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I bought a cheap webcam called C3Tech to talk with my family. But, when I installed openSUSE 11.2, I can’t work with that. Solution? Use Video4Linux to solve this.

Some data about webcam:

## lsusb

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 004: ID 093a:2620 Pixart Imaging, Inc.
Bus 005 Device 003: ID 15d9:0a4c Unknown
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 007 Device 002: ID 0b97:7761 O2 Micro, Inc. Oz776 1.1 Hub
Bus 007 Device 003: ID 0b97:7772 O2 Micro, Inc. OZ776 CCID Smartcard Reader

## lspic

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory
Controller Hub (rev 0c)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile
GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0c)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960
Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0c)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB
UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB
UHCI Controller #5 (rev 02)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2
EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio
Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express
Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express
Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express
Port 6 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB
UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB
UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB
UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2
EHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev f2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801HEM (ICH8M) LPC Interface
Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E)
IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E)
SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
03:01.0 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc. Cardbus bridge (rev 21)
03:01.4 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Firewire (IEEE 1394) (rev 02)
09:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5755M
Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express (rev 02)
0c:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4311 802.11b/g WLAN (rev 01)

## dmesg when I put the webcam on the usb port.

[  171.660349] usb 5-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4
[  171.882653] usb 5-1: New USB device found, idVendor=093a, idProduct=2620
[  171.882680] usb 5-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[  171.882929] usb 5-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[  171.884721] gspca: probing 093a:2620
[  171.889868] gspca: video0 created
[  171.890186] gspca: probing 093a:2620
[  171.890201] gspca: intf != 0

And now we will install the C3tech camera.

1 – First, add we  add webcam repo on YaST.

2 – Search for v4l libs and devel and install it. Install linux development packages also(make, gcc, bison..) Install mercurial also.

3 – Clone the last version of V4Linux drivers to your desktop, using hg.

hg clone http://linuxtv.org/hg/v4l-dvb

4 – Enter on v4l-dvb directory and compile the source.

cd v4l-dvb
make && make install

5 – If you have errors, please check linux development packages, we will need it to compile using make.

6 – Ready! Now we will use LD_PRELOAD prefix to run some camera programs, like skype and cheese.

To skype, you can try a shell-script(create a file using your prefered text editor, add the content below and add basic permissions to execute):

#!/bin/bash
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so skype

To cheese, the same stuff, just change the program name in the end of PREFIX line.

#!/bin/bash
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so cheese.

And now, you can use skype and cheese with v4libs.
ALL THANKS TO DOUGSLAND. HIS WORK TO V4L IS GREAT.

New YaST logo?

Now, we will test YaST and sharing. Another superficial test: How a user can access YaST and setup printers, keyboard and manage new packages? For example, in a company, a workstation user will need share files… and where is this option? YaST is the answer!

For example, YasT new look

.

Comment: I found the same YasT style on GNOME. And I like it! All options, concerning Software, Hardware, System.. as part of a list, and when you click in the left menu, YaST just adjust focus to the section. But, If I want to use a option for the last section, I just use the scroll and have fun! For search a specific module, just use the field Search and will be fine too!

Sharing Files with a Samba Server

Comment: Like previous versions of Samba Server administration of YaST2, just click on the module in the section Network Services. YaST2 will ask to install samba server and samba client. After, few dialogs screens to define WORKGROUP and some share… and voilá! Is there an easier way to install Samba using only graphical screen and setup it?

My first test was: How to simple install a linux desktop system, and use a workstation, with internet browser, email, IM,openoffice, widgets.. I did the automated install with KDE, follwing all already selected patterns in the installation process.

Its just a superficial review. Looking for news, updates and popular software. I didn’t work  extensively with those applications, because its a initial test: Just run the application and check. I will do more extensively tests on those applications, to prevent crashes or another problems.

I changed only the package setup: installed VirtualBox Guest Additions to improve the virtual machine performance and usability.

Desktop Presentation after login – KDE 4.3.1 RC1

Comment: Beautiful! Quick start and new wallpaper. Surprises! I love this!

Desktop Presentation – Menu

Desktop Presentation – My Computer

Comment: Nothing different than older versions to me(first impression)

Desktop Presentation after login with widgets

Comment: No surprises. Widget is a feature from KDE 4. But, we have a lot of new widgets, like Remember the Milk, Twitter, Identi.ca and much more! Work and follow  some important tasks and some twitter updates from our friends. I like lancelot, which I didn’t know it!

IM and Twitter

Comment: Lovely! I just added my gtalk account and works! Perfectly! Without additional setups. Kopete works stable, without crashes. Twitter widget have some problems with showing updates. I need to close and re-setup twitter account with more updates to show.

Kmail

Openoffice

Few days ago I received nice news. Now I’m part of Test Core Team. I will start with some posts about my tests. The first test will be the Automated Installation, with minimum setup, using Virtualbox. The same test with a real machine, on my Macbook Black, 4GB RAM.

We have a lot to do, and I`m so glad to participate of Test Core Team. Its a great opportunity to test, give a lot of feedback and help to improve the distribution which I had been working since 1999.

Later!

For all  test team which started to develop tests, running openSUSE 11.2 M7 in Virtualbox:

To install Virtualbox Guest Additions…

- Using YaST >> Software Management, select the view Patterns and choose Development Packages(like gcc, make and another kernel compiling stuff) and  search for kernel-default-devel package. Install both and after run the installer *.run of Virtualbox Guest Additions.

