Set up a Webcam with Linux
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.
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)
