Public bug reported:
Title:
DisplayLink monitor remains black after kernel upgrade because EVDI module
package is not installed
Package: linux-generic or the relevant Ubuntu kernel packaging component
(maintainers can redirect if necessary)
Description:
Summary
After upgrading to Ubuntu kernel 7.0.0-38-generic, my third monitor
connected through a DisplayLink USB graphics adapter stopped working.
The adapter was detected by USB, but the monitor remained black because
the EVDI kernel module was not available for the running kernel.
Installing linux-modules-evdi-generic resolved the problem.
I am reporting this because it may indicate an opportunity to improve
Ubuntu's kernel packaging, DisplayLink integration, or documentation for
users who rely on EVDI.
System information
Ubuntu release: Ubuntu Resolute (26.04)
Working kernel before the issue: 6.8.0-142-generic
Affected kernel: 7.0.0-38-generic
EVDI package: evdi 1.14.11-160
DisplayLink adapter: HP Dual Output USB Graphic Adapter
USB vendor/product ID: 17e9:431a
Third monitor: DLOGIC Ltd., 1366×768, VGA
The adapter is connected through USB, with its DVI output converted to
VGA.
Steps to reproduce
Use a DisplayLink USB graphics adapter with a monitor connected.
Boot into kernel 6.8.0-142-generic, where EVDI is installed. All three monitors
work.
Boot into kernel 7.0.0-38-generic.
Observe that the DisplayLink monitor remains black.
Observed behavior
The DisplayLink USB device is detected correctly. However, EVDI is
unavailable for the running kernel.
Before installing the fix, dkms status showed:
evdi/1.14.11, 6.8.0-142-generic, x86_64: installed
There was no EVDI entry for kernel 7.0.0-38-generic.
Running:
modinfo evdi
returned:
modinfo: ERROR: Module evdi not found.
Similarly:
lsmod | grep evdi
returned no output.
The package information showed that linux-modules-evdi-generic was
available but not installed:
linux-modules-evdi-generic:
Installed: (none)
Candidate: 7.0.0-38.38
The standard linux-generic metapackage depends on linux-image-generic
and linux-headers-generic, but does not list linux-modules-evdi-generic
as a dependency or recommendation.
Workaround
I installed the missing package:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install linux-modules-evdi-generic
After rebooting, the EVDI module was available and loaded:
evdi 94208 3
modinfo evdi then showed:
filename: /lib/modules/7.0.0-38-generic/ubuntu/dkms/evdi/evdi.ko.zst
vermagic: 7.0.0-38-generic SMP preempt mod_unload modversions
The command:
xrandr --listmonitors
then detected all three monitors, including the DisplayLink monitor at
its native resolution:
Monitors: 3
0: +HDMI-1 2048/700x1152/390+1366+0 HDMI-1
1: +eDP-1 1920/380x1080/210+3414+72 eDP-1
2: +DVI-I-1 1366/361x768/203+0+384 DVI-I-1
The monitor now works correctly on kernel 7.0.0-38-generic.
Expected behavior
For users with supported DisplayLink hardware, I would expect Ubuntu to
provide clear guidance about the additional EVDI package required for
DisplayLink monitors, particularly when upgrading to a new kernel.
If EVDI is intentionally optional and should not be installed
automatically, documenting the requirement or making the installation
process clearer could prevent users from mistaking a missing module for
a kernel or hardware failure.
Request
Could the Ubuntu maintainers clarify whether the separate installation
of linux-modules-evdi-generic is intentional?
If so, could the documentation or user guidance be improved to make this
requirement clear? If automatic installation is intended for supported
DisplayLink configurations, could the relevant packaging dependencies or
recommendations be reviewed?
Thank you.
Version:
$ cat /proc/version_signature
Ubuntu 7.0.0-38.38-generic 7.0.14
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 26.04
Package: linux-image-7.0.0-38-generic 7.0.0-38.38
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 7.0.0-38.38-generic 7.0.14
Uname: Linux 7.0.0-38-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.34.1-0ubuntu0.1
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC1: matthias 4204 F.... wireplumber
/dev/snd/controlC0: matthias 4204 F.... wireplumber
/dev/snd/seq: matthias 4186 F.... pipewire
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Fri Oct 9 09:50:36 2026
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-01-05 (2103 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200731)
IwDevWlp3s0Link: Not connected.
MachineType: Dell Inc. Inspiron 3793
ProcFB: 0 i915drmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-7.0.0-38-generic
root=UUID=04a3216e-eda8-440c-ae4e-4cc67de7ed4b ro quiet splash
crashkernel=2G-4G:320M,4G-32G:512M,32G-64G:1024M,64G-128G:2048M,128G-:4096M
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to resolute on 2026-10-06 (3 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 03/07/2024
dmi.bios.release: 1.30
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.30.0
dmi.board.name: 0JF2P0
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias:
dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.30.0:bd03/07/2024:br1.30:svnDellInc.:pnInspiron3793:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0JF2P0:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct10:cvr:sku097A:pfaInspiron:
dmi.product.family: Inspiron
dmi.product.name: Inspiron 3793
dmi.product.sku: 097A
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
** Affects: linux (Ubuntu)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Tags: amd64 apport-bug resolute wayland-session
** Attachment added: "lspci-vnvn.log"
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2170296/+attachment/6007485/+files/lspci-vnvn.log
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2170296
Title:
DisplayLink monitor remains black after kernel upgrade because EVDI
module package is not installed
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