How do I install a webcam in linux?

[Paulos G]

Hullo thar!

Currently trying to work out how to get a Logitech QuickCam Zoom (ID 046d 08b3) working with OpenSUSE 11.1.

My search eventually lead me to this: http://qce-ga.sourceforge.net/#unsupported where I found the right camera.

That takes me to this: http://www.smcc.demon.nl/webcam/

Which lead me to this: http://www.saillard.org/linux/pwc/

So I read the installation docs which cause me to break out in a cold sweat.

OpenSUSE's software manager (Yast) has some webcam packages but I don't know how to tell if they're compatible.

Anyone got any advice as to how I can get this to work easily?

Cheers

P

[Phar]

Judging by your Webcam you've got an awkward one as most should work in Opensuse the minute you plug them in, can't see yours on this page though.

I've never bothered with a webcam in Linux so I may be wrong here, do a search in yast and see if theres anything called Kopete or it may already be installed in your programs menu, if not install it and see if the webcam works by opening Kopete and going to Settings -> Configure -> Devices

If it doesn't show your webcam then download the driver from here

http://www.saillard.org/linux/pwc/files/pwc-10.0.12-rc1.tar.bz2

Extract it

Open a terminal and go to the folder you've just extracted and type make

When that's done type su

You then need to type in your root password and hit return

Then type find /lib/modules/`uname -r`/ -name "pwc*.ko*"

It will probably show something like /lib/modules/2.6.27-7-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/pwc/pwc.ko

You then need to type rm /lib/modules/2.6.27-7-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/pwc/pwc.ko the address will probably be slightly different on your system but you need to remove the pwc.ko file then type make install

After thats done compiling type depmod -a

Then rmmod pwc
Then rmmod pwcx
Then modprobe pwc
Then reboot your PC, go back to Kopete and see if it's there, thats about the best I can do, hopefully it should work.

[Paulos G]

Oh good. An awkward webcam!

Will have a play later.

Thanks for taking the time to explain this - much appreciated.

[Phar]

Apparently the newer Logitech webcams are all UVC compliant so should work fine without any extra work, plug and play, just a pain if you have something older though.

Just to test out some web cam software I decided to see if my PS3 Playstation Eye cam worked with Linux last night, it didn't about a month and half ago but some drivers have just been released so I'll take a look at a few programs for webcams tonight, what you wanting to use the webcam for btw, recording and taking pictures or for something like skype and video conferencing.

[Paulos G]

It was an old hand-me-down so I'm not too bothered about it. Mainly interested in recording monologues but probably be dipping into skype as well. Might just get a newer one. Any recommendations?

[Phar]

Any under supported devices on this page with a tick next to them should be fine mate, it should just be a case of plug & play as the driver is already included in the latest kernel.

Managed to get my PSeye set up and had a play around with a few bits like skype and some software called cheese which lets you record video and take pictures which should be ideal for your needs, both were really easy to set up as they found the webcam straight away so you should have no trouble once you either install that driver for your current one or get a new cam.

[Paulos G]

Cheers much!