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

[brguernsey]

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]

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]

Hi,

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

Thanks,
James

[Smitty]

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]

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]

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

[Smitty]

Very unfortunate. :( I was running with another Ethernet adapter for a while, and then decided to move to VMware Player to solve my issue. The VMware option is pricey, but it adds a few marginally desirable features like multi-monitor support.

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

[ggreiginsights]

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.

Hyper-V is now a fundamental part of the operating system. While I appreciate development work always has to be prioritised, this issue is a complete blocker for some tasks on my Surface 3 as a developer - I would hope that this decision will be revisited really quickly.

[scottws]

I concur with ggreiginsights. I recently moved from a Dell Latitude laptop using a traditional laptop dock to a Dell XPS12 that uses a DisplayLink-based dock and discovered this problem almost immediately.

Hyper-V is a built-in, core component of Windows 8.1 and is used by many IT developers, systems administrators, and network administrators. DisplayLink absolutely needs to revisit the decision to not implement a driver that leverages the new Windows API included in Windows 8.1. People need to use Hyper-V on machines that use DisplayLink, but they also need the network to function!

I've currently resorted to using a different no-cost desktop virtualization product, but it has nowhere near the performance of Windows' built-in Hyper-V and doesn't do dynamic vRAM.

[Wim]

We are still looking into this. It may not be due to a newer Windows API, as we have tried to reproduce and Hyper-V has worked. When creating a virtual switch the Hyper-V virtual adapter was created, with the IP-address, MAC-address and so on of the DisplayLink network adapter.

We would like to check your network settings when this occurs. Could you share the Network Statistics.txt file that is created when you run our support tool:

http://kb.displaylink.com/269

Also, it looks like other users have had this issue, independent of DisplayLink:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/90cc1228-0704-4248-90a5-8f38426030d8/windows-8-hyperv-networking-problem?forum=w8itprogeneral

It is possible that some of the problems here are not directly due to DisplayLink.

Thanks

Wim

[wilsjay]

Has there been any movement on this? I am experiencing the same issue on my brand new dell XPS laptop using an Anker USB 3.0 dock w/ Windows 8.1

[Atkinson]

This is STILL an issue on Windows 10 22H2. Lenovo Thunderbolt 3 workstation dock 40AN, also uses Displaylink drivers. Frankly unacceptable, especially given how long Hvper-V has been built into Windows.

[rboerner]

This is STILL an issue on Windows 10 22H2. Lenovo Thunderbolt 3 workstation dock 40AN, also uses Displaylink drivers. Frankly unacceptable, especially given how long Hvper-V has been built into Windows.

According to the information provided by Lenovo for the docking station you mention --> https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/accessory/docks/thunderbolt-3-workstation-dock/40an the Lenovo dock does NOT use DisplayLink technology.

[AlbanRampon]

Hello,

This is a Windows problem with the Hyper-V virtual switch.
I've experienced it regularly without a dock Ethernet, using just the laptop and using the Wi-Fi card for the outbound connection as my house is not Ethernet cabled.
Also, as noted, that dock doesn't use DisplayLink, so even if the DisplayLink driver is installed, it will not be used.

I suggest you report the problem to Microsoft.

Regards,
Alban

[manetied]

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. krnl.fun (https://krnl.fun/)
hdstreamz apk (https://hdstreamz.uno)