Dell WD22TB4 upgrade issue - external display dropping / flickering randomly after the upgrade

[tjanez]

Describe the bug

I've updated my Dell WD22TB4 dock's components firmware to their latest versions and after the upgrade, the external display connected through HDMI started dropping / flickering randomly, I would say more than once per minute.

Previously, I had no external monitor issues with WD22TB4.
And if I connect the external monitor to the Precision 5540's HDMI port directly, the dropping / flickering issues are gone.

Here are the versions of the Dell WD22TB4 dock's components before and after upgrade:

$ fwupdmgr get-history
Dell Inc. Precision 5540
│
├─Package level of Dell dock:
│ │   Device ID:          a55c2e5fd07e2a87a40bf7eda6c335da1a78e7e7
│ │   Previous version:   01.00.32.01
│ │   Update State:       Success
│ │   Update Error:       Pending activation
│ │   Last modified:      2024-05-21 06:43
│ │   GUID:               af2a3b39-98c4-59a9-9cbe-a6909a7d14a2
│ │   Device Flags:       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Reported to remote server
│ │                       • Device can recover flash failures
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Updatable
│ │                       • Unsigned Payload
│ │ 
│ └─(null) Update:
│       New version:      01.00.36.01
│       Remote ID:        lvfs
│       Description:      
│       The vendor did not supply any release notes.
│     
├─RTS5413 in Dell dock:
│ │   Device ID:          f2a41e8a079185a32ecbe129cead386b4dfe5a8d
│ │   Previous version:   01.21
│ │   Install Duration:   13 seconds
│ │   Update State:       Success
│ │   Last modified:      2024-05-21 06:43
│ │   GUID:               b27d25f1-019d-5718-b41a-02ddaefe5577
│ │   Device Flags:       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Reported to remote server
│ │                       • Device stages updates
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Updatable
│ │                       • Signed Payload
│ │ 
│ └─(null) Update:
│       New version:      01.22
│       Remote ID:        lvfs
│       Description:      
│       The vendor did not supply any release notes.
│     
├─RTS5487 in Dell dock:
│ │   Device ID:          fd32487a5eec93ecf0aa9fddbe870795344b8ab6
│ │   Previous version:   01.49
│ │   Install Duration:   2 seconds
│ │   Update State:       Success
│ │   Last modified:      2024-05-21 06:43
│ │   GUID:               acfcd89b-105d-55b9-b85b-08bf8508f38c
│ │   Device Flags:       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Reported to remote server
│ │                       • Device stages updates
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Updatable
│ │                       • Signed Payload
│ │ 
│ └─(null) Update:
│       New version:      01.57
│       Remote ID:        lvfs
│       Description:      
│       The vendor did not supply any release notes.
│     
├─VMM5331 in Dell dock:
│ │   Device ID:          97a6731ee5fab9cf4836384edb0d0620ef4a6350
│ │   Previous version:   05.07.01
│ │   Install Duration:   36 seconds
│ │   Update State:       Success
│ │   Update Error:       Pending activation
│ │   Last modified:      2024-05-21 06:44
│ │   GUID:               89fec0b6-6b76-5008-b82c-5e5c6c164007
│ │   Device Flags:       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Reported to remote server
│ │                       • Device stages updates
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Updatable
│ │                       • Unsigned Payload
│ │ 
│ └─(null) Update:
│       New version:      05.07.04
│       Remote ID:        lvfs
│       Description:      
│       The vendor did not supply any release notes.
│     
├─Embedded Controller:
│ │   Device ID:          28fe7919e3b6101195936a2b7486d9f5a54afe92
│ │   Previous version:   38.0
│ │   Install Duration:   36 seconds
│ │   Update State:       Success
│ │   Last modified:      2024-05-21 06:44
│ │   GUID:               bd79ce60-525b-5f39-a3f6-c98c495039ff
│ │   Device Flags:       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Reported to remote server
│ │                       • Device update needs activation
│ │                       • Device stages updates
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Updatable
│ │                       • Signed Payload
│ │ 
│ └─(null) Update:
│       New version:      41.81
│       Remote ID:        lvfs
│       Description:      
│       The vendor did not supply any release notes.
│     
└─WD22TB4:
  │   Device ID:          56f92bf83293b983bb57e76653d9515c12b89464
  │   Previous version:   01.01.00.05
  │   Install Duration:   2 seconds
  │   Update State:       Success
  │   Last modified:      2024-05-21 06:45
  │   GUID:               cd357cf1-40b2-5d87-b8df-bb2dd82774aa
  │   Device Flags:       • Supported on remote server
  │                       • Reported to remote server
  │                       • Device update needs activation
  │                       • Device stages updates
  │                       • Device can recover flash failures
  │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
  │                       • Updatable
  │                       • Signed Payload
  │ 
  └─(null) Update:
        New version:      01.01.00.07
        Remote ID:        lvfs
        Description:      
        The vendor did not supply any release notes.
      

