linux usb2-vga - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 03:35:12 pm
content: I have to add a vga screen to an embedded linux board that doesn't come with neither miniPCI nor built-in vgabut thanks all saints, at least it has a couple of ehci usb chipsdo you have experience with usb2-vga? any good product, opensource project or hint?I need a simply framebuffer 640x480, nothing special.The board is arm, and it runs linux 4.16.0

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 04:03:55 pm
content: You may find something that fits here:http://www.displaylink.com/products/usb-adaptersThose products are known to work on Linux.

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 05:03:23 pm
content: thanksbut are also known to work on non-x86 linux machines?

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 05:32:01 pm
content: Don't know. According to this, it may not be easy or even work:https://support.displaylink.com/forums/287786-displaylink-feature-suggestions/suggestions/12586830-arm-linux-supportWhat is your board?

author: technix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 06:13:41 pm
content: Maybe not VGA, but does that board have any form of display out capability, be it DOTCLK RGB, MIPI DSI, eDP or the like? If so there will be bridge chips that can give you either an HDMI or a DisplayPort feed from those, and you can hook a slightly more modern monitor to it.

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 06:52:13 pm
content: there is nothing on the board, only an usb-chip, and a couple of ethernet ports

author: technix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 06:54:23 pm
content: Quote from: legacy on April 04, 2018, 06:52:13 pmAnother alternative is running a VNC server on the board, so you can access the video feed over a network.

author: neil555
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 07:48:08 pm
content: Apparently it can be done ...https://archlinuxarm.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=297

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 08:35:27 pm
content: Quote from: technix on April 04, 2018, 06:54:23 pmthe arm board is the one that should provide the vga screen; I can use the second board (say a mini_PC) for that since it's inside an embedded industrial machine, and I can't change a screw about the electronics (but I can ask someone to plug something into the usb-plug)It's a stupid mistake done by the colleague who designed the equipment: "ops, I've just found out that I have forgotten the VGA framebuffer" .... she said(can't I make her fired, but if I was been the boss I would be tempted to show the door. But ...... she is a nice colleague. So let's try to find a patch to fix the issue)

author: technix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 09:02:17 pm
content: Quote from: legacy on April 04, 2018, 08:35:27 pmIf that is the case, maybe just skip the display entirely and just funnel the data and control through SSH or something? Someone with a tablet computer can control all machines on one terminal - effectively one screen shared by all machines. If someone is brave enough they can even make use of those data and control channels to implement some level of automation.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 09:44:32 pm
content: Quote from: legacy on April 04, 2018, 08:35:27 pmThat's what design reviews are for. If anyone should be fired, it's probably your boss who doesn't enforce doing design reviews!

author: dgtl
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2018, 06:29:46 am
content: At least one usb display with built-in DisplayLink converter did work with linux mainline udlfb driver on ARM9 board. Of course, the performance was awful, but unless you are showing full screen animations or video, it probably does not matter.