USB Hub Only Recognizes One Input

[interceptor2012]

This is my first post on these forums. I have used Ubuntu and Fedora and am familiar with Linux for about two years now. I have recently installed Arch Linux on one of my computers, and I like the distro so far.

However, I am having an issue with my USB hub. When I connect a mouse and keyboard to the hub, the computer only recognizes input from the device that I plug in first when using a window manager (the keyboard always works when I am not in a window manager). If I disconnect one device, the other device starts working. Both devices appear in dmesg when I disconnect and reconnect them. So the computer is recognizing the devices independently, but input from one device is not received. I have tried this on both Gnome and Fluxbox, with the same result. If I plug both devices directly into the computer's USB ports, both devices work at the same time. The hub works on a Windows 7 system and on an Ubuntu system, so the hub is not faulty. Does anyone have any ideas how to resolve this problem? If you need anymore information from me, please let me know.

Thanks in advanced for your help.


More information:

My keyboard is Microsoft Razer Reclusa keyboard. My mouse is a Logitech Wireless Mouse M215.

Below is the dmesg output that I think is relevant to this issue. Here is the output I get when I plug in my USB hub (without anything plugged into it), then plug in the mouse to the hub, and finally plug in the keyboard to the hub:

usb 1-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 80
hub 1-4:1.0: USB hub found
hub 1-4:1.0: 4 ports detected
usb 1-4.2: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 81
input: Logitech USB Receiver as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-4/1-4.2/1-4.2:1.0/input/input96
generic-usb 0003:046D:C526.005D: input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.11 Mouse [Logitech USB Receiver] on usb-0000:00:1d.7-4.2/input0
input: Logitech USB Receiver as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-4/1-4.2/1-4.2:1.1/input/input97
generic-usb 0003:046D:C526.005E: input,hiddev0,hidraw1: USB HID v1.11 Device [Logitech USB Receiver] on usb-0000:00:1d.7-4.2/input1
usb 1-4.1: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 82
hub 1-4.1:1.0: USB hub found
hub 1-4.1:1.0: 3 ports detected
hub 1-4.1:1.0: activate --> -28
usb 1-4.1.3: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
input: Razer Reclusa Keyboard as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-4/1-4.1/1-4.1.3/1-4.1.3:1.0/input/input98
generic-usb 0003:1532:0200.005F: input,hidraw2: USB HID v1.10 Keyboard [Razer Reclusa Keyboard] on usb-0000:00:1d.7-4.1.3/input0
input: Razer Reclusa Keyboard as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-4/1-4.1/1-4.1.3/1-4.1.3:1.1/input/input99
generic-usb 0003:1532:0200.0060: input,hidraw3: USB HID v1.10 Device [Razer Reclusa Keyboard] on usb-0000:00:1d.7-4.1.3/input1
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83
usb 1-4.1.3: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 83

Here is the output I get when I plug in my USB hub (without anything plugged into it), then plug in the keyboard to the hub, and finally plug in the mouse to the hub:

usb 1-4.1: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 92
hub 1-4.1:1.0: USB hub found
hub 1-4.1:1.0: 3 ports detected
usb 1-4.1.3: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 93
input: Razer Reclusa Keyboard as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-4/1-4.1/1-4.1.3/1-4.1.3:1.0/input/input104
generic-usb 0003:1532:0200.0065: input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Keyboard [Razer Reclusa Keyboard] on usb-0000:00:1d.7-4.1.3/input0
input: Razer Reclusa Keyboard as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-4/1-4.1/1-4.1.3/1-4.1.3:1.1/input/input105
generic-usb 0003:1532:0200.0066: input,hidraw1: USB HID v1.10 Device [Razer Reclusa Keyboard] on usb-0000:00:1d.7-4.1.3/input1
usb 1-4.2: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 94
input: Logitech USB Receiver as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-4/1-4.2/1-4.2:1.0/input/input106
generic-usb 0003:046D:C526.0067: input,hidraw2: USB HID v1.11 Mouse [Logitech USB Receiver] on usb-0000:00:1d.7-4.2/input0
input: Logitech USB Receiver as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-4/1-4.2/1-4.2:1.1/input/input107
generic-usb 0003:046D:C526.0068: input,hiddev0,hidraw3: USB HID v1.11 Device [Logitech USB Receiver] on usb-0000:00:1d.7-4.2/input1
usb 1-4.2: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 94
usb 1-4.2: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 94
usb 1-4.2: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 94
usb 1-4.2: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 94
usb 1-4.2: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 94
usb 1-4.2: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 94
usb 1-4.2: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 94
usb 1-4.2: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 94

