Difference between revisions of "Set up a Webcam with Linux"

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Note that /dev/video needs to be there, otherwise, no v4l! The driver needs to create it.
 
Note that /dev/video needs to be there, otherwise, no v4l! The driver needs to create it.
  
To be sure about Vendor and Device IDs, here is a screenshot when calling hwinfo:
+
To be sure about Vendor and Device IDs, here is a screenshot when calling hwinfo with the Logitech Quickcam messenger:
 
<pre>
 
<pre>
 
hwinfo --usb delivers  
 
hwinfo --usb delivers  

Revision as of 19:24, 8 October 2008

You just want to see a video stream from your webcam to verify it is working correctly, right? Then this article is for you.

What to buy

Buy the Logitech Quickcam messenger and install SUSE Linux 11. Other webcams and distributions may work as well, but this article wants to give an exact description about one installation that surely works.

What to call

Install gqcam

yast -i gqcam

call gqcam

gqcam

result:

/dev/video: No such file or directory

=> very poor! It does not even give a recommendation what to do. But we do: Load the webcam driver

modprobe gspca

Start gqcam again. Now it works. You see a video what from what is going on in front of your webcam.

How to use it

  • to capture video streams, use the software streamer.
  • to do video conferences, use ekiga.
  • to watch your camera's input, use gqcam.

If you have another webcam

If you have another webcam, try the above nevertheless. If it does not work, exchange the driver gspca against uvcvideo:

zast -i uvcvideo_kmp_default
modprobe uvcvideo

and start gqcam again.

Note that /dev/video needs to be there, otherwise, no v4l! The driver needs to create it.

To be sure about Vendor and Device IDs, here is a screenshot when calling hwinfo with the Logitech Quickcam messenger:

hwinfo --usb delivers 
06: USB 00.2: 0000 Unclassified device
  [Created at usb.122]                
  UDI: /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if2
  Unique ID: l1VU.vE+cdFBwClB                                      
  Parent ID: zPk0.v+N+B0xY+P6                                      
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb4/4-2/4-2:1.2      
  SysFS BusID: 4-2:1.2                                             
  Hardware Class: unknown                                          
  Model: "Logitech QuickCam Messanger"                             
  Hotplug: USB                                                     
  Vendor: usb 0x046d "Logitech, Inc."                              
  Device: usb 0x08da "QuickCam Messanger"                          
  Revision: "1.00"                                                 
  Driver: "snd-usb-audio"                                          
  Driver Modules: "snd_usb_audio"                                  
  Speed: 12 Mbps                                                   
  Module Alias: "usb:v046Dp08DAd0100dc00dsc00dp00ic01isc02ip00"    
  Driver Info #0:                                                  
    Driver Status: quickcam_messenger is active                    
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe quickcam_messenger"           
  Driver Info #1:                                                  
    Driver Status: gspca is active                                 
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe gspca"                        
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown       
  Attached to: #26 (Hub)                                           

13: USB 00.3: 0000 Unclassified device
  [Created at usb.122]                
  UDI: /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_a0b_noserial_if3_logicaldev_input
  Unique ID: hz3w.SFg3xCNSZQ3                                                       
  Parent ID: uIhY.uOe2OKugI8D                                                       
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.2/usb3/3-1/3-1:1.3                       
  SysFS BusID: 3-1:1.3                                                              
  Hardware Class: unknown                                                           
  Model: "Logitech USB Headset"                                                     
  Hotplug: USB                                                                      
  Vendor: usb 0x046d "Logitech, Inc."                                               
  Device: usb 0x0a0b "Logitech USB Headset"                                         
  Revision: "10.13"                                                                 
  Driver: "usbhid"                                                                  
  Driver Modules: "usbhid"                                                          
  Device File: /dev/input/event2                                                    
  Device Files: /dev/input/event2, /dev/input/by-path/pci-0000:00:1a.2-usb-0:1:1.3-event-
  Device Number: char 13:66                                                              
  Speed: 12 Mbps                                                                         
  Module Alias: "usb:v046Dp0A0Bd1013dc00dsc00dp00ic03isc00ip00"                          
  Driver Info #0:                                                                        
    Driver Status: usbhid is active                                                      
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe usbhid"                                             
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown                             
  Attached to: #27 (Hub)                                                                 

See also