I've read the Web Cams can be trick on Linux, but I want to try one anyway.

I have a Logitech Quick Cam Zoom I'd like to use.

How does on configure this? I keep getting pointed to different site that don't really answer this wuestion when I search Google.

I have 256 MB RAM, ATI Radeon Card, 1.4 GH AMD processor, and lots of Hard Drive Space.

The Camera is identified in YAST, but I can't really fo further with it.

Thanks,

You need PWC module, available in this site http://www.saillard.org/linux/pwc/

Just follow install instructions, is REALLY easy

I downloaded the pwc-10-0.7a, it was tar'd
I ran tar xjf pwc-10.7.7a.tar.bz2 and received no error.
I logged in as Root, changed to the directory the the unpacked file is located, ran “make” with no errors or confirmations. When I ran “make install” I received this error:

make -C /lib/modules/2.6.11.4-21.8-default/build SUBDIRS=/root/pwc-10.0.7a modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.11.4-21.8-obj/i386/default'
make[1]: *** No rule to make target `modules'. Stop.
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.11.4-21.8-obj/i386/default'
make: *** [default] Error 2

I am not sure of what I did wrong here.

I went to http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/linux/webcam.html after finding it on Google, I got as far as

0. Newest Update for Kernel 2.6.x ! (See below for kernels 2.4.x)

There are lots of discussions about the drivers 'pwc' and 'pwcx' for the newest kernels (kernel 2.6 and higher) going on these days.
Here is a solution that worked for me without building a new kernel - just making a new kernel module working fine on Debian Linux with kernel 2.6.7 ! This solution should also work for other 2.6 kernels; I guess.

a) Goto http://www.saillard.org/pwc/
b) Click on README - you will read (and this is true, I verified it) that you may really have a big resolution of 640x480 !
c) Save/download the tar-ball pwc-10.0.6a.tar.bz2 to any directory
and enter the following commands:
d) tar -jxvf pwc-10.0.6a.tar.bz2
e) cd pwc-10.0.6a
f) make (ignore the two error-messages)
g) cp -p /lib/modules/2.6.7-1-686/kernel/drivers/usb/media/pwc.ko /lib/modules/2.6.7-1-686/kernel/drivers/usb/media/pwc.ko_orig
h) cp -p pwc.ko /lib/modules/2.6.7-1-686/kernel/drivers/usb/media/pwc.ko
!! Should the command 'uname -r' on your system not result in '2.6.7-1-686',
then you should use your own output of the command 'uname -r' instead
of '2.6.7-1-686' in the two commands above !!
i) depmod -a
j) rmmod pwc

When I ran RMMOD PWC as ROOT I received: (all in lower case)

rmmod pwc
ERROR: Module pwc does not exist in /proc/modules

2.6.11.4-21.9 is the lastest kernel release from SuSE for 9.3. Your post showed 2.6.11.4-21.8. Any chance that you do not have the latest kernel-source package in place? pwc is notoriously picky about an exact match between the kernel source and the running kernel. Just a thought...

I updated my Kernel today on
SuSE 9.3, 1.5 G AMD, 256 MB RAM.

Output when I look at hardware in YAST:

Logitech Camera
BUS: USB
Class (spec):
Class Camera
Device identifier: 198835
Model: Logitech Camera
Old Unique Key: t0W.AN_e7XL7ryA

resources
Unique Key: bobO.AN_e7XL7ryA
Vendor identifier: 197741
Vendor: Logitech Inc.
bus_hwcfg: usb
hotplug: usb
sys_bus_id: 1-1.2:1.0

I'll have some time Friday to try it again....

One other silly idea - do you know for sure that the pwc module is the one that supports the Quickcam Zoom? It *is* the one that supports the Quickcam Pro 4000, but I wasn't sure that it did the Zoom. That would be consistent with SuSE complaining, when you tried the rmmod, that the module wasn't present. If you have the right module, you should observe that SuSE 9.3 will automatically load it when you plug in the webcam. Personally, I have never used YaST in this area. I just built pwc per the instructions, and then plugged in the cam. SuSE loaded pwc, and I was up and running in camstream, gnomemeeting, and all the other webcam apps out there. So, are you sure that pwc is the right module for the Quickcam Zoom? Checking the pwc web page, and searching others via google, I didn't see the Quickcam Zoom listed as supported by pwc... this doesn't mean it isnt't of course...

It could be a "pwc/quick cam zoom" support issue mac57. But before I ran SuSE 9.3, I ran 8.0
and the same cam showed images. The reason I don't run 8.0 any longer was a MBR issue
and I lost the "install" CD. At Linux World, thy passed out 9.3 and I installed it; note, I now keep
my install CDs very organized after this lesson.

With the udpated kernel, I'll try the "latest" pwc again.

Out of desperation today, I poppoed in my MEPIS 3.3.1-1 CD, in a terminal, I typed camstream; and, the Webcam was working.

I think Mepis is Debian-based and I have Debian 3.1. I was thinking to install Debian anyway. Although I really like SuSE, I may end up
with several Distros of Linux on my Hard Drive in addition to Solaris once I have it all working.

I then will need to read up on dual booting Solaris and Linux. ebian may support the
Cam out of the box, but I'm not sure yet,
it just happened a few minutes ago.