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steelpillow

Member

Registered: 2017-06-19

Posts: 23  

Webcam numpty

Running Beowulf + MATE.
Just been given a USB webcam (IMILAB CMSXJ22A). The idea is so that I can use it with Firefox for Teams etc. meetings. This is definitely not my comfort zone.
The user manual says it is plug-n-play compatible with Linux 2.6.24.
So I plugged it in and its power and wireless indicators lit up.
I cannot find any sign of it on my desktop, but then I don't know where to look.
Will it magically spring to life when someone sets up a meeting? Absolutely not a clue. How do I test that beforehand, anyway?
Not much better with bash, but I tried:

~$ lsusb -v

and it identifies the manufacturer as Microdia, but otherwise "couldn't open the device" whatever that means.
I have no idea what to do next. Total numpty. Can anybody guide me through the darkness?

Last edited by steelpillow (2023-05-31 11:46:58)

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soren

Member

Registered: 2023-04-30

Posts: 142  

Re: Webcam numpty

Archlinux wiki has a bit of info that may help.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/webcam_setup

Note: The Linux kernel to userspace API used to control webcams is named Video4Linux2, v4l2 for short. All applications which support v4l2 will work with the kernel's drivers.

Install v4l-utils

sudo apt install v4l-utils

Then in a terminal post the results of the below command.

v4l2-ctl --list-devices

Another link that may help...
https://askubuntu.com/questions/348838/ … mmand-line

Kelsoo

Member

Registered: 2016-12-09

Posts: 56  

Re: Webcam numpty

test it in Firefox

https://webrtc.github.io/test-pages/src … and-video/

ralph.ronnquist

Administrator

From: Battery Point, Tasmania, AUS

Registered: 2016-11-30

Posts: 1,251  

Re: Webcam numpty

or if you prefer to avoid microsoft, you can test with https://meet.jit.si/steelpillow

steelpillow

Member

Registered: 2017-06-19

Posts: 23  

Re: Webcam numpty

or if you prefer to avoid microsoft, you can test with https://meet.jit.si/steelpillow

Thanks! That looks like it worked. I got to see myself onscreen. It said the mic was working so I'll take it's word for that.

Can I take it from this that if I join say a Teams meeting, it will "just work" there too?

fwiw I used Synaptic to search for v4l-utils in the Beowulf repos and it's not there. So I'm really glad I don't have to fight my way into that rabbit-hole.

Then I found to do:

~$ usb-devices

which told me a bit more and gave the drivers as uvcvideo and snd-usb-audio, which is reassuring.

Last edited by steelpillow (2023-05-31 19:58:58)

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