No external monitorvia USB-C over Dockingstation

[bnjmnhg]

Hi @all,

i'm not totally new to Ubuntu/Linux but still far from being a pro!

Actually i run Ubuntu 22.04 (installed via ARMBIAN) with Gnome 42 on my Pinebook Pro:

Code:

$lsb_release -a
    No LSB modules are available.
    Distributor ID:    Ubuntu
    Description:    Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS
    Release:    22.04
    Codename:    jammy
       
    $ uname -a
        Linux pinebook-pro 6.1.30-rockchip64 #3 SMP PREEMPT Wed May 24 16:32:53 UTC 2023 aarch64 aarch64 aarch64 GNU/Linux
    $ gnome-shell --version
     GNOME Shell 42.

I've tried an Dell Monitor with USB-C-Support (U3421WE) an DELL-USB-C- Dockingstation with a Lenovo-Monitor and a Lenovo Thinkpas Universal USB-C-Dock (40AY) with an Fujitsu Monitor.

 
The beahviour ist always the same: USB-Hub is Working (Mous, & Keyboard etc.) but Display is not:

The U3421WE display,: " No USB-C Signal from the Divce". The other ones yust say: "No input Signal".
It makes no difference if it is hotplugged or plugged in befor boot also not flipping the USBC plug.

Her ist (as an example from the setup with the DELL.Monitor on the Lenovo-Dockingstation) some information i imagine to be helpful:

Code:

$ lsusb
    Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
    Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
    Bus 007 Device 015: ID 17ef:30a9 Lenovo 40AY
    Bus 007 Device 017: ID 17ef:30b0 Lenovo ThinkPad USB-C Dock Audio
    Bus 007 Device 020: ID 046d:c069 Logitech, Inc. M-U0007 [Corded Mouse M500]
    Bus 007 Device 019: ID 046a:010d Cherry GmbH MX-Board 3.0 Keyboard
    Bus 007 Device 018: ID 17ef:30ae Lenovo USB2.0 Hub            
    Bus 007 Device 016: ID 17ef:30ac Lenovo USB2.0 Hub            
    Bus 007 Device 014: ID 17ef:30af Lenovo USB2.0 Hub
    Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
    Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0c45:6321 Microdia HP Integrated Webcam
    Bus 001 Device 002: ID 05e3:0608 Genesys Logic, Inc. Hub
    Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    Bus 006 Device 002: ID 258a:001e HAILUCK CO.,LTD USB KEYBOARD
    Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
    Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub


    $ lsusb -v -s 007:15
    Bus 007 Device 015: ID 17ef:30a9 Lenovo 40AY
    Couldn't open device, some information will be missing
    Device Descriptor:
      bLength                18
      bDescriptorType         1
      bcdUSB               2.01
      bDeviceClass            0
      bDeviceSubClass         0
      bDeviceProtocol         0
      bMaxPacketSize0         8
      idVendor           0x17ef Lenovo
      idProduct          0x30a9
      bcdDevice           30.80
      iManufacturer           1 Lenovo
      iProduct                2 40AY
      iSerial                 3 1S40AY0090EUZVR01WKQ
      bNumConfigurations      1
      Configuration Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         2
        wTotalLength       0x0029
        bNumInterfaces          2
        bConfigurationValue     1
        iConfiguration          4
        bmAttributes         0xc0
          Self Powered
        MaxPower                0mA
        Interface Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType         4
          bInterfaceNumber        0
          bAlternateSetting       0
          bNumEndpoints           0
          bInterfaceClass        17
          bInterfaceSubClass      0
          bInterfaceProtocol      0
          iInterface              5
        Interface Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType         4
          bInterfaceNumber        1
          bAlternateSetting       0
          bNumEndpoints           2
          bInterfaceClass       255 Vendor Specific Class
          bInterfaceSubClass      3
          bInterfaceProtocol      0
          iInterface              6
          Endpoint Descriptor:
            bLength                 7
           
           
      $ sudo lshw -c display
      *-graphics               
           Produkt: rockchipdrmfb
           Physische ID: d
           Logischer Name: /dev/fb0
           Fähigkeiten: fb
           Konfiguration: depth=32 resolution=1920,1080

