webcam integration

[Jocko]

Thank for this feedback.

Many things can be done: add menus to handle easily openvpn, iptables. Include nzbget, mldonkey, add some cloud features with webdav : CalDav, vCard :lmao

[swamswam_h]

I have 4 webcams lying around. Unfortunately none of these stinking devices conforms to the UVC standard! What are the chances of that! The best cam I have - besides an Apple iSight 'donated' from a dead iMac - is a logitech communicator STX.
There is a linux driver available that enables it (gspca) which apparently is incorporated in kernel version 2.6.27. http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Gspca.
How do I go about creating a driver (from source) for this webcam with the correct CPU-code for the Marvell chipset and is such a driver, once built, usable with the webcam module in FvdW 14 (and beyond)?

I am a linux newbie. The learning curve is steep! So please go easy on me ;-)

[fvdw]

You need a kernel module, without the kernel source its quite complicated ;)

how is your webcam identified (use web interface menu attached devices->usb-devices)

as

Logitech identifies as 'ID 046d:08d7 Logitech, Inc. QuickCam Communicate STX ?

or
Logitech identifies as 'ID 046d:08ad Logitech, Inc. QuickCam Communicate STX ?

Then you need attached drivers
I assume you know how to connect to the nas using putty and get a command shell

Put them in /lib/modules/2.6.39.4

and perform modprobe to load them (depmod updates the modules dependencies database)

Code: Select all

depmod
modprobe gspca_main
modprobe gspca_zc3xx

Probably executing only depmod and the last command will also load both drivers.
You can check if they are loaded with command lsmod
Now your webcam should work

[swamswam_h]

Yeah! Another succes. I copied your kernel modules to my nas and then using an SSH terminal copied them to the appropriate location. Works like a charm! After modifying the settings, 640 x 480 is working fine.
There are a lot of gspca compatible camera's out there, so 'we' have just added a lot of supported camera's.

Just for my information: these kernel modules are generated by you (in this case) by compiling code from a source-file using a specific CPU specific compiler? There is no compatibility between kernel modules between different CPU-architectures or linux-distributions / kernel-versions?

Thanks!

[fvdw]

Yeah! Another succes. I copied your kernel modules to my nas and then using an SSH terminal copied them to the appropriate location. Works like a charm! After modifying the settings, 640 x 480 is working fine.
There are a lot of gspca compatible camera's out there, so 'we' have just added a lot of supported camera's.

Yes but not all GSPCA based webcam need the same drivers, there are about 10 or 15 different ones
http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Gspca_devices

Just for my information: these kernel modules are generated by you (in this case) by compiling code from a source-file using a specific CPU specific compiler? There is no compatibility between kernel modules between different CPU-architectures or linux-distributions / kernel-versions?

Thanks!

These drivers are present in the kernel source code, when configuring the kernel for compiling you can select which drivers you want to be compiled. This to reduce size of kernel by leaving out not necessary stuff for the platform you are making the kernel or whatever reason you migh have to exclude certain features.
A kernel module compiled for a certain kernel version can not be used on another version. So a module compiled for Linux version 2.6.39.4 can not be used on Linux 2.6.40.0. Some modules will be platform dependent (Intel, AMD, ARM, Mispel..) but some not. I think webcam drivers might work on different platforms as long as kernel version is the same. But I am not sure about this.

[swamswam_h]

A few questions:
- If you update the kernel, that means that I would lose the functionality of the webcam, right? So how can we 'offload' the task of compiling the kernel modules for 'all' additional hardware or stop us from nagging you every single time for an updated kernel module? Is it possible for you (or someone else) to compile for instance most webcam (of wifi) modules possible and then put these modules in a repository somewhere so the (advanced) user who wants a specific kernel module for a specific kernel version can get it themselves?
- After a reboot the module is not 'automatically' enabled. This must be something simple... I guess I have to enter the module name in some file or rebuild a certain database and then it will be enabled by default... but how and where?

Thanks!

[fvdw]

Indeed modules are dependent on kernel and a change in the kernel configuration may cause to recompile the modules as well.
I can put the modules that were enabled in the configuration in the download forum but not all options are enbled in the kernel so still possible that you miss one.

in /etc/init.d there is a script with name insert-modules, there you could add commands to load more modules, they (the modules) must be present in the folder /lib/modules/xx.yy.zz.ww
with xx.yy.zz.ww replaced by the actual kernel version number for which the modules are compiled (currently 2.6.39.4)
Only use an editor that maintains the unix format of the file, if not then it won't load your modules.

[ronyronen]

Hi,

It seems I need a different drive for my MS VX 3000. I noticed I need the kernel source to compile it. I wandered if you can compile it for me?
gspca_sonixj 045e:00f5 MicroSoft VX3000

[fvdw]

for sure, which nas ? nwsp2, nwsp1, isp1 spd8020 ?

[ronyronen]

for sure, which nas ? nwsp2, nwsp1, isp1 spd8020 ?

Sorry for not mentioning...It's the nwsp2...btw, can you add also: gspca_ov519 - 041e:4060 - Creative Live! VISTA VF0350. I will test both webcam.
Thank you for doing that. This is a great project.