SERP2 built-in webcam and Hardy?

[asmiller-ke6seh]

This is addressed to the folks at System76, but if anyone has information regarding the impending functionality for the SERP2 webcam (there was hope that Hardy might give the System76 folks the toold they needed to get the built-in webcam up and running)

Is there an ETA for built-in webcam functionality under Hardy Heron? This has been on the hot list for more than a year ... and with each new release we have been told, "We're working on it." It reminds me of the old computer industry joke about "You said you'd have that feature ready in the 1st Quarter." To which the marketing guy replies under his breath, "Yeah. But we didn't say 1st Quarter of which year."

I just want to know if I should continue to wait, or just go out and purchase an Ubuntu compatible notebook webcam to clip on my Serval Performance SERP2.

And while we're on the subject, it would be nice to have the fingerprint reader up and running with password login functionality for at least logging in to Ubuntu, but that's just a nice to have, for me.

[steveneddy]

I just want to know if I should continue to wait, or just go out and purchase an Ubuntu compatible notebook webcam to clip on my Serval Performance SERP2.



I'm saving my pennies for an off board camera, like one of the Logitech laptop clip on cams.

[asmiller-ke6seh]

Yeah. I probably will, too. But it's so clunky, having to clip it, run a wire, and plug into another USB port (I am already using one for my trackball). It's kind of contrary to the reason why I bought a laptop; if I wanted to deal with wires, I would have gotten one of those cute mini- units.

[Luke has no name]

This is addressed to the folks at System76, but if anyone has information regarding the impending functionality for the SERP2 webcam (there was hope that Hardy might give the System76 folks the toold they needed to get the built-in webcam up and running)

Is there an ETA for built-in webcam functionality under Hardy Heron? This has been on the hot list for more than a year ... and with each new release we have been told, "We're working on it."

Wait... you're telling me that System76 sells you a component in a laptop that is not supported in the operating system? the webcam is just dead there on the laptop?

[asmiller-ke6seh]

Wait... you're telling me that System76 sells you a component in a laptop that is not supported in the operating system? the webcam is just dead there on the laptop?

No, that's not what I am saying. When I bought the SERP2, I was told that this would be enabled in the future. The chip used in this webcam is/was not supported by the available Open Source solutions for webcams. However, System76 has represented that they would get this working, and that there was some kind of priority to get this done.

Everytime there is a new Ubuntu release, I like to check in to see if they think there will be a solution made available. It's really no big deal ... just a nice to have. I spent about $1200 for the laptop, so what's another $50 to $100 for an external webcam.

However, as I stated, I would really like to see support for the internal webcam.

Also, I understand that the SERP3 and SERP4 have webcams with supported chips.

[hkarl629]

I too am asking this same question re the SERP 2 webcam. As newer models come on stream with working web cams our SERP 2's are being left behind. I'm waiting.

H Karl Juelch
juelch@davtv.com

[thomasaaron]

SUPPORT FOR THE SERP2 WEBCAM!

This information is courtesy of a System76 customer. I'll not list his name here for privacy reasons, but I will point him to this thread in case he wants to get involved in any discussing this issue further.

Below are his instructions. We will be testing in the shop too, but I think he hit the nail on the head. So if anybody out there wants to try it...

Once we're finished testing in the shop, we will release the fix in the System76 driver.

The driver for the webcam is here: https://groups.google.com/group/microdia

Instructions on downloading and building the driver follow. For more
thorough instructions, I'd recommend looking at
https://groups.google.com/group/microdia/web/testing-microdia-driver-draft.

