MX-19.4 Thunderbolt Drive not recognized [Solved]

[woodyb12]

Well! I have tried other TB3 cables, with no luck. Besides, if it were the cables, how would the commands recognize the devices?? Both the Dock AND the Enclosure??

[CharlesV]

true -

Edited Well.. MAYBE true... it is possible that the cable would allow recognition but not data passing at a rate that would support the device. I have seen several usb cables like this - several phones come to mind immediately. The phones shipped with cables that would power the device - and the computer would SEE the device, but no data was able to be passed through those cables.

[woodyb12]

Do the "commands" under tbtadm and boltctl affect the Dock itself? Or just the Kernel module? I ask because I know that Dock makers issue "updates" for their Docks; but I don't know if they are hardware or software updates.

[CharlesV]

I would assume the kernel / os, but I dont really know that.

[woodyb12]

Is there a way to reinstall the Kernel module without rebooting or compiling( I don't know how to compile a Letter, much less a Kernel module! While doing research to try to figure this problem out I came across some skimpy info about how these Docks use IOMMU. Do I need to set IOMMU in the BIOS?

[woodyb12]

Thunderbolt technology should not be this difficult! It is supposed to be similar in function to the USB specification. Plug and Play! Albeit; with authentication.

[CharlesV]

Is there a way to reinstall the Kernel module without rebooting or compiling( I don't know how to compile a Letter, much less a Kernel module! While doing research to try to figure this problem out I came across some skimpy info about how these Docks use IOMMU. Do I need to set IOMMU in the BIOS?

No, I do not believe you should have too. And you need to be very wary when you are looking at internet articles... There are many people that say how to do something, and really do not know. (There are many that do too.. but you have to be careful.)

The fact that you can see and work with ONE unit at a time, is a serious clue - it IS working... so something else is happening here when a second unit it connected.

[woodyb12]

The Dock worked once. But not with both drives. The Dock never recognized Thumb Drives, SD cards, or anything else; except once I got the UC4M2 Ankmax enclosure to work. But that was it!
Also, I don't just "do" what is suggested to me from users. I am very "paranoid" about that. I realize that there are many people (who are honest and wish to be helpful) who are "well meaning", but who have very little experience with REAL technology issues. I can usually tell them apart. I have gotten both of the SSD enclosures to work directly from the machines' USB 3.2 Gen-2 port. But I am in great need of multiple port(s) SSD's for organizing a huge backlog of files. I am considering this item from Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6L2BG6T/?c ... lig_dp_it.. What do you think?
I have an OWC (Thunderbolt-4) Dock with the same issues; but, I got this Dock (Thunderbolt-3 ) because I thought it was just that the Thunderbolt-3 on my computer was "incompatible" with the Thunderbolt-4 Dock. I guess I was wrong about that!!

[CharlesV]

Excellent on being cautious. I always hate to say that, but unfortunately caution is required ;-/

I prefer Anker Dock's actually, had VERY good luck with them. There are a few that are more driven for HDMI use, etc, but some have some are geared more for multiple connections. I will try to find the one I have used in the past, but not sure I have used one for thunderbolt connections - except for on a mac.

[woodyb12]

I like Anker products too! But I didn't see anything I thought I could use for what I needed. I buy (almost) exclusively @ Amazon. Have been a "Prime Member" since 2016. It has perks that I have come to depend on! Like ALL of my electronics covered by one insurance plan, free returns,etc.