How to connect librem 5 usa with my monitor, keyboard and mouse?

Hardware Librem 5
1

My librem 5 usa has been finally shipped and will arrive in a couple days.
I would like to connect it to my monitor, keyboard and mouse for easy configuration.

I got this KVM switch which i already use to switch between multiple computers:
https://www.aten.com/us/en/products/kvm/rack-mount-kvm-switches/cs1308/

Will it work when i buy this cable and adapter?
https://www.aten.com/us/en/products/cables/kvm-cables/2l-5205u/
https://www.delock.de/produkt/63932/merkmale.html?setLanguage=en

If not can i make it work using a different cable and adapter?

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While not being familiar with that particular KVM switch, it looks relatively unsuited, focussing as it does on mostly obsolete technologies (VGA, USB-A, PS/2 even). I understand that it may work fine for connecting a number of existing computers. So, yes, you would need a bunch of adapters, which may well cost more than just getting a suitable dock and always brings with it the risk that the combination doesn’t actually work for some reason.

I’ve tested video out via direct USB-C and via a USB-C to HDMI adapter and those both worked for me - but VGA is not something that I have tested. It may work. I just haven’t tested it.

Your proposed hardware could in theory work but I think you may have a problem with power.

My approach was to configure the WiFi and enable the SSH server (both via the phone’s GUI) and do most of the rest of the config SSHed in from a local computer.

If you wanted to do everything via the GUI then I think a lot of users have bought a suitable dock.

Much will depend on what existing hardware you have to work with. For example, if you have a Bluetooth keyboard and/or mouse then those can be connected directly to the Librem 5 and no dock would be required. This assumes of course that you have a spare monitor.

3

Here are the hubs which have been tested so far with the Librem 5:

It is helpful to test out new hardware, and add info about that hardware on the Community Wiki, so let us know what happens if you buy the products that you linked to above.

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I think the question mainly is if this adapter would work (at least on paper) or not:
https://www.delock.de/produkt/63932/merkmale.html?setLanguage=en

The KVM switch controls a bunch of old computers this is why vga and ps2 are still needed.
But i also do NOT want a wireless solution. I also do not really want to buy another monitor, keyboard and mouse. On top of that i do not really have the space for an additional set.

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On paper it should work but I think you will have a problem because it is bus-powered. You really want a dock that has its own power. An added complication is that the KVM switch has its own power input but I don’t know whether that power input is optional and if so whether you are using one and, regardless, what that ultimately means for the power draw of the dock.

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Your hub link is not compatible with Librem 5. Go for Community Wiki devices and select one HDMI output then adapter to VGA. I recomend DisplayPort(USB_C) to VGA. I also recommend adding ventilation when you are using L5 as mobile workstation, with vent the L5 will speedup the gnu system.

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OK, I tested a USB ethernet dongle with my Librem 5 and that worked out of the box. So you could plug something like that in, not have to configure (or even enable) WiFi, enable the SSH server, and then do the rest of the config SSHed in. So no Bluetooth either.

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I’m not seeing where you are getting that info but, to help the OP, the Community Wiki is here: https://source.puri.sm/Librem5/community-wiki and the specific list of tested accessories is here: https://source.puri.sm/Librem5/community-wiki/-/wikis/Tested%20Accessories

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I agree i also think there is no reason to believe it’s uncompatible.
Why is it a problem that it’s buspowered?

I want to have the GUI because i want to use the librem 5 like a desktop computer.

Edit:

I think i should give it a try.
If nobody chims in during the next 10 hours or so with good reason why it wont work i think i will order it and just give it a try.

If someone knows a similar adapter (providing vga and usb) that can be powered externaly let me know.

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Because it means that the Librem 5 is powering the dock, rather than the other way round, while at the same time tying up the one means for getting more charge into the Librem 5 (the USB-C port). So you would get a period of run-time for configuring the Librem 5 and then you would have to disconnect the Librem 5 and connect it to its charger for a period of time, and then repeat the cycle.

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So this might be the answer?

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More like it.

But you may need a suitable “laptop’s USB-C power adapter”. In theory you could try using the Librem 5’s existing power adapter but without knowing how many Watts the dock and its peripherals will themselves consume you couldn’t guarantee that the existing power adapter provides enough power. If you are only connecting the VGA port and one USB port, you may get away with it.

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You might want to check this topic as well:
A Humble Librem 5 Daily User Review - Librem / Phones (Librem 5) - Purism community

I am suffering by the same issue. Also in Germany.
I have a Lenovo ThinkPad 250 EUR docking station which does not deliver video signal from Librem 5 to the external monitor.
And I have a 40 EUR dockings station that delivers the video (and I currently use) but suffers from:

  1. Sometimes the monitor stops getting signal for several seconds. Maybe due to overheating.
  2. Librem 5 discharges slowly instead of charging while being connected to the docking station which means that it does not get enough juice.

So the correct choice of perfect docking station for Librem 5 is not easy.
The forum user Quarnero (also in Germany) has good experience with AENZR AZ2406. But it seems that it charges the Librem 5 with only 1,5 A, while I would love to find a solution that delivers to Librem 5 up to 3A or as close are possible to up to 3A.

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I have bought Vention Multi-function USB-C 9-in-1 for Librem 5. It works with Librem 5 when powered from Librem 5 reliably. When powered from Librem 5 accompanying power supply, then there sometimes issues. When powered the first and then Librem 5 is connected to USB C tail then it works. When Librem 5 is connected (on or off) and supply is connected and phone then started or running then there are sometimes issues then Ethernet port is not recognized sometimes. Sometimes there are reported overheat from battery NTC and red diode blinking and errors reported from BQ25895.

