USB camera issues

[wunderli]

Hi,

I am quite happy with my new fit-pc2, I use it with an 80GB IBM X25-M G2. I updated the BIOS to 2009-07-21 and I am using the special kernel for fit-PC2 as described in http://www.fit-pc2.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=655):. uname -a gives me: Linux baloo 2.6.24-34-fitpc2

The USB stuff (I am using the ports on the back) however gives me some headaches. I use an USB keyboard from SUN (also used others) and a Logitech Laser Mouse with 2.4 GHz module (also used others) plus a Logitech Quickcam (tried a desktop and a notebook model). I consistently encounter the following errors:

1) The two Logitech Quickcams I tried (which work perfectly with stock 8.04.3 kernels on a Lenovo X41 and X61) are shown via lsusb but are not recognized e.g. by skype (on the Lenovos no problem). This is the syslog entry when I am plugging them in:
Aug 8 18:01:18 baloo kernel: [71127.391512] usb 4-2.1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 19
Aug 8 18:01:18 baloo kernel: [71127.623774] usb 4-2.1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Aug 8 18:01:20 baloo pulseaudio[4331]: alsa-util.c: Device hw:1 doesn't support 44100 Hz, changed to 16000 Hz.
Aug 8 18:01:20 baloo pulseaudio[4331]: alsa-util.c: Device hw:1 doesn't support 2 channels, changed to 1.

2) Probably a follow up error: After a while of inactivity from my part, the mouse kicks in after I move it for only a few seconds and then hangs. If I unplug and plugin in the 2.4 Ghz module, same effect. syslog shows the following:
...
Aug 8 07:27:38 baloo kernel: [33136.502793] buffer underrun 0x3a
...
Aug 8 07:44:41 baloo kernel: [34158.017379] usb 4-2.4: reset low speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 7
...
If I do not plug in the Quickcams at all, no such effect. And: The lines with the buffer underrun appear several hundred times.

So I ask myself: Has the fit-PC2 kernel or the HW a problem with the cameras?

Thanks for any help
Martin

[yogev_ezra]

Can you specify the exact camera models? Are they V4L or V4L2?
Do you use uvc driver, or gspca?

[wunderli]

Hi,

One of the cameras is the 'QuickCam® Pro for Notebooks'. The other is not sold anymore and nothing is written on the camera or revealed by lsusb.

The driver I use? I am not sure, but since both cameras worked out of the box starting with the 8.04 release, without installing anything, I assume the uvc driver.

BTW: I have to extend my problem report.

The 'No problem with keyboard/mouse after a few hours of inactivity if camera is not present' is wrong. Both mouse and keyboard sometimes are dead even if I do not have a camera present. Error message as reported:

Aug 9 19:19:16 baloo kernel: [38229.443485] buffer underrun 0x1f72
Aug 9 19:19:18 baloo kernel: [38231.255395] buffer underrun 0x1f73
Aug 9 19:19:39 baloo kernel: [38252.241552] usb 1-2.3: reset low speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6

Unplugging and plugging in again solves the problem.

BTW: I would be quite happy to solve my problem by buying a new webcam. Would be much cheaper than spending hours on it. So if anyone can give a hint...

Cheers
Maritn

[yogev_ezra]

lsusb should reveal the vendor ID and the model ID even if the driver is not present. Can you please post your entire lsusb output when the camera is plugged in?

[Denis]

Hi wunderli,
Please make little test, install fresh generic Ubuntu8.04 LTS with no Compulab packages, and see if your camera and other stuff working properly. May be our kernel just does not include some special modules.

[wunderli]

First request, the lsusb output. The camera is device 029 (not more information on a stock 8.04.3 kernel). The second request, the fresh install, I will try to answer tomorrow evening.

Cheers
Martin

Bus 004 Device 003: ID 03eb:21fe Atmel Corp.
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 0451:1446 Texas Instruments, Inc. TUSB2040/2070 Hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 029: ID 046d:08ca Logitech, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 010: ID 046d:c518 Logitech, Inc. MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse
Bus 001 Device 009: ID 0430:0005 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Type 6 Keyboard
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 05e3:0608 Genesys Logic, Inc. USB-2.0 4-Port HUB
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

[blegas78]

I noticed the same issue when I installed the fit-pc2 image provided here and on another fit-pc2 with the pre-installed ubuntu. The camera I use is the logitech communicate deluxe.

I was never able to see /dev/video0, and I tried to install the logitech drivers from the website but I had issues with makefiles in the kernel I think, which is the same problem other people had while trying to install the wifi driver.

Since I need to use the fit-pc2 computers for robotic vision, I have since installed 8.10 on one and 9.04 on the other, and the camera works perfectly.. I am sure that installing a generic copy of 8.04 would also work.