GETTING THE SERVAL PERFORMANCE (SERP2) WEB CAM TO WORK

Since we'll be compiling a kernel driver, you'll need to install the
kernel source files:

$ sudo apt-get install kernel-package linux-source build-essential

Next you'll need to install 'git' so we can download the driver's source code:

$ sudo apt-get install git-core gitk git-gui git-doc curl

Now we'll download the webcam driver:

$ git clone http://repo.or.cz/r/microdia.git

Let's compile the kernel module (webcam driver):

$ cd microdia
$ make

Load our new kernel driver:

$ sudo insmod ./microdia.ko

Check to see that the driver loaded successfully:

$ dmesg

You should see something like this at the bottom of the output:

[107348.616179] microdia: Microdia USB2.0 webcam driver startup
[107348.616563] microdia: Microdia USB2.0 Webcam - Product ID 624F.
[107348.616570] microdia: Release: 0100
[107348.616574] microdia: Number of interfaces : 1
[107348.623570] microdia: Microdia USB2.0 Camera is now controlling
video device /dev/video0
[107348.623950] usbcore: registered new interface driver usb_microdia_driver

If you run into any problems, see
https://groups.google.com/group/microdia/web/testing-microdia-driver-draft
for more details.

Please note that I didn't write the driver; I just discovered it this
evening and got it running. Also, using "insmod ./microdia.ko" only
loads the driver until you reboot your machine. The driver won't be
loaded automatically unless you take further steps (see the link
above). I haven't played with the webcam too much yet, but I did test
is briefly using VLC:

$ sudo apt-get install vlc
$ vlc

Once VLC is running, select File > Open Capture Device... Set the
"Video device name" to /dev/video0 (or whatever appears in the dmesg
output above). Click OK. You should see a window displaying the
webcam video.

[asmiller-ke6seh]

smiles

applause

[hkarl629]

You and I own Serval 2's and have been waiting for the web cam to be activated. I'm a complete novice at Linux/Ubuntu so the lingo is like a foreign language to me. In the posts above is Tom giving the instructions to make the web cam operational, or is there something more to come?

I would like to get this feature up and running.

Your response will be appreciated.

Sincerely

Karl Juelch

[asmiller-ke6seh]

You and I own Serval 2's and have been waiting for the web cam to be activated. I'm a complete novice at Linux/Ubuntu so the lingo is like a foreign language to me. In the posts above is Tom giving the instructions to make the web cam operational, or is there something more to come?

I would like to get this feature up and running.

Your response will be appreciated.

Sincerely

Karl Juelch

Yes, and Yes. The fix will be in some future release of the System 76 driver, but you can use this formula to "roll your own."

[hkarl629]

Thanks for the reply. Considering my lack of knowledge, I think I'll wait for the System 76 release rather than try the "roll your own" approach. I guess 'safe rather than sorry' would be a better course of action for me.

H Karl

Bluffton, SC

[steveneddy]

What about the Serp 1 ?

[asmiller-ke6seh]

SUPPORT FOR THE SERP2 WEBCAM!

This information is courtesy of a System76 customer. I'll not list his name here for privacy reasons, but I will point him to this thread in case he wants to get involved in any discussing this issue further.

Below are his instructions. We will be testing in the shop too, but I think he hit the nail on the head. So if anybody out there wants to try it...

Once we're finished testing in the shop, we will release the fix in the System76 driver.

The driver for the webcam is here: https://groups.google.com/group/microdia

...


I followed the instructions (above, and in the google groups page, listed above) it's WORKING!!!

Thanks Thomas Aaron and the Mystery People who found this solution.

T.A. - you can tell your Development and Support people that this driver works and can be used as the basis of adding the Web Cam to the System76 Driver support. It's 640 x 480, full color. But most of all, IT WORKS.

[steveneddy]

I tried to get this to work last night, and at least lsusb lists it in the list now as a Microdia product.

I will have to do a little more experimenting to get it to be sucessful on my Serp 1.

So, this may come down as a System76 driver update?

[thomasaaron]

It will.

[steveneddy]

It will.

Even for the Serp 1, Aaron?

EDIT:

It works perfectly now.

Amazing!

Even with Skype.

[steveneddy]

I wonder, gentlemen, what we could do to get this driver into the Linux kernel so we don't have to install it ourselves?

Maybe someone has already done it? Or is going to?

It does seem to work very well, though, with the cam in my Serval Performance Type 1.

[steveneddy]

OK - got the web cam working. Now if we can just get the dial up modem working, I will have a perfectly working laptop!

Any chance of a modem driver rattling around anywhere for the Serp type 1?

