Can someone help me connect a Dell® WD22TB4 docking station to my Mint/Ubuntu linux laptop

When I connect the doc to my Thunderbolt port, the connector lites to indicate that the connection is alive. However, I don't find any indication in system logs nor do any of the ports on the dock appear to power up or work in any way.

I was able to get a something.bin file from the Dell Support site. My experience tells me that a star-dot-bin file is firmware for a device. Further, I would expect a driver to be a "system module" star-dot-ko file. It might make sense to need firmware to interact with the linux Thunderbolt or USB-C ports. Sadly, Dell Support has no idea how to support Ubuntu.
{EDITORIAL}They seem only fluent in win-doze. {/EDITORIAL}

NOTE -- The dock's Quick Start sheet reads as follows:
"You must update your BIOS and Drivers to the latest version before using the dock."
Also: "Before using the dock be sure your system has USB-C port with Display Port Alt Mode or Thunderbolt over USB-C."

My laptop has a Thunderbolt-3 USB-C port, a second USB-C port (v3.2.Gen-2 DP v1.4) and three USB-A (v3.0, v3.0, v3.2 Gen-1 ports. The Dell WD22TB4 dock meets all of my connection needs (grin, blush) if I can get it to work. During my research, The Dell support site listed "drivers for Ubuntu 22.04 so I thought that I was safe... maybe not.

Thank you in advance,
~~~ 0;-/ Dan

Try putting that bin file on a usb flash drive, going into your bios setup, and seeing if it can update firmware from there.

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SaintDanbert,

What is the make/model of your laptop?

If it is a Dell, then this link might be of help:
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/e...tu-environment

Updating a BIOS can result in a bricked machine, as I am sure you are fully aware.

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I think that I'm trying to load firmware to the dock vs. update the laptop firmware.
Hmmm... how to find out.

~~~ 0;-/ Dan