Perplexed about USB

[joneall]

I have three possibilities for plugging a USB key into my desktop computer. The front of the computer, which I will call usb-c, a USB 2 hub from D-Link, which I will call usb-2, and a USB 3 hub from Aukey, you guessed it, usb-3.

I also have three Transcend USB 3 keys, k-1, k-2 and k-3.

If I plug k-1 into usb-c, the Device Notifier (DN) pops up a window asking what I want to do with it. Also, I see

$ lsusb  | grep -i transcend
Bus 003 Device 011: ID 8564:1000 Transcend Information, Inc. JetFlash

Ditto for k-1 in usb-2. But in usb-3, k-1 is neither seen by lsusb nor does the DN pop up a window.

USB key-2 works the same as far as the DN window, but lsusb never sees it at all.

And key-3 is "invisible" to lsusb and DN on all three hubs.

I clearly do not understand how the system recognizes a USB key. Are keys that variable in their functioning?

It looks like the hub-3 may not function at all. I had the same result with another USB 3 hub.

Yes, the hubs are both plugged into a USB 3 slot. I think the ones on the front are USB 2.

Without anything plugged in, I see this:

$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:8000 Intel Corp. 
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 009: ID 062a:4102 Creative Labs 
Bus 005 Device 008: ID 046d:c52b Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 005 Device 007: ID 0835:8502 Action Star Enterprise Co., Ltd 
Bus 005 Device 006: ID 0835:8500 Action Star Enterprise Co., Ltd 
Bus 005 Device 005: ID 0835:8501 Action Star Enterprise Co., Ltd 
Bus 005 Device 004: ID 0835:8500 Action Star Enterprise Co., Ltd 
Bus 005 Device 018: ID 05e3:0610 Genesys Logic, Inc. 4-port hub
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:8008 Intel Corp. 
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 03f0:c911 Hewlett-Packard 
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 0a12:0001 Cambridge Silicon Radio, Ltd Bluetooth Dongle (HCI mode)
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 0424:2514 Standard Microsystems Corp. USB 2.0 Hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

[Snowhog]

I believe your issue is that the USB keys you have are USB 3 and the hub is USB 2. USB 3 requires more power to operate, and the hub (USB 2) simply doesn't provide it.

[joneall]

I believe your issue is that the USB keys you have are USB 3 and the hub is USB 2. USB 3 requires more power to operate, and the hub (USB 2) simply doesn't provide it.

Good remark. But it's the USB 3 hub which does not work with anything. And it's the third one I have tried. Btw, it works fine on a Mac... I think.

[TWPonKubuntu]

How is the USB 3 hub connected to your computer? Is it built in? Is is plugged into a USB 2 port (as noted, not enough power)?

[Snowhog]

How is the USB 3 hub connected to your computer? Is it built in? Is is plugged into a USB 2 port (as noted, not enough power)?

Even if the hub is plugged into a USB 3 port, the fact remains: the ports on the hub are USB 2, and USB 3 devices plugged into those ports won't receive the power they require.

[TWPonKubuntu]

I'm hearing two statements: USB 2 hub and USB 3 hub. The OP says theirs is a USB 3 hub, meaning that the hub itself can handle USB 3 speed and power levels.

But, to me, a hub is an external device. Am I correct in this assumption?

If true, then the USB 3 hub needs a high speed, high power port on the computer into which it can be plugged.

On the other hand, if the "hub" is a set of ports which are part of the original computer hardware, then they should (ought, must) have an internal bus connection which can handle the speed/power requirements...

Trying to theorize with insufficient data...

[Snowhog]

My bad then.

Re-read the OP, and yes, two hubs; one USB-2 and one USB-3.

[TWPonKubuntu]

joneall,

How are your hubs connected to the computer?

[GreyGeek]

Adding a couple data points to this thread.
My 2011 Acer has two USB2 ports and one USB3 port. The USB2 port has never given me any problems with any USB2 stick I've tried. The USB3 port has never given me any problems with any USB3 stick that I've tried.

A few years ago I expanded the USB2 ports by adding a powered external hub which gives 7 ports. It has never given me trouble with either Kubuntu 12,14 and 16, and with KDE Neon.

With only one USB3 port I decided to add an external USB3 hub. It has 7 USB3 ports on it AND an Apple charging port. It also has a button on each of the 7 ports that allows me to activate or deactivate them individually. It's performance has been hit and miss. It will recognize some sticks and not others. On occasions it has refused to recognize a LiveUSB stick that was created using an external hub port. It doesn't seem to matter which of the 7 ports I use, the behavior is always sporadic. It could be marked up to the 3.0 version of my laptop USB3 port.

Disappointed with the powered USB3 hub I purchased a passive 4 port external hub from Orico, primarily because I had excellent results with their internal HD Caddy. It, too, gave sporadic results.

Both are now setting on a shelf in my overhead cabinet.