[NTLUG:Discuss] Docking ports?

[Christopher Cox]

On 04/29/2013 01:16 PM, Lance Simmons wrote:
> My desktop at work soon will be replaced by a laptop plus docking station.
>  (I've been using Debian at work since 2001, but everyone else uses Windows
> or Mac.)  The laptop and docking stations will be Dell.
> 
> Has anyone had luck using Linux laptops with docking stations?  Problems,
> pitfalls?
> 

Docking ports in general make a ton of assumptions.  Best advice, don't "rip"
the laptop (regardless of OS) from the dock.  If possible, power down/off to put
on/off.  And again, while Windows users will claim you can do better, it's a
recipe for trouble even with assumptive Windows.

I've used Dell docks... I have an E-dock (the simpler port replicator one)...
but to be honest, I have never used it.  However, I did use my D-dock quite a
bit (for those that don't know... D and E are series in Dell-land).

The ability to suspend a laptop is still problematic and can vary from software
to software (distros differ on techniques) and from rev level to rev level, etc.

I know that Debian used to use a fairly safe technique for suspend to disk
(which is normally the safest).  The fast suspends (suspend to ram/sleep) are
probably the most problematic.  And really can't be guaranteed... and again...
even if it works on a particular distro.. a simple distro patch update can break
things.

Sometimes it helps to search for your model and Linux and see if somebody has
detailed  out how well things work for that model.