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

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<metadesc>Here is how you set up your webcam with Linux, capture videos and images, do VoIP calls and automate recording. Tested with SUSE Linux, Ubuntu and Debian.</metadesc>
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You've really helped me undrtseand the issues. Thanks.
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.
 
 
 
= Setup =
 
* plug in your webcam (typically to USB)
 
* [[open a console]] and list your video4linux devices:
 
ls -ltr /dev/video*
 
* you will find an output like this:
 
crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Nov 11 09:06 '''/dev/video0'''
 
In this example your webcam device is named ''/dev/video0''. If you have no /dev/video file, read [[#Troubleshooting]]. If you have several video4linux devices, for example a [[tv card]] your webcam may show up as /dev/video1 or whatever. But the time (in this case Nov 11 09:06) will be the time when you plugged it in.
 
* test the webcam
 
** if you have [[vlc]] installed you can start it and choose Media -> Open Capture Device -> Video device name = ''/dev/video0'' -> Play
 
** if you have mplayer installed you can use the command
 
[[mplayer]] tv:// -tv driver=v4l2:width=640:height=480:device=''/dev/video0'' -fps 30
 
 
 
Wowza, problem solved like it never haneeppd.
 
 
 
= Troubleshooting =
 
Troubleshooting heavily depends on the distribution and version you are using. If you have done cabling correctly and a device file /dev/video* does not appear, your kernel probably does not know the hardware. In this case you may have to install the device driver separately because it may not be part of the kernel.
 
 
 
== SUSE Linux 11.0 and earlier ==
 
This has been tested with SUSE Linux 11.0 x64 but should work with any earlier SUSE version. You will need to log in as user root.
 
To find out what driver you need, [[open a console]] and call
 
[[hwinfo]] --usb
 
If a Logitech Quickcam Messenger is plugged in the answer will be 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 install and load the webcam driver like this:
 
yast -i gspcav-kmp-default
 
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.
 
 
 
== Ubuntu ==
 
This has been tested with Ubuntu 8.10 x32 but should work with any Ubuntu version.
 
Find out the driver activation command of your webcam. For this, first install the software '''hwinfo'''. [[Open a console]] and type:
 
sudo apt-get [[install]] [[hwinfo]]
 
Then call hwinfo:
 
hwinfo --usb
 
If a Logitech Quickcam Messenger is plugged in the response will be like:
 
04: USB 00.2: 0000 Unclassified device
 
  [Created at usb.122]
 
  UDI: /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if2
 
  Unique ID: 4ajv.vE+cdFBwClB
 
  Parent ID: k4bc._Mkd+LmXb03
 
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:11.0/0000:02:00.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.2
 
  SysFS BusID: 1-1:1.2
 
  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: gspca_zc3xx is active
 
    '''Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe gspca_zc3xx"'''
 
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
 
  Attached to: #8 (Hub)
 
Activate the driver:
 
sudo modprobe gspca_zc3xx
 
Now you should be able to see the video device:
 
[[ls]] /dev/video*
 
/dev/video0
 
You can now test your webcam using the software cheese:
 
sudo apt-get install cheese
 
cheese
 
 
 
= Other webcams =
 
If you have another webcam, try the above nevertheless. If it does not work, exchange the driver gspca against uvcvideo:
 
yast -i uvcvideo_kmp_default
 
modprobe uvcvideo
 
and start gqcam again.
 
 
 
= Testbed =
 
The following webcams have been found working with this tutorial:
 
* Logitech Quickcam messenger
 
* Philips Webcam SPC220NC
 
 
 
A general list of working webcams can be found at http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca5xx.html.
 
 
 
The guide has been tested with SUSE Linux 11.4 till 13.2 and Ubuntu.
 
 
 
= See also =
 
* [[hardware]]
 
* http://en.opensuse.org/Webcam
 
* http://www.linux.com/feature/126186
 
* http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-driver-for-quickcam-usb-cameras-logitech-quickcam-fusion/
 
* http://www.goldmann.de/webcam-linux_tipp_408.html
 
* http://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/Webcam
 
 
 
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Revision as of 15:59, 7 January 2016

You've really helped me undrtseand the issues. Thanks.