Make the Linux driver open source and get it into the kernel
If the DisplayLink driver existed in the kernel, it would be SO much easier for the users to get it working. In my role as Chief Digital Officer for a large company (of 8000 people), I would probably have bought 500 of these devices IF the driver were just upstream (you know, how Linux devices normally "just work" without the aggro common in the Windows world). However, the annoyance of a manual driver install, especially when it's broken on updates to newer kernels, is just something I wouldn't want to invest in. Please consider that proprietary drivers are serious impediment to sales, and just work with a willing community upstream.
Richard Neill
shared this idea
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Matthijs W
commented
It’s absolutely unacceptable that this driver keeps breaking. It has cost me many hours to troubleshoot issues with my DisplayLink stuff. I advice against buying DisplayLink for Unix based hardware, please save yourself the trouble and buy a thunderbolt dock instead.
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Daniele Turra commented
Up
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TurtleNeck
commented
It's astounding that this issue has received the highest number of votes, and yet there has been no response from Displaylink. It's evident that there is a large Linux community that is willing to help with development, and many more who would use it. It's baffling to me that the company has not deemed it necessary to respond. The driver ought to be included in the Linux kernel; otherwise, it will inevitably fail with each new release and be fixed only after the kernel release becomes obsolete.
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82UN0
commented
I agree, again and again.
Today it is not advisable to recommend DisplayLink to other Linux users. And since they are also often on Windows, they will not have to trust this brand that takes its users hostage ...
Either you provide updates or you release the code.
Displaylink's attitude is really pathetic -
Dunc P commented
5 year since this comment and still nothing. What a shame.... oh I mean what a SHAM!
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Mike Hodson commented
Hello, we need opensource. Otherwise thunderbolt 4 is more useful. Damn intel, I want AMD.
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Dylan Taylor commented
So much this. Just broke again on kernel 6.1/6.2. This wouldn't happen if it were a mainline module.
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Josh Harding commented
absolutely critical the DisplayLink driver is injected into the kernel! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE work on making this happen!
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Sebaschi
commented
It's actually insane that this is the by far highest voted issue and there has been no response from Displaylink. Clearly there is a large community of Linux users who 1. would help develope and 2. many more who would use it. I cannot wrap my head around the fact that apparently it isn't even worth a response from the company.
I was naive when buying my docking hub and chose a display link device to hook up my new linux/fedoras laptop to my new, bigger monitor, all part of my new setup. Now, it is useless. I have to connect my peripherals directly to my laptop, and than change it when I hook up my mac. I'm honestly steaming. The sole reason to buy that hub was to (so I naivley though) have seemless integration of my peripherals with my monitor and various laptop devices. Now the whole point is moot. -
Steve Willson commented
I'm here because it "just works" in Windows and Ubuntu configuration is challenging. Please make the driver open source and get it into the kernel.
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Robin Jonsson
commented
Until this happens, DisplayLink will continue to be the weakest link in the chain.
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David Duncan commented
As a member of the packaging group for Fedora, I am happy to say that we would gladly support including any code that is OSI approved. By making this driver open source, we would be able to include support with every release.
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Soul
commented
I can just about guarantee that if this were to happen DisplayLink would start getting adopted much more heavily. Until this happens I probably won't be buying or suggesting DisplayLink devices.
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axion
commented
Please to prevent people from totally breaking their linux install when your driver installer simply overwrites the libusb-1.0.so.0.2.0 file, please refrain from overwriting library files or remove the displaylink driver until you give us a properly compiled driver, compiled against the officially pre-installed libusb-1.0.so.0.2.0 or use a differently versioned file so as to not overwrite the original. Of course you could also simply deliver us some .deb files instead of that very risky zip/run installer-binary.
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Paul Thompson commented
This is beyond the pale in 2022. DisplayLink needs to make this driver open source and get it into the linux kernel. I did not buy my expensive hub to be a paperweight on my desk.
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Charlotte Griffiths
commented
I begrudge Displaylink now too, kernel update just broke my "driver", again... It seems our Linux elders are not happy with Displaylink's Linux support, and after my own painful novice experience running monitors off a dock, I trust their advocacy for open source kernel integration. MAKE IT OPEN SOURCE. Displaylink Linux is a pain...
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Peter Ades
commented
It is a horror to install and maintain in linux.
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82UN0
commented
I agree again and again. Display Link don't work again.
It's a shame -
Ivo Karindi
commented
Have waited for this quite a few years by now. Please take these requests seriously!
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Tomasz Kanik
commented
Without an internal kernel Linux driver this display-link stuff does not make any sense at all if it breaks with every kernel update.
As Chief Architect I can not recommend Display Link to be used by whole government.