How to install logitech Quickcam E2500

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1

Because I suffered so much with this webcam and I couldn’t find any easy step by step “mouth feeding” information about this webcam, I decided to do this guide for people who are like me.

This is a guide or tutorial for a all newbie like me out there who does not know anything about Linux and wants to know how to install logitech Quickcam E2500 on Linux openSUSE to work with (Skype, aMSN, Ekiga).
1-Download the latest stable driver
1- go to v4l-dvb: Summary
2- click on “bz2” on the top of the page and wait for the download to complete.
3- Extract the file in the desired location. or (Right-click → “Extract here”.

2- Install the driver
1- Enter the file you extracted.
2- Right-click → “open in terminal”.
3- type in the command

sudo make

(note: “sudo” runs the command as a root user so you have to enter the password and press enter)
4- wait for it to finish.
5- type in the command

sudo make install

and wait for it to finish.

3- Connect your webcam and restart your computer
The webcam will work with Ekiga, aMSN and Skype. Enjoy.

issues:
1- The image is dark, so you need to be in a good lighted place.
2- Can’t configure the settings of the webcam to increase the brightness, gamma or autoexpo.

  • If Skype crashes when loading the video or when testing it in the options menu, then do the following:
  • type in the Terminal
bash -c 'export LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l2convert.so; skype'
  • you can do an application luncher with this command so you don’t type the command in all the time.

Many thanks to the developers out there who made this possible.

2

The above method also works on webcams listed here
GSPCA V4L2 - Webcams

Thank you Jef. Jef Moine
http://moinejf.free.fr/gspca_README.txt

Cameras that are tested and works:
Clone Digital Webcam 11043
Kodak EZ200
Creative NX
Creative Nx Pro
Creative Webcam Notebook PD1171
Creative Instant P0620
Creative Webcam Vista (VF0010)
Creative Live! VISTA IM
Creative Live! Cam Video IM
Creative Live! Cam Notebook Ultra (VC0130)
Creative Live! VISTA VF0400
Creative Live! VISTA VF0420
MicroSoft VX3000
MicroSoft VX1000
QuickCam Express
LEGO cam / QuickCam Web
Dexxa WebCam USB
Logitech Orbicam
Logitech QuickCam for Dell notebooks
Logitech QuickCam E2500
Labtec Webcam Pro
Labtec Webcam Notebook
Logitech QCCommunicate STX
Logitech QuickCam Cool
Logitech QCam STX
Logitech QuickCam IM/Connect
Logitech QuickCam Messenger
QC Express
Logitech QC Express Etch2
Labtec Webcam Elch2
Logitech QC Elch2
Logitech QuickCam Express Plus
Philips SPC 200 NC
Philips SPC 210 NC
Philips SPC 600 NC
Philips SPC 700 NC
Flexcam 100 Ezonics EZ-368
Sony PlayStation 2 Webcam
OmniVision
Trust 610 LCD PowerC@m Zoom
Hercules Dualpix HD Weblog
Hercules Classic Silver
Hercules Deluxe Optical Glass
Intel Create and Share
Intel PC Camera Pro
Aiptek PenCam VGA+
Aiptek Slim 3000F
Qtec Webcam 100
HP Webcam
PAC207
Genius iLook 111
Typhoon
Philips SPC 610 NC
Gigaware VGA PC Camera,Trust WB-3350p, SIGMA cam 2350
Intel Easy PC Camera
Argus Digital Camera DC1512
D-Link DSB-C120
Lenovo Vc0323+MI1310_SOC
T613/TAS5130A XPX Webcam(“jpeg compliance” / cam1690)
HP 2.0 Megapixel rz406aa
HP Webcam 1.3 Megapixel
Trust WB-1300N
Sony HD Eye for PS3 (SLEH 00201)
Sonix Pccam168
Surfer SN-206
Microdia Sonix PC Camera
Clone 11089
Typhoon Rasy Cam 1.3MPix
Avant Camera
Microdia/Sonix SNP325
PC Camera (SN9C128)
Microdia Audio
LG-LIC300
Sangha Sn535 MSI StarCam 370i
Generic Sonix OV7630
Sonix Btc Pc380
Microdia PC Camera (SN9C101G)
spcaCam@120
Microdia Sweex
Ldlc VC302+Ov7620
Z-star Vimicro zc0305b
Vimicro 0x303b
Asam Vimicro
A4Tech PK-130MG
Z-star Vimicro zc0302
Philips SPC 230 NC
Webcam 300k
Labtec 2200
PAC7302
Genius Eye 312x
PAC731x
Apollo model AC-905x

3

WOW :), I found the solution for configuring the brightness, contrast, gamma, sharpness auto gain and everything for the logitech Quickcam E2500 or any other webcam works for skype and Ekija.(aMSN has its own control panel)
(Thanks to the developers and thanks to ajw1980 for pointing the solution)

v4l2ucp is an universal control panel for webcams.
see screenshot: SourceForge.net: v4l2ucp: Screenshots (you will get something slightly different from this screenshot)

So here is how to install it and get working for newbies like me.

