Greetings,

I have a Dell XPS 9320 laptop running a core i7 1360P. It runs Linux Ubuntu 23.10 x86-64 (kernal 6.1.0-1023-oem). My last update updated the system as well (after a reboot) the machine bios and firmware.

As A result I can no longer run my Dell docking port (2 external monitors, wired lan connection, headphone and mic, mouse and the IDE 3 connection no longer charges the laptop). This had been working for over a year and a half. The power connection to the docking port is active. The LED on the IDE 3 connector to the computer is not.

Before I go out and buy a new docking port (or fight with Dell support with a "Linux" machine), does anyone have any suggestions as to what may have happened?

Before the update I was working on an NASM x64 project and learning PostgreSQL.

Let me know if there is any other info I can attach.

Thank you,
Dan Rhea (aka Lurchicus)

I am unsure what you did, but Ubuntu updates do not include the BIOS code (which is firmware that must be installed by a special program and comes form the hardware vendor only), or hardware firmware updates which also come form the card vendors and require a special program to install (although the update may include files names linux-firmware-* that are driver support for specific add-on hardware not real firmware in the same sense).

Did this update come from your vendor, or from Canonical and the Ubuntu team? How did it come?

Hi wpeckham,

A couple of updates ago, I did see something mentioning firmware (it flashed by and I didn't note it in detail). When I was having some issues with PostgreSQL, I thought a reboot might be in order (I rarely reboot this system, unlike my Windows 11 machine)). After post some DELL software(firmware?) took over the machine and ran a multiple step update (outside of Linux). The machine then rebooted Linux and my issues with the docking port started.

IF you boot with the right option (F-7 ???) it will look for a *.bios (or *.rvc if i remember correctly) and overwrite replace the bios with that image.
It is not supposed to do that otherwise, unless you download and run the EXE version of the bios update, which will run under either WINDOWS or DOS but not Linux.
It takes about 5 minutes to write the BIOS image.

Could you have had such a file sitting around on ANY storage during that reboot?

If you recorded and remember what the BIOS version was before the change, you can download that version from DELL and get back on the working version. Even if you did not record what you had before, that process might be a valid road to recovery.

There is also processor micro-code which is updated at run-time or after you up date your system and your distributions package/update manager will alert you to the fact that there is a cpu-microcode update3

Hi again,

When I purchased this machine from Dell (about a year and a half ago), I purchased it as a Linux system (Ubuntu). From the start, I noticed the Gnome Software module would show a flag on the update button. Sometimes this said Dell Firmware or Bios Update. I would click update and nothing would appear to happen... until I restarted the system. Linux would start to boot then some obviously Dell software would take over and do Bios updates, Firmware updates some sort of GUID update and so on. Once it finished the updates the Dell software would say "Restarting Linux" and continue the Linux boot process. I had no issues with this until I updated on Monday.

I'm starting to wonder if my docking port simply failed and this is all coincidence. The docking port is a Dell WD15. I'm suspecting this now because the plug from the dock that connects to the computer thunderbolt connection normally has a light on the connector. This light is not on and is not coming on when I plug it in. The power supply for the dock is working fine and has capacity for the peripherals and to charge the laptop battery.

I'm going to take a shot with Dell support and see what happens. I'll reply back with what I find, but I suspect I'll be buying a new dock.

Thanks for the assistance everyone!

Dan Rhea (aka Lurchicus)

Critical information!
That laptop came with some support applications form Dell already installed, and what you have is not the same Ubuntu you would download! (OEM Ubuntu with vendor support applications) That absolutely could have had something pushed to it by Dell.

It would not take a total failure of the dock to exhibit this behavior. If only the CONNECTOR went bad it would be sufficient. The good news is that if it IS something they pushed out, they are likely to have run into this before and have a work-around or solution for affected users.

Best of luck with Dell!

1 members found this post helpful.

So, I completely disconnected everything from my docking port (Dell said it was too old to support by the way) and was preparing to dispose of it and replace it with a new port. I decided to reconnect everything and try one more time. It started working again. I guess this was the extreme version of turn it off and turn it back on. I am still planning on replacing it as it is really ancient, but no rush for the moment.

Hi again all!

I think I may have solved the mystery of why my docking port was acting up. My office is rather cluttered and dusty. After I got the dock working again, I took a damp rag to it and it's power brick. Much to my dismay, the dust was covering a power button on top of the dock. Turning off the power repoduced the "issue". I can only speculate that while reconnecting everything, I must have bumped the power switch and turned the dock back on, including the LED in the plug (the power switch is flush with the top of the dock and not super easy to see (I blame 68 year old eyes)). Anyway all is well, docking port is 100% (and clean too) and the system is ready for Ubuntu 24.04 when it releases.

Thank you everyone!

Dan

Classic, and wonderful, and a lovely "fix"!
That made my day!

i have a credo, when it comes to no power, always check all plugs, switches, outlets, and breakers. you never know if you accidentally bump a switch/breaker, pull a plug, or if an outlet suddenly goes bad. knowing how to replace an outlet does come in handy at times.

I've always been a firm believer in "if you do something dumb (or smart), own it". I learned something, so I might as well share it. It might save someone else some time in the future.

Again, thanks everyone! I'll be sure to punch a few holes in my Mensa card after this one.

Dan