[SOLVED] Pinebook Pro USB-C port not working after kernel upgrade

xp19375 · 01-17-2024, 08:09 PM

After the recent update to Linux 6.6 (thanks drmozes!), the USB-C port on my Pinebook Pro does not seem to work at all. I have a USB-C dock, and when I plug it in, nothing appears in dmesg - even at debug level - and lsusb is unchanged. I noticed this problem when I tried out megi's 6.7 kernel, and when switching back to 6.1, things worked just fine so I chalked it up to a kernel config problem. Plugging the dock in to the USB-A port with an adapter also works (but not the DP alt mode which is the main reason I want to use this dock.)

Has anyone else seen this problem since the upgrade? Any suggestions for further debugging?

Thanks!

mralk3 · 01-17-2024, 08:28 PM

What was the last kernel version where the docking station worked on your system?

There used to be a patch I found in the armbian repository that added support for the usbc port. It was a 5.15.y kernel patch. I had a working vga port, Ethernet, usbc and usb ports. I never had a working display port or hdmi port on the pinebook pro.

It's been quite a while since I used the docking station. If you can find a patch or kernel config option, let myself or MoZes know.

xp19375 · 01-18-2024, 01:31 PM

The last kernel version that worked for me was the 6.1 from Slackware, 6.1.68 if I remember right (I don't always upgrade to the latest).

I should also add that this isn't the official dock from Pine64, it's a Targus USB-C travel dock with DP alt mode. It shows up in lsusb as:

Code:

Bus 005 Device 006: ID 05e3:0610 Genesys Logic, Inc. Hub
Bus 005 Device 008: ID 0835:2a01 Action Star Enterprise Co., Ltd BILLBOARD DEVICE
Bus 007 Device 006: ID 05e3:0617 Genesys Logic, Inc. USB3.0 Hub
Bus 007 Device 007: ID 0bda:8153 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter

I tried appending "usbcore.quirks=05e3:0617:k" to the kernel command line to no avail. This disables LPM, and it's a USB quirk needed for other Genesys devices.

justwantin · 02-07-2024, 02:05 AM

Quote:

I should also add that this isn't the official dock from Pine64, it's a Targus USB-C travel dock with DP alt mode. It shows up in lsusb as

I've been considering an upgrade. Just out of curiosity ... have you tried plugging anything else in, e.g. mobile phone

xp19375 · 02-19-2024, 12:08 PM

@justwantin I don't have a lot of USB-C devices, but neither of my phones seemed to respond. I plugged in an Android phone and nothing showed up in dmesg, and when I plugged in an iPhone, dmesg showed power related warnings.

I booted in to Manjaro and had the same problem with the 6.6 kernel, but when I downgraded to their 6.1 kernel, things worked as expected. This leads me to believe there was a bug introduced in 6.2+ kernels. I just wish I had something to go on vis-a-vis kernel debugging.

mralk3 · 02-22-2024, 03:15 PM

I tested this once again on the 6.6.y kernel. My docking station is the one I bought from Pine64. USB 2.0/3.0, card reader, usb c power, ethernet and the audio/mic jack all work. I think that the HDMI port and the VGA port will work if I track down the missing kernel module. At one point the VGA port and the HDMI port worked, probably in kernel version 5.15.y.

As a test I plugged in the "docking station" that is made by Pine64 for the Pinephone Pro into my Pinebook Pro. The only port that did not work was the HDMI port. What this tells me is the HDMI and alt-DP stuff is missing.

xp19375 · 02-22-2024, 07:56 PM

Thanks for testing mralk3. Now I know it’s likely a problem with my setup or that particular dock.

xp19375 · 03-08-2024, 03:10 PM

When I updated to the 6.6.20 kernel (from 6.6.18, I think) the USB hub started working again (sans the HDMI port).
Megi's 6.7 kernel also works, with the added bonus that the HDMI port with DP-Alt Mode works as well.