Making my webcam work under linux

Fill · 10-26-2009, 11:26 AM

Hi,

I bought a Labtec 1200 usb webcam which obviously only brings the drivers for mac / windows.

I'd like to run it under my homemade debian linux server because it would be nice to keep an eye on my house when I'm out.

The problem is: as far as I know, this camera is not supported on linux, according to OpenSUSE foruns. Do you confirm it?

Is there anyway you would suggest to help me on this issue?

Thanks in advance,
Fill

camorri · 10-26-2009, 12:16 PM

A little googling turned up this :

Quote:

http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentat...inux/gspca.txt

Quote:

The modules are:
gspca_main main driver
gspca_xxxx subdriver module with xxxx as follows

supports the Labtec 1200

Quote:

pac207 093a:2464 Labtec Webcam 1200

Fill · 10-27-2009, 10:49 AM

Hi camorri,

Thanks for the answer, however, I have never connected an USB camera to my linux system. could you provide me some more specific hints? I assume you're talking about kernel modules. How would I install it?

I tried this:

Quote:

# aptitude install gspca-modules-`uname -r`
# modprobe gspca
# aptitude install camorama
# camorama /dev/video0

but then camorama tells me that there is no such device: /dev/video0

I checked with ls /dev, and in fact there is no video device. Please help me with this, I'm a n00b with webcams :X

See you arround,
Fill

Fill · 10-27-2009, 11:07 AM

OK I've been reading some stuff and I installed modconf. Seems like I should find "gspca" on the modconf list, no??

I can't find it, and I'm not sure if I am supposed to use modconf to install this gspca thing that supports my webcam... any help would be appreciated

baronobeefdip · 10-27-2009, 01:55 PM

i started this thread here
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-linux-759608/ and it really explains what will and will not work

personally i don't have any good experiences with opensuse i would suggest a different distro

Fill · 10-27-2009, 02:03 PM

oh no, but I'm not using OpenSUSE - I'm using Debian Lenny. I just said I read somethings on OpenSUSE's forum (which does not necessarily mean that I use opensus, that's just what I found using google).

I saw the thread you redirected me to, but that is not going to solve my issue because I already know that my webcam is supported, now the question is: how do I install the kernel modules, drivers, packages, etc..?

I'll keep trying googling and if I have success I'll post here how to do it.

Fill

Fill · 10-27-2009, 04:09 PM

I've made some progress.

I loaded gspca module:

Quote:

BOX4:~# lsmod
Module Size Used by
gspca 639568 0
videodev 27520 1 gspca
v4l1_compat 12260 1 videodev

However, I have 2 probs.:

1) If I reboot the system, the module is not loaded (I assume I have to add it to /etc/modules list)
2) My webcam shows up in lsusb, but I have no /dev/videoX devices .. what's happening? Here's the output of my search for /dev/video devices -.-

Quote:

BOX4:~# ls /dev | grep video
BOX4:~#

lsusb shows me this:

Quote:

BOX4:~# lsusb
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 005: ID 152d:2336 JMicron Technology Corp. / JMicron USA Technology Corp.
Bus 005 Device 004: ID 04fc:0c25 Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 093a:2464 Pixart Imaging, Inc.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 03f0:1317 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 1005
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

I'm running Debian Lenny under linux kernel 2.6.26-2-686:

Quote:

BOX4:~# uname -a
Linux BOX4 2.6.26-2-686 #1 SMP Fri Aug 14 01:27:18 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux
BOX4:~#

Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
Fill

Fill · 10-28-2009, 03:28 AM

ikem · 10-28-2009, 12:59 PM

I think you need to add this device knod yourself. Search the internet for a long listing of /dev/video and take a look at the manpage of "mknod".

Fill · 10-28-2009, 06:02 PM

hummm ... will see that.

Thanks for the tip