• Under 2.6 kernels, USB 2.0 hub, Prolific 2313/2315 serial/parallel ports, C-Media audio, ASIX network interface all appear to work well. HID remains to be tested. In general, the device appears fully compatible with the new kernels, using the stock usbnet.o, asix.o, usb-serial.o, pl2313.o, usb-printer.o, sound-core.o, usb-audio.o as standard drivers for various bundled devices in the acp45.

The only Linux-supported VGA-USB interfaces (as of 2007) appear to be the sis315e chipset-based devices, see AddVGAAdapter and linux.die.net/man/4/sisusb for details. The video in this unit, as it uses another chipset, most likely will not work under Linux. Therefore, it will be best to avoid the integrated SVGA USB docking stations at the present time and choose the non-video equivalents, selecting one of the (rare) Linux-compatible USB video adapters separately.

Targus Universal Docking Station w/ Digital Audio Model #acp45

Individual devices bundled into this unit are:

• 4-ports USB 2.0 hub, powered

• Prolific 2313 USB-to-serial
• Prolific 2315 USB-to-parallel
• C-Media USB Audio with analogue and optical/SPDIF outputs
• a pair of PS/2 to USB HID keyboard/mouse interfaces

These can be used by handling the integrated unit as the individual devices above, using standard Linux drivers for each.

Test results so far for the Targus acp45 are:

• Under 2.4 kernels, USB 2.0 hub recognised, Prolific 2313 serial and 2315 parallel recognised, USB audio through USB 2.0 hub may be problematic (see SlugAsAudioPlayer as this is a more general issue with the 2.4 kernels), ASIX network interface not supported (as it needs a driver that's in 2.6). Note that there is no easy way to separate the audio adapter from the USB 2.0 hub as the USB docking station is one integrated multifunctional unit.

Keyboard and mouse for all of these units would be using the standard USB human interface devices driver.

Targus Universal Notebook Docking Station with Video Model #acp50

Based on mct.com.tw's proprietary interface, which consists of a USB interface + FIFO, an embedded processor and proprietary firmware driving the internal video interface hardware (described in U.S. patent #7203788 on uspto.gov). No documentation appears to exist as to what is communicated between the host and the firmware on this embedded processor; the chipset's manufacturer (mct.com.tw) is far too busy suing the manufacturers of competing USB-to-video adapters to be of any real help here.

The only Linux-supported VGA-USB interfaces (as of 2007) appear to be the sis315e chipset-based devices, see AddVGAAdapter and http://linux.die.net/man/4/sisusb for details. The video in this unit, as it uses another chipset, most likely will not work under Linux. Therefore, it will be best to avoid the integrated SVGA USB docking stations at the present time and choose the non-video equivalents, selecting one of the (rare) Linux-compatible USB video adapters separately.

Test results so far for the Targus ACP45? are:

• Under 2.4 kernels, USB 2.0 hub recognised, Prolific 2313 serial and 2315 parallel recognised, USB audio through USB 2.0 hub problematic (see USBAudio? as this is a more general issue with the 2.4 kernels), ASIX network interface not supported (as it needs a driver that's in 2.6).
• Under 2.6 kernels, USB 2.0 hub, Prolific 2313/2315 serial/parallel ports, C-Media audio, ASIX network interface all appear to work well. HID remains to be tested. In general, the device appears fully compatible with the new kernels, using the stock usbnet.o, asix.o, usb-serial.o, pl2313.o, usb-printer.o, sound-core.o, usb-audio.o as standard drivers for various bundled devices in the ACP45?.

The only Linux-supported VGA-USB interfaces (as of 2007) appear to be the !SiS315E? chipset-based devices, see AddVGAAdapter and http://linux.die.net/man/4/sisusb for details. Therefore, it may be best to avoid integrated SVGA USB docking stations at the present time and choose the non-video equivalent in order to be able to select a Linux-compatible video adapter separately.

The only Linux-supported VGA-USB interfaces (as of 2007) appear to be the SiS315E? chipset-based devices, see AddVGAAdapter and http://linux.die.net/man/4/sisusb for details. Therefore, it may be best to avoid integrated SVGA USB docking stations at the present time and choose the non-video equivalent in order to be able to select a Linux-compatible video adapter separately.

Intended for use with portable and laptop PC's, these units bundle a USB hub with various interfaces - often some combination of USB to serial, parallel, PS/2 keyboard/mouse and LAN adapters in one package.

Each contains multiple devices and is best analysed by treating the individual USB devices separately. Compatibility of each individual component with Linux (or other non-Windows O/S) varies widely.

This unit is very unlikely to be usable under any flavour of Linux; at a minimum, the video is proprietary and undocumented.

Based on mct.com.tw's proprietary interface, which consists of a USB interface + FIFO, an embedded processor and proprietary firmware driving the internal video interface hardware (described in U.S. patent #7203788 on uspto.gov). No documentation appears to exist as to what is communicated between the host and the firmware on this embedded processor; the chipset's manufacturer (mct.com.tw) is far too busy suing Kensington Micro and anyone else that has a USB-to-video adapter for sale to be of any real help here.