[hkarl629]

Have you tried the "roll your own" approach to the wweb cam problem on your Serp 2? If. "yes" ow did it turn out?

My unfamiliarity with the inner workings of ubuntu make me very hesitant to tackle the fix Tom posted.

Thank you.

H Karl Juelch

[steveneddy]

Have you tried the "roll your own" approach to the wweb cam problem on your Serp 2? If. "yes" ow did it turn out?

My unfamiliarity with the inner workings of ubuntu make me very hesitant to tackle the fix Tom posted.

Thank you.

H Karl Juelch

Dude, I got a Serp 1 and it works great.

If you can't do it, just come over and I'll do it for you.

[steveneddy]

If we have this module installed when the System76 driver with this patch in it comes down, would we need to uninstall the module we previously manually installed?

Do you think that this camera module should become a permanent part of the Linux Kernel so others can benefit from this work?

[thomasaaron]

We're having a hard time getting this working on 64-bit Hardy. What are you guys using? 32-bit?

Has anyone got it working in 64-bit?

[steveneddy]

We're having a hard time getting this working on 64-bit Hardy. What are you guys using? 32-bit?

Has anyone got it working in 64-bit?

I'm using 64 bit. Works fine here. But I'm on a Serp Type 1.

EDIT:

I used your instruction on the first page, Aaron.

And look here (https://groups.google.com/group/microdia/web/testing-microdia-driver-draft).

At the bottom of this page it talks about trouble shooting.

Try these commands after inserting the module into the kernel:


$sudo modprobe videodev

$sudo modprobe compat-ioctl32


These are things I had to do to get it working.

Works great with Skype. Guy on the other end Sunday morning was on Windows and said my cam looked better than his.

[asmiller-ke6seh]

We're having a hard time getting this working on 64-bit Hardy. What are you guys using? 32-bit?

Has anyone got it working in 64-bit?

I got it working on a Serp2 in 32-bit Ubuntu. I know --- Serp2 --- Dual Core --- but I am waiting until 64-bit Ubuntu is just as smoothly functional as 32-bit.

[steveneddy]

I got it working on a Serp2 in 32-bit Ubuntu. I know --- Serp2 --- Dual Core --- but I am waiting until 64-bit Ubuntu is just as smoothly functional as 32-bit.

That's funny because I moved to 64 bit in Feisty so my machine ran smoother.

It runs better on 64 than 32.

Hardy is smooth as butter on 64. Try it, you'll like it.

[asmiller-ke6seh]

"Hello? I believe we have a penguin on the tele. What? Size 9!"

It's 10 o'clock, and time for the penguin on the top of your television set to explode.

[982000971]

I got as far as "Make" in the instructions before it spit out the following error

root@ubuntu:~/microdia# make
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/build SUBDIRS=/root/microdia modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic'
Building modules, stage 2.
MODPOST 1 modules
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic'
make: ctags: Command not found
make: *** [ctags] Error 127
root@ubuntu:~/microdia#

Solutions? The instructions say Error 127 means that the module is not in the proper location, but it doesn't tell me how to solve it.

[thomasaaron]

you need to install ctags
sudo apt-get install ctags

[982000971]

Thanks! That got me one step further, but now...

root@ubuntu:~/microdia# make
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/build SUBDIRS=/root/microdia modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic'
Building modules, stage 2.
MODPOST 1 modules
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic'
root@ubuntu:~/microdia# insmod ./microdia.ko
insmod: error inserting './microdia.ko': -1 Unknown symbol in module
root@ubuntu:~/microdia#

[thomasaaron]

Yep. That's where I'm stuck too. Working on it...

