USB 3 port on Net Plus not working

jayman

I noticed that the USB port on my Net Plus only works in HS (USB2) mode, but not in SS (USB3) mode.

When I connect a device that supports both HS and SS (for instance a Belkin USB 3 hub), it only shows up as a USB 2 hub:

If I connect that same hub to one of the 4 USB ports on the main board it is correctly shown as both a USB 2 and a USB 3 hub:

When I connect a device that only supports SS (for instance a Linksys GbE adapter), it shows up fine on one of the USB ports on the main board:

However, it will not appear at all when plugged into the USB port on the Net Plus:

So bottom line, I can't get USB3 to work at all on the Net Plus. I have tried several different UP Xtreme host systems, all with the same results. The UP Xtreme block diagram shows that PCIe lanes 5~9 are routed to the Docking connector, where the Net Plus is attached. WHL EDS also shows that only lanes 1~6 can be configured for USB3:

Furthermore, Device Manager shows that PCIe lanes 6/7/8 are used for the 4 GbE ports:

Therefore, the USB3 port on Net Plus would have to connect to PCIe lane 5 on the chipset if this has any chance of working.

So in conclusion, there are 3 possible explanations for this:

1. The USB3 port on the Net Plus does not connect to PCIe lane 5 on the chipset.
2. The BIOS on the UP Xtreme does not configure PCIe lane 5 for USB3.
3. My Net Plus is simply broken.

I would really like to know if anyone has been able to get USB3 to work on the Net Plus connected to UP Xtreme. If so, that would rule out option 1 and leave options 2 or 3. But if no-one has been able to make this work then option 3 seems less likely and options 1 or 2 are the likely root cause.

jayman

Can someone @AAEON offer any clarification as to whether the USB3 port on the Net Plus is connected to PCIe lane 5 on the chipset or not?

Also has anyone (@AAEON or otherwise) been able to get this to work at all?

I'd like to determine whether my Net Plus is defective or is there a design issue that would keep this from working correctly?

Pratik_Kushwaha

Hi @jayman ,

This is a known issue of Net Plus with UP Xtreme. Please also check the compatibility diagram here, https://forum.up-community.org/discussion/4073/how-to-use-net-plus-and-vision-plus-x-on-up-xtreme.
We will get back to you with more updates on this soon.

Regarads,
Pratik

jayman

Thanks Pratik!

Compatibility diagram says it's supposed to work though. That's why I'm confused. Appreciate any additional info you can provide.

jayman

@Pratik_Kushwaha , just wondering if there was any update on this? Can the USB3 port on Net Plus be made to work with a BIOS update? Or is this a hardware / design issue?

rogertsai(AAEON)

@jayman
To open the USB3.0 for Net Plus, you will need to change the following BIOS setting
Press Del to enter CRB BIOS settings with password “upassw0rd”
Main --> CRB Setup --> CRB Chipset -->PCH-IO Configuration --> PCI Express configuration --> change "Docking Port Auto Detection" from Enabled to Disabled, and set "Docking Port 5 Mulitifunction Selection" to USB.
Press [F4] key to save configuration and reset. Than the system will show a message "Docking Port configurations Changed, please turn off AC power, then turn On to take effect".

Here's the settings

jayman

OMG that totally worked! Thank you so much @rogertsai(AAEON)

Really happy we were able to figure this out!