Interesting to note is that the line that say "usb 1-4.2: reset full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 94" increases in the number of times it appears over time. This happens in both scenarios, with the address number changing appropriately. So for example, when everything is plugged in, and I type dmesg, the line appears five times. Then when I type dmesg again, it appears 11 times. Etc, for each subsequent dmesg call until the device is disconnected.

Thanks again.

[Rubberman]

On this particular computer, have you run other Linux distributions in the past, or is this the first time on this system hardware?

[interceptor2012]

On this particular computer, have you run other Linux distributions in the past, or is this the first time on this system hardware?

I have previously run Ubuntu (9.04 I believe) and Windows 7 RC on the machine in question, with the same hardware. Both operated correctly, even with the hub.

[Rubberman]

You say it's a wireless mouse. So, I presume that what is connected to the hub is the wireless transceiver? Is the keyboard also wireless? If so, does it use the same transceiver?

[interceptor2012]

You say it's a wireless mouse. So, I presume that what is connected to the hub is the wireless transceiver? Is the keyboard also wireless? If so, does it use the same transceiver?

The mouse is wireless, with its wireless receiver plugged into the hub. The keyboard, however, is wired.

Both devices work simultaneously when plugged directly into the computer's usb ports.

[Rubberman]

Ok. I think the problem is that the hub doesn't have enough power to deal with both devices. That is not an uncommon situation with unpowered hubs that get their power from the system USB port. Also, it may be dependent upon which system port the hub is connected to. Some are given a bigger current capability and can power more devices on the hub. The other solution is to either get a power adapter for the hub, or to get a powered hub. The reason why I think this is the case is that you say they both work if plugged directly into system USB ports.

[interceptor2012]

Ok. I think the problem is that the hub doesn't have enough power to deal with both devices. That is not an uncommon situation with unpowered hubs that get their power from the system USB port. Also, it may be dependent upon which system port the hub is connected to. Some are given a bigger current capability and can power more devices on the hub. The other solution is to either get a power adapter for the hub, or to get a powered hub. The reason why I think this is the case is that you say they both work if plugged directly into system USB ports.

The hub is powered. I believe the problem is not with the hub itself, but some configuration in the system, seeing as the hub worked perfectly under Ubuntu and Windows 7 RC. It even worked with a third device (a printer) connected as well.

Sorry, I should have stated that in my initial post.

[Rubberman]

No problem. Thanks for the clarification. Well, report it to the Arch bug list. At this point, I'm clueless (though my wife would say that at all points I am clueless...).

[interceptor2012]

No problem. Thanks for the clarification. Well, report it to the Arch bug list. At this point, I'm clueless (though my wife would say that at all points I am clueless...).

Alright thanks for the help. I found somewhere that a possible solution is to enable CONFIG_USB_EHCI_TT_NEWSCHED, but I am unsure how to do this. I wanted to see if you had any other ideas before letting you know of this idea. Do you have any experience with enabling things like this or something like it?

[Rubberman]

Alright thanks for the help. I found somewhere that a possible solution is to enable CONFIG_USB_EHCI_TT_NEWSCHED, but I am unsure how to do this. I wanted to see if you had any other ideas before letting you know of this idea. Do you have any experience with enabling things like this or something like it?

Sorry, but no. I would suspect that it is a kernel mod which is a problem if you update the kernel to a new version and the problem hasn't been fixed. However, it may be worth a try to see. At worst, you keep using the old kernel and plug one of the devices directly into the computer.