HID appears to be standard and need no manufacturer-specific drivers.

Worth a try, handle this by treating it as the individual devices above, using standard Linux drivers for each.

A general description of these various units is on www.targus.com/ca/accessories_cables_hubs.asp

This unit is <u>unlikely to be usable under any flavour of Linux</u>; at a minimum, the video is proprietary and undocumented.

Based on mct.com.tw's proprietary interface, which consists of a USB interface + FIFO, an embedded processor and proprietary firmware driving the internal video interface hardware ([www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week15/OG/html/1317-2/US07203788?-20070410.html]). No documentation appears to exist as to what is communicated between the host and the firmware on this embedded processor; the chipset's manufacturer (mct.com.tw) is far too busy suing Kensington Micro and anyone else that has a USB-to-video adapter for sale to be of any real help here.

These typically provide a USB hub and USB to serial, parallel, PS/2 keyboard/mouse and LAN adapters in one package. Compatibility of each individual component with Linux (or other non-Windows O/S) varies widely.

Targus Universal Docking Station w/ Digital Audio Model #acp45ca

Targus Universal Notebook Docking Station with Video Model #acp50ca

Targus Universal Docking Station w/ Digital Audio Model #acp45ca

Targus Universal Notebook Docking Station with Video Model #acp50ca

Based on this [http://www.mct.com.tw/web_e/html/products_Show.asp?CID=0001&MenuCID=&Page=2&PID=61] MCT proprietary video interface, which consists of a USB interface + FIFO, embedded processor and firmware driving a video interface ([http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week15/OG/html/1317-2/US07203788-20070410.html] U.S. Patent #07203788). No documentation appears to exist as to what is communicated between the host and the firmware on the embedded processor; the chipset's manufacturer (mct.com.tw) is too busy suing Kensington Micro and anyone else that has a USB-to-video adapter for sale to be of any real help here.

Based on [http://www.mct.com.tw/web_e/html/products_Show.asp?CID=0001&MenuCID=&Page=2&PID=61 this] MCT proprietary video interface, which consists of a USB interface + FIFO, embedded processor and firmware driving a video interface ([http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week15/OG/html/1317-2/US07203788-20070410.html U.S. Patent #07203788]). No documentation appears to exist as to what is communicated between the host and the firmware on the embedded processor; the chipset's manufacturer (mct.com.tw) is too busy suing Kensington Micro and anyone else that has a USB-to-video adapter for sale to be of any real help here.

• MCT Corp USB 2.0 to SVGA (proprietary/undocumented interface)

There are a few of these around, manufacturers include Targus and Kensington. Most target Win XP (and sometimes Win2000), so support for other operating systems is uncertain at best.

== Targus Universal Docking Station w/ Digital Audio Model #acp45ca ==

• ASIX ax88772 USB 2.0 to Fast Ethernet Adapter
• Prolific USB-to-Serial commport

== Targus Universal Notebook Docking Station with Video Model #acp50ca ==

• Admtek adm8515-series network interface

There are a few of these around, manufacturers include Targus and Kensington. Most target WinXP? (and sometimes Win2000), so support for other operating systems is uncertain at best.

Each contains multiple devices and is best analysed by treating the individual USB devices separately.

== Targus Universal Docking Station w/ Digital Audio Model # ACP45CA? ==

This has not been tested, but Linux drivers for the individual devices within appear to be widely available. Targus itself provides no useful information as to whether the product works on Win9x or non-Windows operating systems.

Individual devices bundled into this unit (based on the Win2000 driver's .inf files for this box) are:

• ASIX AX88772? USB2?.0 to Fast Ethernet Adapter
• Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port
• C-Media USB Audio

Worth a try, handle this by treating it as three individual devices and using standard Linux drivers for each.

== Targus Universal Notebook Docking Station with Video Model # ACP50CA? ==

This unit is unlikely to be usable under any flavour of Linux; at a minimum, the video is proprietary and undocumented.

Based on [http://www.mct.com.tw/web_e/html/products_Show.asp?CID=0001&MenuCID=&Page=2&PID=61 this] MCT proprietary video interface, which consists of a USB interface + FIFO, embedded processor and firmware driving a video interface ([http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week15/OG/html/1317-2/US07203788-20070410.html Patent #US07203788?]). No documentation appears to exist as to what is communicated between the host and the firmware on the embedded processor; the chipset's manufacturer (mct.com.tw) is too busy suing Kensington Micro and anyone else that has a USB-to-video adapter for sale to be of any real help here.

Unfortunate, as otherwise this unit would have been able to provide a complete console interface (keyboard and video) in one integrated unit.

Individual devices bundled into this unit (based on the Win2000 driver's .inf files for this box) are:

• MCT Corp USB2?.0-to-SVGA (proprietary/undocumented interface)
• ADMtek? ADM8515?-series network interface
• Serenum Serial on USB converter (Philips)

Keyboard and mouse for all of these units would be using the standard USB human interface devices driver.