fwupd version information
Please provide the version of the daemon and client.

$ fwupdmgr --version
compile   org.freedesktop.fwupd         1.9.19
compile   com.hughsie.libxmlb           0.3.19
compile   org.freedesktop.Passim        0.1.7
compile   com.hughsie.libjcat           0.2.1
runtime   org.freedesktop.fwupd-efi     1.6
compile   org.freedesktop.gusb          0.4.9
runtime   com.hughsie.libxmlb           0.3.19
runtime   com.hughsie.libjcat           0.2.1
runtime   org.freedesktop.Passim        0.1.7
runtime   org.freedesktop.gusb          0.4.9
runtime   org.kernel                    6.8.9-300.fc40.x86_64
runtime   org.freedesktop.fwupd         1.9.19

Please note how you installed it (apt, dnf, pacman, source, etc):

It was installed by default on Fedora Workstation 40.

**fwupd device information**

Please provide the output of the external fwupd devices recognized in your system.

$ fwupdmgr get-devices
Dell Inc. Precision 5540
│
├─WD22TB4:
│ │   Device ID:          56f92bf83293b983bb57e76653d9515c12b89464
│ │   Summary:            High performance dock
│ │   Current version:    01.01.00.07
│ │   Vendor:             Dell Inc. (USB:0x413C)
│ │   Install Duration:   1 minute
│ │   Serial Number:      3D99ZQ3/3137031583566238
│ │   GUID:               cd357cf1-40b2-5d87-b8df-bb2dd82774aa ← USB\VID_413C&PID_B06E&hub&embedded
│ │   Device Flags:       • Updatable
│ │                       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Device stages updates
│ │                       • Device can recover flash failures
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Signed Payload
│ │ 
│ ├─Package level of Dell dock:
│ │     Device ID:        a55c2e5fd07e2a87a40bf7eda6c335da1a78e7e7
│ │     Summary:          A representation of dock update status
│ │     Current version:  01.00.36.01
│ │     Vendor:           Dell Inc. (USB:0x413C)
│ │     Install Duration: 5 seconds
│ │     GUIDs:            af2a3b39-98c4-59a9-9cbe-a6909a7d14a2
│ │                       7fb217aa-2312-5c99-a853-56d865c76815 ← USB\VID_413C&PID_B06E&hub&salomon_mlk_status
│ │     Device Flags:     • Updatable
│ │                       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Device can recover flash failures
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Unsigned Payload
│ │   
│ ├─RTS5413 in Dell dock:
│ │     Device ID:        f2a41e8a079185a32ecbe129cead386b4dfe5a8d
│ │     Summary:          USB 3.1 Generation 1 Hub
│ │     Current version:  01.22
│ │     Vendor:           Dell Inc. (USB:0x413C)
│ │     Install Duration: 14 seconds
│ │     GUIDs:            b27d25f1-019d-5718-b41a-02ddaefe5577 ← USB\VID_413C&PID_B06F
│ │                       ac5b774c-b49d-566b-9255-85f0f7f8a4ed ← USB\VID_413C&PID_B06F&hub
│ │     Device Flags:     • Updatable
│ │                       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Device stages updates
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Signed Payload
│ │   
│ ├─RTS5487 in Dell dock:
│ │     Device ID:        fd32487a5eec93ecf0aa9fddbe870795344b8ab6
│ │     Summary:          USB 3.1 Generation 2 Hub
│ │     Current version:  01.57
│ │     Vendor:           Dell Inc. (USB:0x413C)
│ │     Install Duration: 3 seconds
│ │     GUIDs:            acfcd89b-105d-55b9-b85b-08bf8508f38c ← USB\VID_413C&PID_B06E
│ │                       568ffa1e-a0db-5287-9ea3-872b60f7730b ← USB\VID_413C&PID_B06E&hub
│ │     Device Flags:     • Updatable
│ │                       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Device stages updates
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Signed Payload
│ │   
│ ├─VMM5331 in Dell dock:
│ │     Device ID:        97a6731ee5fab9cf4836384edb0d0620ef4a6350
│ │     Summary:          Multi Stream Transport controller
│ │     Current version:  05.07.04
│ │     Vendor:           Dell Inc. (USB:0x413C)
│ │     Install Duration: 6 minutes
│ │     GUID:             89fec0b6-6b76-5008-b82c-5e5c6c164007 ← MST-panamera-vmm5331-259
