12.24.4. Universal USB Port Replicators
I have used a Typhoon USB 2.0 7in1 Docking Station made by Anubis P/N 83057 to check the Linux compatibility of such devices. Actually this device should be named port replicator, because it does not have any extension slots. This device doesn't have a VGA port to connect to an external display. Only a few USB docking stations have this feature. It would be nice to get a report whether a VGA port works or not. Tested with laptop COMPAQ M700 (USB 1.1) and custom made kernel 2.6.1. Note the port replicator didn't work with an Apple PowerBook G4.
How does its different ports work with Linux:
USB 2.0 A-type downstream: works with external hard disk and mouse out of the box
USB 2.0 A-type downstream: see above
PS/2 keyboard: works out of the box
PS/2 mouse: works, but for 2.6 Kernels you have to specifiy the right mouse protocol psmouse_proto=imps (if psmouse is compiled as a module).
serial port: tested with serial mouse, doesn't seem to work, /dev/ttyUSB0 was assigned
parallel port: tested, device /dev/usb/usblp0 assigned, works e.g. with HP LaserJet 2100
LAN: usbnet loads, device eth1 was assigned, ifconfig or pump configures the network device
transfer port aka host link: works with usbnet module, use ifconfig usb0 to configure the network interface, (USB 1.1 host link B-type) untested
Here is the output of dmesg for the Typhoon port replicator:
hub 1-0:1.0: new USB device on port 1, assigned address 26
hub 1-1:1.0: USB hub found
hub 1-1:1.0: 4 ports detected
hub 1-1:1.0: new USB device on port 3, assigned address 27
hub 1-1.3:1.0: USB hub found
hub 1-1.3:1.0: 4 ports detected
hub 1-1:1.0: new USB device on port 4, assigned address 28
eth1: register usbnet at usb-0000:00:07.2-1.4, ASIX AX8817x USB 2.0 Ethernet
hub 1-1.3:1.0: new USB device on port 1, assigned address 29
usb0: register usbnet at usb-0000:00:07.2-1.3.1, Prolific PL-2301/PL-2302
hub 1-1.3:1.0: new USB device on port 2, assigned address 30
drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 30 if 0 alt 1 proto 2 vid 0x067B pid 0x2305
hub 1-1.3:1.0: new USB device on port 3, assigned address 31
pl2303 1-1.3.3:1.0: PL-2303 converter detected
usb 1-1.3.3: PL-2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0 (or usb/tts/0 for devfs)
hub 1-1.3:1.0: new USB device on port 4, assigned address 32
HID device not claimed by input or hiddev
hid: probe of 1-1.3.4:1.0 failed with error -5
input: Composite USB PS2 Converter USB to PS2 Adaptor v1.09 on usb-0000:00:07.2-1.3.4
HID device not claimed by input or hiddev
hid: probe of 1-1.3.4:1.1 failed with error -5
input: Composite USB PS2 Converter USB to PS2 Adaptor v1.09 on usb-0000:00:07.2-1.3.4
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