(important:before doing the following steps, please check if you have already installed QT libraries ,which are “qt3-devel” and “libavahi-qt4-devel”. so check YaST or your software manager)

1- Download the package
1- click here SourceForge.net: v4l2ucp: Downloading … and wait for the download to complete.
(note: The 1.2 Version is more stable than 1.3 Version, I tried both)
2- Extract the package in the desired location or (Right-click → “Extract here”).

**2- Install **
1- Enter the file you extracted.
2- Right-click → “open in terminal”.
3- Type in the command

./configure

then wait for it to finish.
4- type in the command

sudo make

(note: “sudo” runs the command as a root user so you have to enter the password and press enter)
and wait for it to finish.
5- type in the command

sudo make install

and wait for it to finish

3- Run the program
1- type in the command

v4l2ucp

program is loaded, configure your settings. Enjoy :).
(Recommendation: uncheck the Auto Gain check-box before testing the cam)

Thanks again to the developers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To moderator: can you please give me permission to edit the posts so I can organize it more)

4

Can’t get it to work,:


william@linux-wf98:~/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a> sudo make
root's password:
make -C /home/william/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l
make[1]: Entering directory `/home/william/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l'
No version yet, using 2.6.31.5-0.1-default
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/william/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l'
make[1]: Entering directory `/home/william/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l'
scripts/make_makefile.pl
Updating/Creating .config
Preparing to compile for kernel version 2.6.31
File not found: /lib/modules/2.6.31.5-0.1-default/build/.config at ./scripts/make_kconfig.pl line 32, <IN> line 4.
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/william/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l'
make[1]: Entering directory `/home/william/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l'
Updating/Creating .config
Preparing to compile for kernel version 2.6.31
File not found: /lib/modules/2.6.31.5-0.1-default/build/.config at ./scripts/make_kconfig.pl line 32, <IN> line 4.
make[1]: *** No rule to make target `.myconfig', needed by `config-compat.h'.  Stop.
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/william/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l'
make: *** [all] Error 2
william@linux-wf98:~/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a/v4l-dvb-75c97b2d1a2a>

Oh, and am running openSuSE version 11.2 with KDE

5

Did you first install kernel-source and linux-kernel-headers and possibly also kernel-syms?

6

I seem to have a problem with mine, as I think it is initiating the wrong driver. According to the list on GSPCA V4L2 - Webcams I should be using zc3xx but my system is trying to use STV06xx
Here is part of my dmesg

  615.699170] usb 6-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4
  615.872953] usb 6-2: New USB device found, idVendor=046d, idProduct=08f0
  615.872962] usb 6-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=1, SerialNumber=0
  615.872969] usb 6-2: Product: Camera
  615.873053] usb 6-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
  615.875991] STV06xx: Probing for a stv06xx device
  615.875999] gspca: probing 046d:08f0
  615.876004] STV06xx: Configuring camera
  615.876009] STV06xx: st6422 sensor detected
  615.876014] STV06xx: Initializing camera
  616.157284] gspca: video0 created
  616.157327] STV06xx: Probing for a stv06xx device
  616.157331] gspca: probing 046d:08f0
  616.157334] gspca: intf != 0

I already installed both the v4l source and the configure program. In cheese I get the default no signal display and under Kopete I just get a green screen.
My camera is a “Logitech QuickCam Messenger”.
I have the linux kernel headers, source and syms installed, so I don’t know what I am doing wrong here. By the way before I installed v4l source and restarted, it was doing this anyway, so it doesn’t seem like I changed anything.

7

Hi kloplop321, …

I had the impression that LinuxMonster761 was trying to custom compile the webcam driver against his kernel without kernel-source, which of course is not possible. That is why I recommended those apps.

Of course if you are not compiling the driver, then they don’t add anything to the picture.

8

I did compile the driver… I did every step there. I’m simply saying: it isn’t using the correct driver now and I have no clue how to change it.

9

If you know the kernel module of the incorrect driver, and if you know the kernel module of the correct driver, you could try by command unload the incorrect driver (kernel module) and load the correct driver (kernel module) by command. Maybe that would help. Maybe not.

10

I have no clue how, can you provide an example please?
I noticed that the code it uses is “046d:08f0” when the name of the camera matches “046d:08da” on the list above… Also that “046d:08f0” is no where in the list…

11

I’m no expert in this and have only done it very rarely over the years. … Take a read here: Load and Unload Kernel Modules - Edoceo, Inc.

