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I have a Dell XPS13 (9333, Intel HD graphics 4400), running Ubuntu 14.04 and connected to a Dell monitor U2412M via VGA to mini DP. What I would like to do is to connect to another monitor (same make and model). Since I already have a Dell dockstation, using it would be my preferred method.

According to this answer to a very similar question, upgrading the kernel to 3.17 should work for me. The main difference from that question is that the OP's latop has an Intel HD Graphics 4600.

After upgrading and rebooting, I tried to do a dry-run by connecting a single monitor to the dockstation. Sadly, the external monitor was not recognized either connecting via VGA or DVI, which leads to assume that connecting two monitors, one via dock station and one via VGA to mini DP, will not work.

I am doing something wrong here? How could I connect 2 external monitor to my computer?

Community
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fridaymeetssunday
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3 Answers3

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I assume, you connect the dockingstation to the laptop via USB, right?

Then the used technology would be DisplayLink which is unfortunately not supported on Linux (or just experimental on ArchLinux). As far as I know there are just driver for Windows and Mac OS.

I stumbled accross the same problem when trying to use this Dell USB 3.0 Adapter. What you can do to connect multiple monitors, according to the links you already posted, is to use MST/DaisyChaining. Therefore you need a monitor with an Displayport output. But check the specs of your graphics card if it supports MST before.

lumen
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Use a Port Replicator.

I use Ubuntu 15.04 on Toshiba Z30 Ultrabook with Toshiba Hi-speed port replicator (slightly different to docking station but similar functionality) to connect to two external monitors (one with via VGA and HDMI on port replicator) and everything works fine :)

It supports hot Docking/undocking out of the box and three displays (including laptop in-build one) works smoothly.

FYI, I tried to use Targus docking station with this laptop initially but no luck. I think docking stations have propitiatory connectors and stuff, hence less support for Linux.

Pradeeper
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Update 04.12.2016

Using Ubuntu 16.04 with the latest DisplayLinkDrivers and the issues are now gone. Two external monitors are now possible without much fuss in my set-up.

I am now in a position to answer this: - DisplayLink is now supported for Linux which makes thinks much easier.

Current working* set-up:

  • Ubuntu 14.04
  • Linux kernel 3.19.0-43
  • DisplayLink drivers v1.0.335
  • Dell USB 3.0-Dockingstation D3100​
  • 2 external monitors Dell UltraSharp U2412M
  • No changes where made to the

One monitor is connected directly to the laptop with a mini Display port to VGA adaptor; the other to the docking station via a DVI cable. Each external monitor plus the laptop monitor works independently.

*Issues: - mouse pointer flickering in the laptop and one of the external monitors. Not too disturbing most of the time but it gets annoying sometimes. - Sometimes when connecting the end monitor (DVI, from dock) is not recognized. Disconnecting both monitors and attaching in the order DVI -> DP, will solve the issue. - Newer kernels (and updates to 3.19) appear to make the flickering issue much worst, to the point where the pointer disappears in those monitors.

If someone comes up with a solution for the flickering I will accept that answer instead.

fridaymeetssunday
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