Apple_Thunderbolt_Display as 2nd Monitor

multiple-monitors display mac thunderbolt

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Same boat. We're out of luck, probably for good. Details here: https://github.com/intel/thunderbolt-software-user-space/issues/66#issuecomment-524586649

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Lonnie Best

Do your work willingly, as though you were serving the Lord himself, and not just your earthly master. -Colossians 3:23 The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot confirm their validity. -Abraham Lincoln

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

Lonnie Best over 1 year

Running Ubuntu 16.04.4, I'm trying to use an Apple Thunderbolt Display as a 2nd Monitor for a system76 bonobo laptop.

I'm confused by the cable that is built into the Apple Thunderbolt Display; it has a thunderbolt logo on the end that plugs into the laptop, but it is shaped like a mini-display port. Plugging it into either of the bonobo's mini-displayports doesn't lead to detection by Ubuntu sudo xrandr -q.

So, I assume that I need an adapter where I can ultimately plug this cable into the bonobo's (usb-c looking) thunderbolt ports that also showcase the thunderbolt symbol above the port (shown here -- you can't really see the logo, in the photo, but it is there).

But, this is a weird adapter to find, because the cable's end only looks like mini-displayport, while it is really thunderbolt. I'm not sure that a regular mini-diplayport to thunderbolt adapter (one that really converts mini-displayport to thunderbolt) would work (because it already is thunderbolt). I know I'm missing some essential understanding regarding the essence of connectors.

BTW, I have confirmed that Ubuntu 16.04.4 does work great with this monitor when I install Ubuntu 16.04.4 directly onto a mac mini (because the mac mini has the same strange situation; its female port looks like displayport, but it also is really thunderbolt!

Yes, I'm confused. Please advise.
- Lonnie Best almost 6 years
  
  This article reduces some of my confusion.
- Lonnie Best almost 6 years
  
  Another good article on the topic.
- Lonnie Best almost 6 years
  
  I ordered this adapter; I'll report back here if it works or not.
- LaserJesus almost 6 years
  
  Hi @lonnie, I used this adapter from the SO question: amazon.com/StarTech-com-Thunderbolt-Adapter-Macbook-Compatib‌le/…
- Lonnie Best almost 6 years
  
  @LaserJesus: Just to be certain, are you saying you were able to connect an Apple Thunderbolt Display to Ubuntu using the adapter you've suggested? I couldn't get it to work with the adapter I purchased.
- LaserJesus almost 6 years
  
  yes @lonnie I was able to get the Thunderbolt display working with a non-mac laptop running Ubuntu using the StarTech adapter. You will still need to setup a script to enable it properly though, as detailed here: superuser.com/questions/1210310/…
- Madbreaks about 5 years
  
  @LonnieBest were you ever able to get this working with the Apple adapter you linked to? I have the same one but no luck yet.
- Lonnie Best over 4 years
  
  @Madbreaks : I did not. What's interesting, is that I've installed both Ubuntu 16.04 and 18.04 onto a MAC Mini, and that monitor works fine with Ubuntu as long as I have Ubuntu installed on the original MAC hardware. This monitor is a beautiful display for Ubuntu. What's strange, is it doesn't have a power button. It seem like the original MAC equipment knows something that adapters don't, like: "how to turn the damn thing on".