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I have a Dell Dock WD15

http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-dock-wd15-with-180w-adapter/apd/450-aeuo/pc-accessories

connected through a USB Type-C port which supports USB 3.1 & Thunderbolt 3. My computer is an Alienware 13 R3. I am running Ubuntu 16.10.

I connect my monitor through the DisplayPort on the WD15. My keyboard and mouse is connect to the USB ports on the WD15. I also use the ethernet port on the WD15 for Internet.

I usually connect the laptop to the WD15 each morning. This functions intermittently. Sometimes it works all day with no problems. Other times it fails after a few minutes.

The problem is that I lose keyboard, mouse, and network through the Dock. The video through the DisplayPort continues to function. I have to continue with the Keyboard and mouse built into the laptop.

Unplugging the WD15 from the USB Type-C port usually does not fix the problem. Most of the time a reboot fixes the problem but not always. Sometimes I have to reboot a few times. But the problem can come back in a few minutes or 30 minutes later or sometimes I don't have a problem all day.

I dual boot with Windows 10. I have the same problem with Windows10. But I don't use Windows much and I have not installed the latest Thunderbolt 3 drivers from Dell for my computer. I did a fresh install of Windows 10 and so I far just use the default drivers.

It's possible my problem is a hardware one and I have a defective Thunderbolt port (I got this computer recently). But I would like to try and diagnosis the problem. My skills with debugging hardware are not strong. I would like to know how I can try and discover what the problem is. For example what log files to look at. I have looked at dmesg and it appears to show something about a USB dock failing but that's as far as I have gone.

Can you explain what my problem might be and/or how I can diagnosis the problem?

Z boson
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1 Answers1

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For sure you need to install the latest Alienware 13R3 drivers. Especially flashing the BIOS and Thunderbolt 3. I think there about 10 drivers in total that will be out-of-date from a fresh Windows 10 install.

Secondly, read this ArchLinux setup for Alienware 13 lights and what not.

Thirdly, read this ArchLinux setup for Dell XP13 (9350) which shares the same Thunderbolt technology with Alienware. There is good information for updating Thunderbolt 3.

Unfortunately the TBT3 hotplug fix available since Kernel 4.7 hasn't been compiled into Ubuntu Mainline Kernels (as of 4.14.4). You could compile your own kernel with CONFIG_PCI_HOTPLUG=y.

Dell is now allowing you to update Thunderbolt 3 NVM in Linux starting with Kernel 4.13 and getting even better in Kernel 4.15.

Lastly, I noticed many good comments that couldn't be posted as answers because your question has been protected by the community.

WinEunuuchs2Unix
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