Type | Plugable

DisplayLink Releases New Windows Drivers (Version 6.3)

Posted on 21. May, 2012 by bernie in Windows

DisplayLink’s 6.x series of Windows drivers is now a worthy upgrade for all users.

On May 18th, DisplayLink released their latest version 6.3 Windows drivers. This single driver supports all USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 generation DisplayLink-based products (including all USB graphics products from Plugable), on Windows XP SP2 and later, and Server 2008 and later.

We’re recommending this driver for all USB 3.0 generation products (Like our Plugable USB 3.0 to HDMI adapter). And it’s a good upgrade for USB 2.0 users, too.

The largest improvements for existing users of any DisplayLink-based device, including USB 2.0 ones, are:

1) Much better support in Windows Vista/7 Basic mode (Aero off). While this is a corner case, it’s a huge amount of work on DisplayLink’s part, and will save a lot of frustration for those intentionally or unintentionally dropped into Basic mode by Windows.
2) Better performance / resolution scalability on slower CPUs by avoiding an extra copy for every pixel (introduced earlier in 6.x series)
3) Bugs and other issues resolved

Here are the details from DisplayLink’s release notes, ordered by our perceived importance of the improvement (based on our support cases here at Plugable).

Fixed issues since R6.2 (from DisplayLink’s release notes)

On Windows 7/Vista WDDM Basic, video is not supported. It may work in some
cases but exhibits poor performance. It may stop working after an update from
Windows Update that affects the graphics subsystem. (2028,1609, 3883)

On Vista and Windows 7 in Basic Mode, video will not play on DisplayLink
screens after installation until the PC is rebooted. In Aero mode no reboot
is needed before video will play. (4432)

Occasionally on Windows 7, applying a layout change involving DisplayLink
screens can change the resolution of or turn off one or more screens. To
recover, press the Windows+P keys and select a different setting. (6010, 8741,
9768, 8618, 9956, 10739, 12300, 12715, 13166, 13167, 13226, 13296, 13334)

Some systems may not boot into Windows when DisplayLink device is connected.
(13657)

All screens are black after several layout changes on some machines. (13550)

On some systems all displays may be black or flashing when resuming from
display power save. (13582, 13471)

Sometimes changing mode or layout position of a DisplayLink monitor may fail
with a “Cannot write to specific device” message in the system tray. To recover
replug the device. (13517)

Optimized for Video option removed from Devices and Printers. (13746)

Sometimes all monitors can get blank if trying to mirror two DisplayLink
monitors connected to the system. (13355)

Sometimes enabling previously switched off main monitor may cause all displays
to flicker. (13149)

Sometimes a blue screen can occur when disconnecting DisplayLink device while
having another monitor connected to laptop’s main VGA/DVI port. (13256)

PowerDVD 12 crashes with DisplayLink software installed. (13668)

USBCV tests not passing (13879, 13896, 13878)

Repeated replugging of certain Display Monitors can cause indeterminate
behaviour. (13581)

Failure to detect some hot swapped DVI monitors. (13597)

Fullscreen Direct X Metro applications will be software rendered on DisplayLink
and non-DisplayLink screens

DisplayLink USB 3.0 generation (DL-3×000) fixes

Audio on DL3x00 devices is not automatically default when first connected to
Windows XP systems. (13511)

Occasional failure in resuming from sleep for DL3x00 devices. (13440)

Occasionally after installation the Ethernet driver for the DisplayLink device
will not load. Unplug and replug to recover. (12050)

Wrong audio jack information. (13496)

On some Windows XP systems connecting a network cable to a DisplayLink device
causes the address bar of Windows Explorer to start blinking. (12568)

In particular circumstances a DL3x00 device can drop from SuperSpeed to High
Speed USB. (13769)

USB 3 connection dropping to USB 2 during power state transitions with some
DL3x00 devices. (13769)

Sometimes a DisplayLink monitor connected through DisplayPort may flash after
a resolution change. (13342)

DisplayPort monitor may remain black after being connected to a DisplayLink
device. (13577)

HDMI audio stops playing after some time. (13307)

HDMI compliance timing fails at resolution 640 x 480@60. (13652)

On some systems using Renesas USB 3.0 host controller disconnecting the
DisplayLink device while playing video may cause system to hang for up to
2 minutes. System will automatically recover after that time. (13364)

Audio not available on DisplayPort monitors immediately after drivers
installation. (13580)

Ethernet on DL3x00 devices unreliable when connected to specific Gigabit
Ethernet switches. (13161)

Default volume on DL3x00 devices too high. (13608)

Ethernet connection dropping out under heavy load on 10Mb networks. (13688)

Supported Operating Systems

This release can be installed on the following operating systems:

– Windows XP SP2 (32-bit edition only)
– Windows XP SP3 (32-bit edition only)
– Windows Vista SP1 (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
– Windows Vista SP2 (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
– Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
– Windows 8 (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
– Windows Server 2008 (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
(This OS has received limited testing)
– Windows Server 2008 R2
(This OS has received limited testing)

Download and Support

Download the latest DisplayLink drivers here: http://displaylink.com/support/downloads.php

If you have any problem at all with any Plugable brand device and the DisplayLink 6.3 drivers, please let us know.