[yogev_ezra]

046d:08ca is a V4L2 device, so it needs linux-uvc driver to be installed.
However, please see that there are 2 comments on the uvc website that state that for this specific webcam the driver might not work properly:
http://linux-uvc.berlios.de/

it also says that uvc drivers are installed by default only from 2.6.26 kernels and above. since you have 2.6.24, it might be not present there. without the uvc driver, your camera will not work, and might also crash the computer (based on my own experience with CentOS, not Ubuntu though)

[wunderli]

Yes, I know about the issues.

BUT: The camera works PERFECTLY with all Ubuntu 8.04 kernels on Lenovo X41, X61, T40, T42 (alle the Lenovos I tested during the past 1.5 years). So I cannot think of a reason why I should suddendly hit a driver or firmware but.

But anyway, I will test stock Ubuntu 8.04 to make sure it is not a problem of the fit-PC2 kernel.

Cheers
Martin

[wunderli]

Ok, I did the tests with stock 8.04.3. Both Logitech cameras

Bus 004 Device 017: ID 046d:09c1 Logitech, Inc.
Bus 004 Device 015: ID 046d:08ca Logitech, Inc.

were recognized by Skye 2.0.72 without problems. BUT Skype crashed when I tried to use them (e.g. pressing the 'Test' button in the Options/Video Devices dialog). This did not happen with 8.04.3 on Lenovo X41/X61/T40/T42.

So following the output of lsmod after I plugged in the camera on stock Ubuntu 8.04.3, fit-PC2. Hope this helps to find the problem.

Cheers
Martin

Code: Select all

manager@baloo:~$ lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
af_packet              23812  2 
uvcvideo               58116  0 
snd_usb_audio          83936  1 
snd_usb_lib            18432  1 snd_usb_audio
compat_ioctl32          2304  1 uvcvideo
videodev               29440  1 uvcvideo
v4l1_compat            15492  2 uvcvideo,videodev
v4l2_common            18304  2 uvcvideo,videodev
ipv6                  267908  10 
rfcomm                 41744  2 
l2cap                  25728  13 rfcomm
bluetooth              61028  4 rfcomm,l2cap
ppdev                  10372  0 
acpi_cpufreq           10796  1 
cpufreq_userspace       5284  0 
cpufreq_stats           7104  0 
cpufreq_ondemand        9740  2 
freq_table              5536  3 acpi_cpufreq,cpufreq_stats,cpufreq_ondemand
cpufreq_conservative     8712  0 
cpufreq_powersave       2688  0 
container               5632  0 
dock                   11280  0 
sbs                    15112  0 
sbshc                   7680  1 sbs
iptable_filter          3840  0 
ip_tables              14820  1 iptable_filter
x_tables               16132  1 ip_tables
parport_pc             36260  0 
lp                     12324  0 
parport                37832  3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
joydev                 13120  0 
snd_hda_intel         346136  3 
snd_pcm_oss            42144  0 
snd_mixer_oss          17920  1 snd_pcm_oss
evdev                  13056  5 
snd_pcm                78596  3 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss
usbhid                 32128  0 
snd_page_alloc         11400  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
snd_hwdep              10500  2 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_intel
hid                    38784  1 usbhid
snd_seq_dummy           4868  0 
video                  19856  0 
output                  4736  1 video
psmouse                40336  0 
serio_raw               7940  0 
snd_seq_oss            35584  0 
snd_seq_midi            9376  0 
snd_rawmidi            25760  2 snd_usb_lib,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event      8320  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
battery                14212  0 
ac                      6916  0 
button                  9232  0 
snd_seq                54224  6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
sdhci                  19076  0 
mmc_core               51460  1 sdhci
pcspkr                  4224  0 
snd_timer              24836  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device          9612  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
snd                    56996  21 snd_usb_audio,snd_usb_lib,snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_hwdep,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
soundcore               8800  1 snd
shpchp                 34452  0 
pci_hotplug            30880  1 shpchp
ext3                  136840  2 
jbd                    48404  1 ext3
mbcache                 9600  1 ext3
sg                     36880  0 
sd_mod                 30720  4 
pata_acpi               8320  0 
ehci_hcd               37900  0 
r8169                  34820  0 
uhci_hcd               27024  0 
usbcore               146412  7 uvcvideo,snd_usb_audio,snd_usb_lib,usbhid,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
thermal                16796  0 
processor              36616  4 acpi_cpufreq,thermal
fan                     5636  0 
fbcon                  42912  0 
tileblit                3456  1 fbcon
font                    9472  1 fbcon
bitblit                 6784  1 fbcon
softcursor              3072  1 bitblit
fuse                   50708  3 
ata_generic             8324  3 
libata                159600  2 pata_acpi,ata_generic
scsi_mod              151436  3 sg,sd_mod,libata