But generally I consider setup as working and I am satosfied. Charging is slower than if power supply is connected directly to Librem 5 but it is possible. So I am generally satisfied with a function.

As for the charging, as I understand and have seen in device tree or somewhere else, charging is limited to 5 VDC only on USB-C. The actual Librem 5 adapter can deliver/negotiate higher voltages but there is no significant increase of the power. The maximal current is almost directly proportional to voltage. I do not have numbers or device before me now… So 5 VDC charging is reasonable for this setup. May it be that there is reserve on BQ25895 for faster charging but it is question if it would not shorten battery life and from my side time is OK, acceptable.

But for another power adapter there could be significant win to use higher supply voltage negotiated over USB-C power delivery standard, because notebooks adapters are probably optimized to deliver lower current on higher voltages and 5 VDC selection means that power watts are limited and there is not enough current to power Librem 5 and battery charging.

I have looked into Librem 5 design when arrived in November and I have doubts if higher PD voltage can be negotiated without risk of its damage. There is BQ25895 battery charger chip. It seems to be clever and elegant so it can accept even voltage higher than 5 VDC from VBUS input (datasheet states Optimize for High Voltage Input (9 V to 12 V)). It then ensures to power rail common for battery and system which is intended for 3.4 to 4.3 VDC on Librem 5. Great. Same choke L46 is used for system power rail energy delivery from USB-C in buck charge mode and even for up conversion in boost mode (blocking step up design) to deliver 5 VDC for USB-C connected peripherals without own power supply which are connected to Librem 5. Nice elegant design and reuse of the same mass of choke… The step up conversion uses internal FET transistor as active rectifier of boost voltage to 5 VDC PMID (it is out voltage labeled DCDC_5V_OUT). But there is Schottky diode D5 from the choke switched end to PMID as well. probably for protection… This means that when choke end is is connected to USB_VBUS_IN (USB-C voltage connected to that point over TPS65982 during charging) then DCDC_5V_OUT cannot have lower voltage due to the D5 presence…

But DCDC_5V_OUT is connected to the PP_5V0 which are power input to pass to USB devices through TPS65982. But it datasheet states max 6 VDC for PP_5V0 pins in 7.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings section.

This means that when higher voltage is negotiated for charging by TPS65982 and passed over USB_VBUS_IN to BQ25895 charger than at the moment when it pass value to the choke then PMID (DCDC_5V_OUT, PP_5V0) voltage level will be (allmost) the same over D5 and TPS65982 maximum ratings will be violated. If that fact and design has not been consulted with Ti and it was not confirmed that high voltage (i.e. 12 VDC) are not problem on pin PP_5V0 when other end of the internal MOSFETs is at the 12 VDC already (pin VBUS) then enabling and negotiation of higher voltage with USB-C power supply will damage the device.

So this 5 VDC limit for power sources has to be taken in account and it is possible that there is no chance to liberate it by software without HW design changes or at least removing D5 which can have probably other consequences, some uncontrolled switching spikes???

Generally, the this part of power distribution, flow switching and conversions is complex and demanding and number of functions which has to be solved is really huge. USB-C has allowed these higher power and faster battery charging etc… It is quite possible that specialized chips used on mass production phones are not available for own projects and are tightly couple to mobile SoCs and firmware. So it was probably hard to build required functionality from available chips which are more intended for docking stations, monitor and other devices…

May it be, Purism HW expert @ekuzmenko can provide some feedback.

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So i just bought this docking station and a couple cables:

I hope it will work.
I will try it out after everything including my librem 5 usa arrived.

If it should not work would be using this (reported working with librem 5)


together with an hdmi to vga adapter cable work?
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@ppisa, I added your info to the Tested Accessories page.

Can you please use the lsusb command to get the hub’s USB ID, so I can add it to the wiki?

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The Vention Multi-function USB-C 9-in-1 is compound device with HDMI output over USB3.0 and USB 2.0 hub and ETHERNET. I have used it with FullHD monitor, keyboard, mouse and ETHERNET on Librem 5. I have not tested/needed card reader and audio. There is list of USB devices which appear when it is connected to the GNU/Linux computer

Bus 001 Device 010: ID 2109:2815 VIA Labs, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 011: ID 1a40:0801 Terminus Technology Inc.
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 2109:0815 VIA Labs, Inc.
Bus 002 Device 005: ID 0bda:8153 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
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Please tell us if you see 9636|ALGOLTEK, INC. line (easily should be present one, related to AG9321MCQ) over there? Thanks for the already given update!

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I use this hub:

2022-08-13-101844
2022-08-13-1018441440Ă—720 93.8 KB

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It is somehow important to me that you understand that every charging negotiation above 0.47A is positive charging negotiation (in context here related and IMHO), if and when accepted from the Librem 5, as otherwise there will be almost no charging happening (with or without screen on, although red LED light on) and Librem 5 will discharge its battery in approximately 1:1 time-frame (ratio), while and when Librem 5 in usage, when connected as host to some docking station and, for example, if it consumes 0.9A (4.5W) in average during certain time/application in usage we are able to count that when connected power supply provides improperly negotiated 0.47A and BPP-L503 battery still discharges (although with PD pass-through port connected, yet provided current, related to 5V, settled down to 0.47A) at rate of 0.45A. Only when docking station provides ample current of more than 1.5A (related post battery was already at 81%, and in its uprising capacity stage toward 100%).

As above and therefore, @Hristo, I’ve just send you PM on which power supply you can get directly in/from Berlin (as worth to be tested from your side).

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