Comment here or email support@plugable.com anytime. We’re here to help!

Fedora 17 USB Multiseat Compatible Hardware

Posted on 08. May, 2012 by bernie in UD-160-M

The Plugable $50 thin client KickStarter project is growing.

But we need early adopters so we have people using the solution, finding and fixing problems, and helping to spread the word. What we deliver now might not include some KickStarter extras and will be higher priced than through the KickStarter project, but it will include all the components and will work with Fedora 17 Beta.

Hardware

Interested in getting your hardware now? If you’re in the USA, here’s what will work with Fedora 17 Beta:

	Plugable USB 2.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station with DisplayLink DVI/VGA up to 1920×1080, Audio, Ethernet, and 4 Available High-Speed USB 2.0 Ports	Product Details		$79.00
	Plugable DC-125 USB 2.0 Laptop Docking Station and Multiseat Thin Client – VGA up to 1440×900 / 1280×1024, Audio, 2 USB ports	Product Details		$64.95

Note the $79 version does not mention use as a thin client (it’s marketed for the laptop docking market), but it will work. And in the future and as part of the KickStarter project, we’ll have a UD-160-M model which is the same hardware, but with documentation tailored for the thin client / multiseat case.

International Shipping Options

If you’re outside the USA, we’re still working on expanding our options. Note that the UD-160-A is not sold on amazon.co.uk and the DC-125 sold there is not yet updated with Fedora support (we’ll let you know when it is).

So to reach the rest of the world, we’re offering a new option for international shipping of the DC-125 from the USA via USPS Flat Rate Priority. It’s the same price as in the USA ($64.95), but with an additional $16.95 shipping cost. Just visit the DC-125 page, and choose “more buying choices” in the lower right.

And look for the second option with “INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING AVAILABLE”.

Let us know if you have any trouble with payment through Amazon. This version of the DC-125 includes all the components purchased through normal channels, but without the extra color packaging — this is so it can fit in a $16.95 fixed-rate priority international shipping box.

If you’ve never ordered and had an item shipped from the USA before via the US Postal Service, please research the rules in your country. We declare the actual value of all items, so in some countries customs and/or VAT taxes are collected, and all of those are paid by the recipient once the items arrive in country. And also note that while every shipment will have a tracking number, the tracking is generally poor once the item has left the USA.

Software

You can download Fedora 17 Beta here. Must be the default version (GDM) and use the “install media” option at the top — live CDs don’t work yet because of the modifications needed.

Install F17 to the hard drive of an available machine. For 3-4 thin clients, you can use a spare older machine – we’d recommend a machine with 1GB RAM and 2 cores or 2 GHz or more, but anything that F17 will run on at all, will work.

The thin clients will only come up to a green screen at this point. A few pre-release fixes are needed:

Disable SELinux. Here’s how. Things will work now, but with some plug/unplug instability. To fix that …
Get our latest fixes in udlfb.
- Get all latest fedora updates (so your kernel and kernel-devel headers are at the same version)
- sudo yum install gcc kernel-devel
- Get latest udlfb, compile and install. The following commands will do that:
```
git clone http://git.plugable.com/webdav/udlfb/
cd udlfb
make
sudo make install
sudo depmod -a
```
make sure none of those steps reported errors (missing module dependencies are actually ok). Reboot.

Now, any Plugable UD-160-A/M or DC-125 thin client you plug in should automatically pop up a new login.

Comment here or email support@plugable.com if you have any trouble at all – we’d be happy to help! And thanks in advance to the early users who help find issues and spread the word about how cool this technology can be!

Plugable’s New Tiny, Cutting-Edge USB 3.0 Graphics Adapter

Posted on 30. Apr, 2012 by bernie in Windows

The next generation of USB graphics adapters is here! We’re excited to announce that the Plugable USB 3.0 HDMI / DVI Graphics Adapter is launching today — simultaneously available and shipping to customers the USA, UK, and 26 additional EU countries (USA buyers order on Amazon.com, UK/EU buyers from Amazon.co.uk).

This new adapter is a big step forward in several ways:

Among the first product to launch with the latest DisplayLink DL-3500 USB 3.0 / 2.0 chipset.
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 lifts the lid on performance. Enables a max theoretical throughput of 5000 Mbps vs. 480 Mbps for USB 2.0.
Features a completely re-engineered 6 layer PCB design that is *small*. About half the size of our smallest USB 2.0 generation adapters. The adapter fits nicely inline with the cable,its weight doesn’t create any pull when hanging mid-air, and it doesn’t clutter the desk. You’ll be shocked at what this little adapter can do.
The adapter works with older USB 2.0 Windows systems (at USB 2.0 speeds), with no problems mixing and matching USB 2.0 and 3.0 adapters on the same system (using the same common DisplayLink driver).
The USB 3.0 generation of products is Windows-only for now. On Windows, you get all the great multi-monitor functionality, without compromise — and now with better performance in higher resolutions and with video.