-1.3: Manufacturer: DisplayLink
  9604.370903] usb 3-1.3: SerialNumber: 4551135101001447A162
  9604.380945] usb 3-1.3: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=511), cval->res is probably wrong.
  9604.380949] usb 3-1.3: [16] FU [Lenovo USB Audio Playback Volume] ch = 2, val = -8176/0/16
  9604.381345] usb 3-1.3: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=767), cval->res is probably wrong.
  9604.381348] usb 3-1.3: [13] FU [Mic Capture Volume] ch = 2, val = -4592/7680/16
  9604.409540] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: MAC-Address: 40:2c:f4:97:9e:09
  9604.409543] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: setting rx_max = 16384
  9604.409642] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: setting tx_max = 16384
  9604.409965] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: register 'cdc_ncm' at usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, CDC NCM, 40:2c:f4:97:9e:09
  9605.106768] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: 100 mbit/s downlink 100 mbit/s uplink
  9605.107762] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: network connection: connected
  9605.107787] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): usb0: link becomes ready
  9660.010147] usb 1-1: USB disconnect, device number 17
  9660.010153] usb 1-1.4: USB disconnect, device number 18
  9662.314337] usb 3-1: USB disconnect, device number 9
  9662.314344] usb 3-1.3: USB disconnect, device number 10
  9662.321107] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: unregister 'cdc_ncm' usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, CDC NCM
  9698.818144] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 19 using xhci_hcd
  9698.968373] usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=2109, idProduct=2812, bcdDevice=50.80
  9698.968378] usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
  9698.968381] usb 1-1: Product: ESSENTIAL DOCK         
  9698.968383] usb 1-1: Manufacturer: LENOVO                 
  9698.969153] hub 1-1:1.0: USB hub found
  9698.969539] hub 1-1:1.0: 4 ports detected
  9699.274105] usb 1-1.4: new high-speed USB device number 20 using xhci_hcd
  9699.390305] usb 1-1.4: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=2513, bcdDevice= b.b3
  9699.390312] usb 1-1.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
  9699.391284] hub 1-1.4:1.0: USB hub found
  9699.391337] hub 1-1.4:1.0: 3 ports detected
  9700.226297] usb 3-1: new SuperSpeed Gen 1 USB device number 11 using xhci_hcd
  9700.489534] usb 3-1: New USB device found, idVendor=2109, idProduct=0812, bcdDevice=50.84
  9700.489541] usb 3-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
  9700.489544] usb 3-1: Product: ESSENTIAL DOCK         
  9700.489547] usb 3-1: Manufacturer: LENOVO                 
  9700.492178] hub 3-1:1.0: USB hub found
  9700.492384] hub 3-1:1.0: 4 ports detected
  9700.882304] usb 3-1.3: new SuperSpeed Gen 1 USB device number 12 using xhci_hcd
  9700.903076] usb 3-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=17e9, idProduct=431f, bcdDevice= 1.02
  9700.903082] usb 3-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
  9700.903085] usb 3-1.3: Product: ThinkPad Basic USB 3.0 Dock
  9700.903088] usb 3-1.3: Manufacturer: DisplayLink
  9700.903090] usb 3-1.3: SerialNumber: 4551135101001447A162
  9700.913390] usb 3-1.3: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=511), cval->res is probably wrong.
  9700.913396] usb 3-1.3: [16] FU [Lenovo USB Audio Playback Volume] ch = 2, val = -8176/0/16
  9700.913836] usb 3-1.3: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=767), cval->res is probably wrong.
  9700.913840] usb 3-1.3: [13] FU [Mic Capture Volume] ch = 2, val = -4592/7680/16
  9700.935531] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: MAC-Address: 40:2c:f4:97:9e:09
  9700.935536] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: setting rx_max = 16384
  9700.935666] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: setting tx_max = 16384
  9700.935969] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: register 'cdc_ncm' at usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, CDC NCM, 40:2c:f4:97:9e:09
  9702.157038] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: 100 mbit/s downlink 100 mbit/s uplink
  9702.158149] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: network connection: connected
  9702.158249] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): usb0: link becomes ready
  9731.810611] usb 3-1.3: USB disconnect, device number 12
  9731.812043] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: unregister 'cdc_ncm' usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, CDC NCM
  9733.294358] usb 3-1.3: new SuperSpeed Gen 1 USB device number 13 using xhci_hcd
  9733.314703] usb 3-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=17e9, idProduct=431f, bcdDevice= 1.02
  9733.314705] usb 3-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
  9733.314707] usb 3-1.3: Product: ThinkPad Basic USB 3.0 Dock
  9733.314708] usb 3-1.3: Manufacturer: DisplayLink
  9733.314709] usb 3-1.3: SerialNumber: 4551135101001447A162
  9733.324474] usb 3-1.3: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=511), cval->res is probably wrong.
  9733.324477] usb 3-1.3: [16] FU [Lenovo USB Audio Playback Volume] ch = 2, val = -8176/0/16
  9733.324864] usb 3-1.3: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=767), cval->res is probably wrong.
  9733.324866] usb 3-1.3: [13] FU [Mic Capture Volume] ch = 2, val = -4592/7680/16
  9733.348457] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: MAC-Address: 40:2c:f4:97:9e:09
  9733.348463] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: setting rx_max = 16384
  9733.348627] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5: setting tx_max = 16384
  9733.349037] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: register 'cdc_ncm' at usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, CDC NCM, 40:2c:f4:97:9e:09
  9734.941128] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: 100 mbit/s downlink 100 mbit/s uplink
  9734.942137] cdc_ncm 3-1.3:1.5 usb0: network connection: connected
  9734.942212] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): usb0: link becomes ready