│ │     Device Flags:     • Updatable
│ │                       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Device stages updates
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Unsigned Payload
│ │   
│ └─USB4 controller in Dell dock:
│       Device ID:        28fe7919e3b6101195936a2b7486d9f5a54afe92
│       Summary:          USB4 controller
│       Current version:  41.81
│       Vendor:           Dell Inc. (USB:0x8087, TBT:0x00D4)
│       Install Duration: 46 seconds
│       GUID:             bd79ce60-525b-5f39-a3f6-c98c495039ff ← TBT-00d4b071
│       Device Flags:     • Updatable
│                         • Supported on remote server
│                         • Device stages updates
│                         • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│                         • Signed Payload
│     
├─CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630]:
│     Device ID:          5792b48846ce271fab11c4a545f7a3df0d36e00a
│     Current version:    02
│     Vendor:             Intel Corporation (PCI:0x8086)
│     GUIDs:              db677673-1102-5481-a11e-6f397e123ced ← PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3E9B
│                         96531885-0d7d-5e26-8b67-2359df20b0f8 ← PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3E9B&SUBSYS_10280906
│     Device Flags:       • Internal device
│                         • Cryptographic hash verification is available
│   
├─Core™ i5-9400H CPU @ 2.50GHz:
│     Device ID:          4bde70ba4e39b28f9eab1628f9dd6e6244c03027
│     Current version:    0x000000fa
│     Vendor:             Intel
│     GUIDs:              809a0b93-8a12-5338-a571-ad5583acf896 ← CPUID\PRO_0&FAM_06&MOD_9E
│                         50a811ae-a8fd-5cd0-90f4-33583974b789 ← CPUID\PRO_0&FAM_06&MOD_9E&STP_D
│     Device Flags:       • Internal device
│   
├─SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB:
│     Device ID:          e11623b2caa18fee292058a5c09ca4e6152f7ecf
│     Summary:            NVM Express solid state drive
│     Current version:    1B2QEXM7
│     Vendor:             Samsung (NVME:0x144D)
│     Serial Number:      S4EWNF0M531555B
│     GUIDs:              47335265-a509-51f7-841e-1c94911af66b ← NVME\VEN_144D&DEV_A808
│                         c9d531ea-ee7d-5562-8def-c64d0d144813 ← NVME\VEN_144D&DEV_A808&SUBSYS_144DA801
│                         f05ecac9-5cc2-5f77-b23b-a08ad8879ada ← Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB
│     Device Flags:       • Internal device
│                         • Updatable
│                         • System requires external power source
│                         • Needs a reboot after installation
│                         • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│                         • Signed Payload
│   
├─System Firmware:
│ │   Device ID:          dabb27f5fa6578b8243f9effee71bd33520193bc
│ │   Summary:            UEFI System Resource Table device (updated via NVRAM)
│ │   Current version:    1.27.0
│ │   Minimum Version:    1.27.0
│ │   Vendor:             Dell (DMI:Dell Inc.)
│ │   Update State:       Success
│ │   GUID:               417d4c2a-87d1-4d7c-bcea-322041f2d5a3
│ │   Device Flags:       • Internal device
│ │                       • Updatable
│ │                       • System requires external power source
│ │                       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Needs a reboot after installation
│ │                       • Cryptographic hash verification is available
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │   Device Requests:    • Message
│ │ 
│ ├─AMT [unprovisioned]:
│ │     Device ID:        8d5470e73fd9a31eaa460b2b6aea95483fe3f14c
│ │     Summary:          Hardware and firmware technology for remote out-of-band management
│ │     Current version:  12.0.94.2380
│ │     Bootloader Version:12.0.94.2380
│ │     Vendor:           Intel Corporation (MEI:0x8086)