    $ sudo dmesg -C   
    $ sudo dmesg -H
    [Jul19 12:00] usb 7-1: new high-speed USB device number 17 using xhci-hcd
    [  +0,162850] usb 7-1: New USB device found, idVendor=17ef, idProduct=30af, bcdDevice=60.90
    [  +0,000025] usb 7-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=10, Product=11, SerialNumber=0
    [  +0,000008] usb 7-1: Product: USB2.0 Hub
    [  +0,000006] usb 7-1: Manufacturer: Lenovo
    [  +0,045558] hub 7-1:1.0: USB hub found
    [  +0,000339] hub 7-1:1.0: 3 ports detected
    [  +0,287217] usb 7-1.3: new full-speed USB device number 18 using xhci-hcd
    [  +0,102859] usb 7-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=17ef, idProduct=30a9, bcdDevice=30.80
    [  +0,000026] usb 7-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
    [  +0,000008] usb 7-1.3: Product: 40AY
    [  +0,000006] usb 7-1.3: Manufacturer: Lenovo
    [  +0,000006] usb 7-1.3: SerialNumber: 1S40AY0090EUZVR01WKQ
    [  +0,285455] usb 7-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 19 using xhci-hcd
    [  +0,103629] usb 7-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=17ef, idProduct=30ac, bcdDevice=51.14
    [  +0,000026] usb 7-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
    [  +0,000008] usb 7-1.1: Product: USB2.0 Hub            
    [  +0,000007] usb 7-1.1: Manufacturer: VIA Labs, Inc.        
    [  +0,000006] usb 7-1.1: SerialNumber: 000000001
    [  +0,052349] hub 7-1.1:1.0: USB hub found
    [  +0,000125] hub 7-1.1:1.0: 4 ports detected
    [  +0,411473] usb 7-1.2: new full-speed USB device number 20 using xhci-hcd
    [  +0,118560] usb 7-1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=17ef, idProduct=30b0, bcdDevice= 0.42
    [  +0,000024] usb 7-1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
    [  +0,000008] usb 7-1.2: Product: ThinkPad USB-C Dock Audio

I have also already read through the existing thread on the subject of USB monitor (https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=10206) but did not notice a decisive hint. Or I did not recognize it...

Furthermore, I have already asked at ask-ubuntu, but got no response there.

[tophneal]

Currently the HDMI through USB-C is broken in the mainline kernel for the pbp (iirc) but you can search for and build/install megi's kernel to restore it.

[bnjmnhg]

Ok. Thanks for the information. That was actually news to me!
So I know now that I have to live with it for now.
Building the kernel myself is not a option for me for now.
Maybe it will be patched in a future mainline kernel.

[bnjmnhg]

Ok. Thanks for the information. That was actually news to me!
So I know now that I have to live with it for now.
Building the kernel myself is not a option for me for now.
Maybe it will be patched in a future mainline kernel.

<- That was me a few weeks ago.
Now I've read al litte, tried a little, and finaly compiled a new kernell (on my destop, not on PBP).
So i feel prepeared to try it with megi's kernel.

But i didn't find a propper Tutorial yet. Yes, there are many how to build and install al kernel from linus git-repo. But megi's seams to be a little different.  

I Found a already ready to Use Kernel (https://xff.cz/kernels/6.4/pbp.tar.gz) at megis current site. But the Readme isn't very exact.

Code:

Pre-built Linux 6.4 kernel for Pinebook Pro
=======================================================

How to use this
---------------

1a) Copy the kernel Image and board.dtb to a boot partition (put them in a
    subdirectory if you want)
1b) Alternatively use board.itb which combines Image and board.dtb into
    a single file.
2) Point extlinux.conf or boot.scr to these files
3) Copy modules/lib/modules to /lib directory in your root filesystem
4) Reboot

Does anyone have a little more exact guide on how to run megis kernel?

[tophneal]

i can't recall off the top of my head, but you should have either a /BOOT folder or a BOOT partition. Disks will show you if there is a BOOT partition, if there is mount it. Look into that partition to determine if it uses an Image and board.dtb or if there's only an .itb file. You'll copy the ones in the megi archive into the BOOT partition to replace/sit next to the original files.
Next look in there for either the extlinux.conf or boot.scr file, edit it to include the paths to the megi files you copied into BOOT.
Then you'll sudo cp the modules folder content into /lib. per those instructions, i imagine this would be something like:
sudo cp [megi kernel root folder]/modules/lib/modules /lib

if everything went well, you should be able to reboot into megi's kernel. you can also try jumping into the community chat and asking megi for any clarification you may need. they've been pretty active in there lately.

[wdt]

>edit boot.scr
NO, this will NOT work
edit boot.cmd, then run mkimage with suitable parameters (don't remember)
----
sometimes boot.cmd is called boot.txt

[bnjmnhg]

I tried to continue a few days ago. However, with the worst possible outcome.

In detail: I put the board.itb (in a new subdor of /Boot) and the modules (in /lib). 

In the boot.scr, a boot.txt was referenced. So I didn't touch the former and adapted the latter.

Then I rebooted and this is what happened: Nothing

Everything was like before: the"old" kernel continued to run. I gave up for the time being.

A few days later I wanted to continue. But now the PinebookPro no longer boots. After switching on, the LED turns orange and the screen remains dark. I can't quite explain this.

I think that I haven't changed anything again after the first reboot. But maybe I am wring.  I will remove the eMMC when I'll find some time. Maybe it can be brought back to life that way. If not, I'll just have to start from scratch.