It’s really a problem linked to the kernel. With the 5.2.10-1.1 kernel the dock was working fine. But with the following kernels the dock station no longer worked properly.
What could I do?
Thanks in avance for help.

Hi and welcome to the Forum :slight_smile:
When you refer to your dock, it’s the network that is going up and down (usb0 with the cdc_ncm driver)?

Thank you malcolmlewis. I believe that is all the dock that disconnect and reconnect, there is a pop-up that appears telling that the dock is reconnected. It could be a problem with kernel-firmware too…

Hi
Yes it could be a firmware issue, do you see anything about this in the logs (dmesg/journalctl)

Can you confirm the dock model number? I’m assuming the dock is powered externally?

No, I can’t find anything. But dmesg gives the errors that I posted. The number of the DisplayLink dock is DL3700-ESS and it is powered externally

Hi
And your running the displaylink application (and kernel module) as well?

Is there a displaylink application?.. No, I haven’t activated a kernel module for it. How could I do it?

Hi
For external monitor(s), are you using this part of the dock?

So with things bouncing is usually a power issue, so the dock is powered up ok? Can you test on another computer or windows etc?

The DisplayLink application is available only for ubuntu… I don’t use for external monitor, only for net and usb devices.

Hi
That’s fine, it does work with openSUSE, it’s a binary blob :wink:

OK, so down to either power on the device or the USB port your using, the USB cable your connecting with or the net driver.

So the USB side works ok, or does it bounce all the time? If you don’t have net connected, does USB work fine?

The dock works fine with debian and with the previous kernels or kernel-firmwares on tumbleweed

Hi
OK, then you need to raise a bug report against Tumbleweed/Kernel;

openSUSE:Submitting bug reports - openSUSE

Can you post back the Bug Report number here…

Here the bug report: 1153152 – Dock DisplayLink DL3700-ESS works intermittently
I hope it was good posted. I have found a workaround installing this package: openSUSE Software supported by the community. Installing it the problem is fixed.

Hi
That doesn’t make sense… there are two components which is the displaylink binary blob (which shouldn’t be on OBS it has a proprietary component), then there is the OSS kernel module (I build that as well), it just takes the debian binary package and regurgitates it…

No firmware etc, so you indicated it worked on earlier kernels…?

yes, it was working with previous kernel-default or previous kernel-firmware

Hi
All very strange… hopefully the bug report will get some traction :slight_smile:

What would be strange? After kernel and kernel-firmware updates the dock no longer was working, and now with the DisplayLink package it works

Hi
Because they are two different applications/uses the evdi module and DisplayLink is for the display part… unless there is some additional functionality in the binary blob (and firmware). But since it was working before without it, why all of a sudden working?

I believe that I have written all data and informations. The dock DisplayLink DL3700-ESS was working on my X1 Carbon with Tumbleweed until the 5.2.10-1.1 kernel or until the kernel-firmware of that kernel. After some updates the dock no more was working, presenting a lot of disconnections and reconnections as showed in the first post where I asked for help. On your indication that there is applications to work with DisplayLink docks, I found this program: openSUSE Software. After the installation of this program the dock is working fine now. Other I can’t say, I’m a new user in the Opensuse world.