Thunderbolt Dock G4 no internet connection / IP-Config failed

[bss69]

Our company recently aquired a Thunderbolt Dock G4 280W for testing, because we want to set up remote workspaces. The notebook (MSI Summit E16) we chose for the initial test is not officially supported by the Dock, but it still has TB4 and we are able to use all features of the G4, except for the full Ethernet capability. It was even shown in the TB-control center.

When connecting a network cable, we were only able to access our local server, but not the internet. Windows diagnosed a faulty network IP-configuration, and the connection-details show a very wrong IPv4-adress starting with 169.x.x.x. I also took the dock and the notebook home to x-out our local network as the problem, but it was the same in my home network.

Troubleshooting wise I tested everything I found online:

• Installed the latest firmware for the dock, also the latest ethernet-drivers
• uninstall and reinstall ethernet drivers / deactivating and reactivating the device
• reset the notebooks IP-config and DNS-config
• router restart etc.

After resetting the config and flushing the DNS I had some strange interactions too, sometimes the IPv4 shown in details was correct but it still had no internet, once i had an active IPv6 and could access the internet but not our server.

Also deactivating TB in the UEFI and reactivating it did not help. I also found no TB security options in the UEFI, but I don't think that is the issue since DP and USB work fine (the G4s button even locks the notebook).

Recently the notebook occasionally gives a notification that there might be restrictions in use of the connected USB4-Device, perhaps due to compatability issues.

I just want to know if there is something wrong with the G4 or if this is normal behavior if the connected device is not an HP-device. Thank you in advance.