│ │     GUIDs:            12f80028-b4b7-4b2d-aca8-46e0ff65814c
│ │                       fa9a959e-9b8d-521e-9353-1c475d09e2de ← MEI\VEN_8086&DEV_A360
│ │                       8ce4feea-f7d0-5179-9c27-1f63278ac2b9 ← MEI\VEN_8086&DEV_A360&SUBSYS_10280906
│ │     Device Flags:     • Internal device
│ │   
│ └─UEFI dbx:
│       Device ID:        362301da643102b9f38477387e2193e57abaa590
│       Summary:          UEFI revocation database
│       Current version:  371
│       Minimum Version:  371
│       Vendor:           UEFI:Linux Foundation
│       Install Duration: 1 second
│       GUIDs:            4a6cd2cb-8741-5257-9d1f-89a275dacca7 ← UEFI\CRT_E28D59CA489BD2AD580F2EA5D62D6A29BB9C02AE5A818434A37DA7FC11DFF9E9&ARCH_X64
│                         f8ba2887-9411-5c36-9cee-88995bb39731 ← UEFI\CRT_A1117F516A32CEFCBA3F2D1ACE10A87972FD6BBE8FE0D0B996E09E65D802A503&ARCH_X64
│       Device Flags:     • Internal device
│                         • Updatable
│                         • Supported on remote server
│                         • Needs a reboot after installation
│                         • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│                         • Only version upgrades are allowed
│                         • Signed Payload
│     
├─TPM:
│     Device ID:          c6a80ac3a22083423992a3cb15018989f37834d6
│     Current version:    7.2.0.2
│     Vendor:             Nuvoton Technology (TPM:NTC)
│     GUIDs:              fac1c8f3-73c8-5cd6-8330-07a3690b5140 ← TPM\VEN_NTC&DEV_0000
│                         bdb182b9-7533-5c43-b775-0c8327246042 ← TPM\VEN_NTC&MOD_NPCT75x;rls
│                         e9ccc1dc-960a-5e09-afe9-e59a904b776d ← TPM\VEN_NTC&DEV_0000&VER_2.0
│                         31c399b3-9c72-58ce-8fc3-489e76ab1e35 ← TPM\VEN_NTC&MOD_NPCT75x;rls&VER_2.0
│                         0584e003-d9d2-5b8d-866f-20a2d59bc7ad ← 0906-2.0
│     Device Flags:       • Internal device
│                         • Updatable
│                         • System requires external power source
│                         • Needs a reboot after installation
│                         • Device can recover flash failures
│                         • Full disk encryption secrets may be invalidated when updating
│                         • Signed Payload
│   
├─Thunderbolt host controller:
│     Device ID:          fbf27dc8d091bf4a49964f2b7159ef25bb3e7e42
│     Summary:            Unmatched performance for high-speed I/O
│     Current version:    46.00
│     Vendor:             Dell (THUNDERBOLT:0x00D4, TBT:0x00D4)
│     GUIDs:              d92f2014-425f-5023-b877-0ff468763d68 ← THUNDERBOLT\VEN_00D4&DEV_0906
│                         42598a87-0ee2-5d7e-b1d1-02a312041fd5 ← TBT-00d40906-native
│                         1d962ba4-9f85-5510-a85f-e4c94abf9b1d ← TBT-00d40906-native-controller0-0
│     Device Flags:       • Internal device
│                         • Updatable
│                         • System requires external power source
│                         • Supported on remote server
│                         • Device stages updates
│                         • Signed Payload
│   

Peripherals connected to the dock

• Ethernet cable for networking
• HDMI for external monitor

Additional questions

• Operating system and version: Fedora 40
• Have you tried unplugging the dock or any peripherals from your machine? Yes.
• Have you tried to power cycle the dock from the AC adapter? Yes.
• Is this a regression? Yes.

[CragW]

@tjanez Can you contact Dell support for further analysis on this isuse? This might be firmware issue instead fwupd's fault.

[vinc17fr]

@tjanez You're using a 6.8 kernel, for which I and another user also have issues with external displays (no such issues with previous kernel versions):

• Debian bug 1072063 (I'm also using the WD22TB4 dock)
• Screen randomly goes blank with Kernel linux-image-6.8.0-76060800daily20240311-generic pop-os/pop#3261 (for this one, apparently without a dock)