Installing driver

[RayBe]

i found this:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=53755

i want to try this driver because i believe they are for my webcam.
since i am a newbie to linux (learning as i com along can i try this tutorial without risk of damaging my core, or are there risks i should take in consideration?

br,
Raymond

[purps]

As soon as I see the words "kernel headers", I become very afraid *curls up in corner in foetal position*

Don't think you should mess with that in LMCE, but it might be OK for all I know - we'll have to wait for somebody more knowledgeable Certainly don't attempt it for now, just in case.

[tschak909]

That particular tutorial is severely outdated.

Here's a general rule with LinuxMCE...

If you want things that just work, use hardware that works out of the box, Panasonic IP cameras and the like...

We do not have support for this device out of the box...but you may want to install the qc-usb-source package, and try to compile the drivers for your use. Others here may be able to help you better with this, as it is an involved process, and I do not have the time to type it all out at the moment.

Once the kernel driver is working (assuming it isn't already... run dmesg from a shell), you can set it up using the "Motion" page on the wiki...again, this is a manual process, because you're using a device that does not have a template made for it.

-Thom

[RayBe]

thanks all for your reply,

Here's a general rule with LinuxMCE...

If you want things that just work, use hardware that works out of the box, Panasonic IP cameras and the like...

Thom you are right and i learned this from you already :
http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=10784.msg74611#msg74611

but the thing is, i have a lot of hardware laying around and before i spent my money i wanna try if i get things working with the stuff i already have.
and learning the system and Linux in general as i go along.

back to my driver issue,
i dived a bit deeper and discovered this:
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=blob;f=Documentation/video4linux/gspca.txt;hb=HEAD
if i am not mistaken this driver is the driver used by LinuxMCE and this driver supports my webcam (ID 046d:0840)
and they way i see it to get this working i should use V4L instead of V4L2.

could anybody help me with this or with the installing of the qc-usb-source package Thom suggested?

thanks alot to you all,
br,
Raymond

[esev]

could anybody help me with this or with the installing of the qc-usb-source package Thom suggested?

"apt-get install qc-usb-source" should get the source installed.  It installs into /usr/src/qc-usb.tar.bz2.  It doesn't compile as is. However I was able to get it to compile after applying the first two patches found on the sourceforge page.

http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=2106375&group_id=12924&atid=312924
http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=2821977&group_id=12924&atid=312924

Whether it will work or not after it compiles is another story.  I don't have the hardware so I cannot test.

[esev]

This Ubuntu bug report might be of use to you also.  It is more recent and has information about the 2.6.27 kernel that LinuxMCE uses.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24/+bug/196811

[tschak909]

Provided the cam works, perhaps we could fold this in as part of a device template.

-Thom

[rllan56Welis]

Yes,there might be the risk of damaging your core.
I think you first confirm about it from your any authorized person.

[RayBe]

could anybody help me with this or with the installing of the qc-usb-source package Thom suggested?

"apt-get install qc-usb-source" should get the source installed.  It installs into /usr/src/qc-usb.tar.bz2.  It doesn't compile as is. However I was able to get it to compile after applying the first two patches found on the sourceforge page.

http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=2106375&group_id=12924&atid=312924
http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=2821977&group_id=12924&atid=312924

Whether it will work or not after it compiles is another story.  I don't have the hardware so I cannot test.

since i am a Linux newbie and have no experience in compiling nor do i know what it is (but willing to learn):

• 1- can i perform your suggestion without risk of damaging my core?
• 2- so if i understand correctly, after installing the qc-usb-source (through "apt-get install qc-usb-source"), i have to compile and install, can it be done as discribed here: http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/softinstall.html?
• 3- how do i apply the patches? and must these patches be applied before the compiling and installing part, so right after "apt-get install qc-usb-source"?

Provided the cam works, perhaps we could fold this in as part of a device template.

-Thom

yes, i really wanna help, just guide/help me to perform the necessary steps.

br,
Raymond

[tschak909]

Correct, correct, and correct.

-Thom

[esev]

since i am a Linux newbie and have no experience in compiling nor do i know what it is (but willing to learn):

• 1- can i perform your suggestion without risk of damaging my core?
• 2- so if i understand correctly, after installing the qc-usb-source (through "apt-get install qc-usb-source"), i have to compile and install, can it be done as discribed here: http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/softinstall.html?
• 3- how do i apply the patches? and must these patches be applied before the compiling and installing part, so right after "apt-get install qc-usb-source"?

Hey Raymond,

You can do all this without damaging your core.  I'll give you some steps to follow below that will be safe to run.  Sorry, explaining all the details of how to compile and patch a kernel module isn't an easy thing to do.  Each module/driver has its own unique issues (like this one requiring some patches).  Anyway, here is what I did to get the driver to compile.

sudo su -
apt-get install qc-usb-source
cd /usr/src
tar -xjvf qc-usb.tar.bz2
cd modules/qc-usb/
wget 'http://sourceforge.net/tracker/download.php?group_id=12924&atid=312924&file_id=293067&aid=2106375' -O qc-usb_kernel-2.6.26.patch
wget 'http://sourceforge.net/tracker/download.php?group_id=12924&atid=312924&file_id=335155&aid=2821977' -O qc-usb-0.6.6-kcompat-2.6.27.patch
patch < qc-usb_kernel-2.6.26.patch
patch < qc-usb-0.6.6-kcompat-2.6.27.patch
make

Whether it will work or not after it compiles is another story.  I don't have the hardware so I cannot test.

This is still the case.  The driver will compile with these instructions, but there are some warning messages during the compile process that make me think the module won't work.  If there are issues, you'll need find someone familiar with that driver who can help you get it to a working state.  I'd suggest you start at the sourceforge page for the driver and see if someone can help you from there.

[RayBe]

Hey Raymond,

You can do all this without damaging your core.  I'll give you some steps to follow below that will be safe to run.  Sorry, explaining all the details of how to compile and patch a kernel module isn't an easy thing to do.  Each module/driver has its own unique issues (like this one requiring some patches).  Anyway, here is what I did to get the driver to compile.

sudo su -
apt-get install qc-usb-source
cd /usr/src
tar -xjvf qc-usb.tar.bz2
cd modules/qc-usb/
wget 'http://sourceforge.net/tracker/download.php?group_id=12924&atid=312924&file_id=293067&aid=2106375' -O qc-usb_kernel-2.6.26.patch
wget 'http://sourceforge.net/tracker/download.php?group_id=12924&atid=312924&file_id=335155&aid=2821977' -O qc-usb-0.6.6-kcompat-2.6.27.patch
patch < qc-usb_kernel-2.6.26.patch
patch < qc-usb-0.6.6-kcompat-2.6.27.patch
make

Hey Eric,

Thanks for explaining, i did as you described but sadly still no luck.
in the meanwhile i got another webcam (0c45:6028) that works after i followed:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/USB_Surveillance_Camera
when i get some time i will try to get the quickcam to work with help from sourceforge.

Provided the cam works, perhaps we could fold this in as part of a device template.

-Thom

I could do that for my new cam (0c45:6028) if someone points me in the right direction.

br,
Raymond