I just installed openSUSE 11.2 M5 at my notebook, and looking for drivers to video, I just found *.deb drivers to SiS 671. I used alien to convert this package to *.rpm and worked to me. Its just 2D drivers.
Download here.xorg-driver-sis671-0.9-2.i386

Sorry, I didn`t developed this driver, I just converted to rpm.

Well, this first post is to explain some points,  and tell something about my experiences with MacOSX.  See some explanations below:

- Please, don’t waste our time defending MacOSX, Windows or Linux. I will delete your comment(*tards) with a lot of pleasure, here there isn’t democracy, that is my blog;
- I will talk about technical stuff, and some opinion. I’m not writing it to do a flame, and really, I don’t need flames to increase visits on my blog;
- People which needs some care talk bad things about Macs, Linux or Windows, its easier.  In the next moments we will  have  some *tard defending their point(and I will answer you first – go away!)

Ok. Now techincal stuff. I will describe my home office. I have 2 boxes with Windows XP, 1 box with openSUSE 11.1 and Windows7, 1 box with openSUSE 11.1 and finally, my new son, a Macbook with MacOSX – Leopard and openSUSE 11.1 too.

Feeling the problem? How to setup my home network, according with my family? How can I print in a Windows Box using Mac? And using a openSUSE box? Too many questions,  and we didn’t talk about backup yet. Therefore, I will plan Rsync synchronizing into a server, and a out-of-the-box HDD.

I know, there are many solutions, like Time Machine on MacOSX, but I’m a buddhist which really believe in impermanence. I don’t know how many time my MacOSX hard-drive will survive, and I can’t lose my files. And the boxes with openSUSE, for example, I do  openSUSE Milestone tests, which are unstable and testing releases from openSUSE.

/* My impressions

My opinion: Since almost 7 years ago, when a Mac is just a dream to me,  I concerned that MacOSX is a perfect and functional interface running over BSD solid like rock. And another opinion: If people from linux works more in one interface and put things to work smoothly, maybe linux will arrive to desktops like MacOSX. Democracy? Freedom? To me too much freedom means anarchy.

The problem with MacOSX is the right click. Dammit! I use right click a lot! After some days with MacOSX punching me, I discovered the magical key CTRL+click. Wow! Amazing! Truly, I’m learning to work with MacOSX, and its funny to me. I read some weeks ago some guy talking really bad impressions about a Mac, and I thought if is a good idea to bought a Mac.

But people: Macs aren’t PCs. There aren’t comparisons. Is something like compare soup with bread. Different OS,  different ‘way to think’. I know which Intel  ‘joined’ Macbooks, but is different! Don’t waste your time comparing it. If you need games, and really needs Windows or Linux  stuff, buy a PC. We can install Windows and Linux on  Macbook, but nothing fits so  nice than MacOSX on Macbook.  Linux works well, and I put compiz to run, my first chance(without hardware limitations) to use 3d effects on a linux box.

In the other hand, if you wants a computer with a nice and guaranteed brand, with nice hardware components, buy a Mac. I have a friend which says ’since Intel, Mac hardware(video, sound…) is the same problem of PCs’. And I totally disagree. Mac hardware is selected to work with MacOSX, and works nice! I didn’t installed or bored with drivers or blobs on my linux installation. Its different.

And finally: If are you thinking to buy a Mac like a ‘different’ PC, forget about it. But if are you thinking to buy a different computer, buy a Mac.

End of my impressions */

Samba and MacOSX.

Suprise! My first test: a openSUSE 11.1 box with Samba configured in ‘You are my guest’ mode. Everything open.  And MacOSX? Automatically detected Samba shares. Without commands. Just point-to-click. What a surprise! I love MacOSX! I will share my smb.conf here, on next post, totally dedicated to Samba and interoperability.

/* Please remember: if you simple hate a Mac and don’t have nothing useful to share, your comment will be deleted – The same rule for Linux or Windows */

Sorry people. I know, I had been busy, but as soon as possible I will start a new series of posts, about openSUSE  and Home Networks. I’m really decided to write about it, and interoperability.

I have now  a Mac box, and at home boxes running openSUSE, Windows and MacOSX. Now I can talk about interoperability, sharing resources between computers and devices with different OS running.

Finally, I can write about it. And not suppose something about it.

Please keep in touch, in a few days I will write nice posts.

I don’t have some screenshots, but I installed openSUSE 11.1 on Macbook and works fine! I will give some hints to people:

- Install rEFIt on MacOSX
- Use BootCamp to make the linux partition. After, quit BootCamp without installation.
- Reboot
- Install openSUSE, but you need to change the Boot Loader installation! NEVER install on MBR. Use the root partition installation.

For me, worked fine. I can use the right click (just using 2 fingers at same time), wireless works fine. Just the webcam have some problems, but I didn’t have enough time to test it. I read some documentation which says about Skype using, I will test it soon. On cheese, didn’t works.  V4L drivers didn’t worked well(or I didn’t installed correctly).

Some links below about installation and hardware compatibility.

http://en.opensuse.org/Installation_on_MacBook
http://en.opensuse.org/OpenSUSE_on_a_Mac

Any doubt, please use comments.

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