Set up a Webcam with Linux
From Linuxintro
Revision as of 07:12, 9 October 2008 by imported>ThorstenStaerk (there was a "USB headset" from Logitech attached as well.)
You want to set up your webcam with Linux, see a video stream from it and learn which applications you can use with it, right? Then this article is for you. It has been tested with SUSE Linux 11 and a Logitech Quickcam messenger, but should work for other configurations as well.
Load the driver
To find out what driver you need, call
hwinfo --usb
This will deliver something like:
06: USB 00.2: 0000 Unclassified device
[Created at usb.122]
UDI: /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if2
Unique ID: Eopr.vE+cdFBwClB
Parent ID: uIhY.uOe2OKugI8D
SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.2/usb3/3-1/3-1:1.2
SysFS BusID: 3-1:1.2
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: #20 (Hub)
This means you can load the webcam driver like this:
modprobe gspca
Now you should see a video device:
ls /dev/video* /dev/video /dev/video0
That means you can install and start your webcam-viewer-software. We choose gqcam:
yast -i gqcam gqcam
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 do IP phoning, use skype.
- to watch your camera's input, use gqcam.
Other webcams
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.
