Lose network connection on dock when creating virtual switch in Hyper-V

brguernsey · 05-20-2014, 06:30 PM

I am seeing an issue on the Dell XPS12 (Windows 8.1) and Dell Dock where if I create a virtual switch (network connection) within Hyper-V, the network connection from the dock loses its network connection. This affects the host and the VM. If I remove the virtual switch, the connection is restored to full functionality for the host. I have tried different versions of the display driver (network driver is included) with the same results up to version 7.5.

If memory serves, this was not the case for Windows 8 and upgrading to Windows 8.1 did not show this issue immediately as I have only been chasing this down over the past few months. Upgrading to Windows 8.1 upgrade 1 did not change behavior.

All drivers up to date. Can reproduce across same devices and docks.

Any help would be appreciated.

Smitty · 05-21-2014, 08:42 PM

I'm having the same issue with my Dell XPS 12 (Core I7-3537U, 8GB, Win8.1-Pro-64bit), Dell D3000 dock (DisplayLink), and Hyper-V virtual switch. The "Dell Gigabit Ethernet" device driver is listed as DisplayLink Corp. version 7.5.54496.0 dated 3/21/2014. The "Hyper-V Virtual Ethernet Adapter" device driver is listed as Microsoft version 6.3.9600.16384 dated 6/21/2006.

My Dell Gigabit connection changes to Enabled, and my Hyper-V connection goes to "Identifying" as soon as I setup the Hyper-V virtual switch, but it never changes to the domain name. Network connectivity to our domain is lost from then on - I don't even need to launch a Hyper-V virtual machine.

If I connect to our domain through a Cisco USB to Ethernet dongle (ASIX AX88772) attached directly to the Dell XPS12, it works just fine - the Cisco connection is listed as Enabled and the Hyper-V connection is listed with the domain name connection.

JamesH · 05-29-2014, 03:18 PM

Hi,

Thanks for flagging this - I've raised this internally for investigation.

Thanks,
James

Smitty · 05-30-2014, 06:18 PM

Thanks for looking into this. I've updated to the latest 7.6 driver (7.6.55049.0) with the same results. I have also reloaded the 4401 firmware version from the Targus website (at Dell Support's direction) with the same results.

gparker · 06-04-2014, 06:06 AM

I'm experiencing exactly the same issue. I'm using a Windows 8.1 HP laptop connected to a Kingston dock. The Kingston's NIC appears as a DisplayLink Ethernet adapter in Windows. HELP!

Wim · 07-21-2014, 10:14 AM

We have investigated this. To support Hyper V, the drivers need to be based on a newer version of Windows API than we are using. To support this, our Ethernet driver would need to be re-written to use the new API.

This is not something we are currently planning to do. Until our Ethernet driver moves to using the new API, this will not be supported.

Wim

05-20-2014, 06:30 PM	#1
brguernsey Junior Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 1	Lose network connection on dock when creating virtual switch in Hyper-V I am seeing an issue on the Dell XPS12 (Windows 8.1) and Dell Dock where if I create a virtual switch (network connection) within Hyper-V, the network connection from the dock loses its network connection. This affects the host and the VM. If I remove the virtual switch, the connection is restored to full functionality for the host. I have tried different versions of the display driver (network driver is included) with the same results up to version 7.5. If memory serves, this was not the case for Windows 8 and upgrading to Windows 8.1 did not show this issue immediately as I have only been chasing this down over the past few months. Upgrading to Windows 8.1 upgrade 1 did not change behavior. All drivers up to date. Can reproduce across same devices and docks. Any help would be appreciated.

05-21-2014, 08:42 PM	#2
Smitty Junior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ohio Posts: 3	I'm having the same issue with my Dell XPS 12 (Core I7-3537U, 8GB, Win8.1-Pro-64bit), Dell D3000 dock (DisplayLink), and Hyper-V virtual switch. The "Dell Gigabit Ethernet" device driver is listed as DisplayLink Corp. version 7.5.54496.0 dated 3/21/2014. The "Hyper-V Virtual Ethernet Adapter" device driver is listed as Microsoft version 6.3.9600.16384 dated 6/21/2006. My Dell Gigabit connection changes to Enabled, and my Hyper-V connection goes to "Identifying" as soon as I setup the Hyper-V virtual switch, but it never changes to the domain name. Network connectivity to our domain is lost from then on - I don't even need to launch a Hyper-V virtual machine. If I connect to our domain through a Cisco USB to Ethernet dongle (ASIX AX88772) attached directly to the Dell XPS12, it works just fine - the Cisco connection is listed as Enabled and the Hyper-V connection is listed with the domain name connection. Last edited by Smitty; 06-27-2014 at 07:06 PM. Reason: computer specs. added

06-04-2014, 06:06 AM	#5
gparker Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 1	Me too... I'm experiencing exactly the same issue. I'm using a Windows 8.1 HP laptop connected to a Kingston dock. The Kingston's NIC appears as a DisplayLink Ethernet adapter in Windows. HELP!

05-29-2014, 03:18 PM	#3
JamesH Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,523	Hi, Thanks for flagging this - I've raised this internally for investigation. Thanks, James

05-30-2014, 06:18 PM	#4
Smitty Junior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ohio Posts: 3	Thanks for looking into this. I've updated to the latest 7.6 driver (7.6.55049.0) with the same results. I have also reloaded the 4401 firmware version from the Targus website (at Dell Support's direction) with the same results.

07-21-2014, 10:14 AM	#6
Wim Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,561	We have investigated this. To support Hyper V, the drivers need to be based on a newer version of Windows API than we are using. To support this, our Ethernet driver would need to be re-written to use the new API. This is not something we are currently planning to do. Until our Ethernet driver moves to using the new API, this will not be supported. Wim