[steveneddy]

Thanks! That got me one step further, but now...

root@ubuntu:~/microdia# make
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/build SUBDIRS=/root/microdia modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic'
Building modules, stage 2.
MODPOST 1 modules
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic'
root@ubuntu:~/microdia# insmod ./microdia.ko
insmod: error inserting './microdia.ko': -1 Unknown symbol in module
root@ubuntu:~/microdia#

From the link that thomasaaron posted on the first page of this thread:

https://groups.google.com/group/microdia/web/testing-microdia-driver-draft


Troubleshooting insmod errors

# insmod microdia.ko
insmod: error inserting 'microdia.ko': -1 Unknown symbol in module


See the output of #dmesg

the last few lines would be complaints about missing symbols, depending upon whats missing

you may not have loaded the modules that module depends on,
So it failed with those error messages. You would need to modprobe for that module's dependencies


Try

$sudo modprobe videodev

$sudo modprobe compat-ioctl32

then

$sudo insmod microdia.ko


This is what I suggested be done earlier.

This is what I had to do to get the module to be inserted into my kernel, and there were three kernel upgrades at this time and I had to do this all three times to put the module into each kernel.

[godbyk]

Hello, everyone.

I'll admit that I'm Thomas's "mystery person" who emailed him the original instructions. I wanted to let everyone know that I've posted the instructions on my blog and that I've updated them to work around a couple of the problems people have been experiencing. Additionally, I've added instructions for installing the kernel module and getting it to load automatically every time your boot your computer.

http://kevin.godby.org/2008/05/09/howto-serval-performance-serp2-webcam/

Please let me know if you run into any problems with these instructions and I'll try to keep them up to date. (I've also subscribed to this thread, so I'll try to jump in and help where I can. Please note, however, that I'm not involved in the development of the driver itself -- I'm just a System76 customer who took a little time to track it down.)

Also, for reference, I'm running this on a Serval Performance (SERP2) machine with Ubuntu Hardy (8.04), 32-bit. I'm thrilled to see that the driver has been working for folks with earlier Servals and 64-bit Linux.

[steveneddy]

Hello, everyone.

I'll admit that I'm Thomas's "mystery person" who emailed him the original instructions. I wanted to let everyone know that I've posted the instructions on my blog and that I've updated them to work around a couple of the problems people have been experiencing. Additionally, I've added instructions for installing the kernel module and getting it to load automatically every time your boot your computer.

http://kevin.godby.org/2008/05/09/howto-serval-performance-serp2-webcam/

Please let me know if you run into any problems with these instructions and I'll try to keep them up to date. (I've also subscribed to this thread, so I'll try to jump in and help where I can. Please note, however, that I'm not involved in the development of the driver itself -- I'm just a System76 customer who took a little time to track it down.)

Also, for reference, I'm running this on a Serval Performance (SERP2) machine with Ubuntu Hardy (8.04), 32-bit. I'm thrilled to see that the driver has been working for folks with earlier Servals and 64-bit Linux.

Very nice. I see that you seem to have discovered that the order of loading modules is different than the original website states.

I will follow your instructions on the next kernel update.

I will confirm that after a fresh install that the kernel module loaded with no problems or issues.

Thank you for you post on this thread. This is going to help many people.

[godbyk]

Yeah, when I first wrote the instructions I left out the videodev module. Either I simply forgot to add it to my notes or I had loaded it previously while I was testing out drivers. But I've seen the same error message about missing symbols, and loading the videodev module has always solved that problem for me.

One note: I've never had to load the compat-ioctl32 module. The microdia and videodev modules are the only ones I've needed to load for the device to work. Has anyone else needed to load compat-ioctl32 specifically? If so, which laptop (version) and Ubuntu version are you using? 32-bit or 16-bit?

[steveneddy]

Yeah, when I first wrote the instructions I left out the videodev module. Either I simply forgot to add it to my notes or I had loaded it previously while I was testing out drivers. But I've seen the same error message about missing symbols, and loading the videodev module has always solved that problem for me.

One note: I've never had to load the compat-ioctl32 module. The microdia and videodev modules are the only ones I've needed to load for the device to work. Has anyone else needed to load compat-ioctl32 specifically? If so, which laptop (version) and Ubuntu version are you using? 32-bit or 16-bit?

I did, but only because it was in the instruction on the original page for the device driver under the troubleshooting section. I don't really know if I needed that module or not, but it's done and the cam works.

The camera actually has a very clear picture and there is no delay when you call it. Very nice. Thanks for searching and finding this wonderful piece of software.