12

Last time I ever used modprobe and the such was years ago for a wireless driver for an old linksys wifi card

So far these are the seemingly related modules to my camera from lsmod

quickcam_messenger     15408 0
usbvideo               32108  1 quickcam_messenger
gspca_stv06xx          34576  0
gspca_main             32616  1 gspca_stv06xx
videodev               48800  2 usbvideo,gspca_main

and I have a feeling I have to use something with this from depmod

kernel/drivers/media/video/gspca/gspca_zc3xx.ko: kernel/drivers/media/video/gspca/gspca_main.ko kernel/drivers/media/video/videodev.ko kernel/drivers/media/video/v4l1-compat.ko kernel/drivers/media/video/v4l2-compat-ioctl32.ko
kernel/drivers/media/video/gspca/m5602/gspca_m5602.ko: kernel/drivers/media/video/gspca/gspca_main.ko kernel/drivers/media/video/videodev.ko kernel/drivers/media/video/v4l1-compat.ko kernel/drivers/media/video/v4l2-compat-ioctl32.ko
kernel/drivers/media/video/gspca/stv06xx/gspca_stv06xx.ko: kernel/drivers/media/video/gspca/gspca_main.ko kernel/drivers/media/video/videodev.ko kernel/drivers/media/video/v4l1-compat.ko kernel/drivers/media/video/v4l2-compat-ioctl32.ko

and

alias usb:v041Ep401Ed*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_zc3xx
alias usb:v041Ep401Cd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_zc3xx
alias usb:v041Ep4017d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_zc3xx
alias usb:v041Ep041Ed*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_zc3xx
alias usb:v0402p5602d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_m5602
alias usb:v046Dp08DAd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_stv06xx
alias usb:v046Dp08F6d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_stv06xx
alias usb:v046Dp08F5d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_stv06xx
alias usb:v046Dp08F0d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_stv06xx
alias usb:v046Dp0870d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_stv06xx
alias usb:v046Dp0850d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_stv06xx
alias usb:v046Dp0840d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* gspca_stv06xx

By following the pattern I would stick
alias usb:v046Dp08F0ddcdscdpiciscip* gspca_zc3xx
in there, but I have no clue how…

13

Before one goes further, it may be worth while stepping back a bit and doing a quality check.

What is the output for your webcam, with the webcam plugged in, of:

lsusb
14 
kloplop@linux-mplu:/var/cache> lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 059b:0475 Iomega Corp.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 058f:6362 Alcor Micro Corp. Hi-Speed 21-in-1 Flash Card Reader/Writer (Internal/External)
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 004 Device 003: ID 051d:0002 American Power Conversion Uninterruptible Power Supply
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 003: ID f617:0905
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 010: ID 046d:c016 Logitech, Inc. M-UV69a/HP M-UV96 Optical Wheel Mouse
Bus 006 Device 011: ID 046d:08f0 Logitech, Inc. QuickCam Messenger
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

I already gave all the info, nothing here that is related is new.

15

I believe you are incorrect here.

lsusb reports your webcam as:

Bus 006 Device 011: ID 046d:08f0 Logitech, Inc. QuickCam Messenger

The webcam 046d:08f0 is NOT in the GSPCA V4L2 - Webcam list contrary to what you posted above.

I searched both the uvc and the gspca list, and your webcam is not supported by those best I could see. Please note that there is MORE than one type of QuickCam Messenger and their hardware is different. You need to go by the vendor-id/device-id and not the name of the webcam.

If anything, IMHO you should be blacklisting the load of the gspca driver (assuming I am correct that the 046:08f0 is not supported by the gspca) and then load the correct driver (assuming it is installed - and I do not think it is installed).

You will probably have to search the web for a driver for this and it won’t be easy. Logitech do not support Linux so this will be a hack job.

I did note this URL from 3 years ago: Quickcam Messenger & Communicate driver for Linux
… whether that will work against a more modern openSUSE kernel I do not know. You could try to download

  • qc-usb-messenger-1.7.tar.gz (2007-09-02) - the source code for the Quickcam Messenger linux-driver.
  • gspy-0.1.7-messenger.tar.gz - a modified version of gspy-0.1.7. Changes in the picture-format and window-size.
  • mpeg_encodeWithPNG_1.tar.gz - a mpeg-encoder. (needed by gspy if you want to create a mpeg-movie from all pictures)
    you will then need to custom compile. …ie install kernel-source, kernel-syms, linux-kernel-headers, base-development pattern, and then try to build.

… still, that qc-usb-messenger-1.7 version is very old. You may need to try to surf for a newer version, as I note other users have had problems compiling this with a new kernel … for example this post: cannot compile qc-usb-messenger-1.7 in 12.1 - LinuxQuestions.org

it should be possible as I note Ubuntu have it working:
Skype | Kuhrti Brothers Note the blacklist file in openSUSE-11.2 is /etc/modprobe.d/50-blacklist.conf (which is different from that URL).

I note archlinux here make reference to 1.8-7 of qc-usb-messenger:
Pkg: qc-usb-messenger - Arch Linux Package Details

I surfed for about 5 minutes, but I could not find a tarball for 1.8-7 of qc-usb-messenger. A search on webpin for an openSUSE rpm gave me no hits initially.

Eventually I found this site:
Index of /messenger/source with 1.8 version.

Anyway, you either need to try compiling v.1.7 or 1.8. Probably 1.8 is best. I assume the arch linux 1.8-7 means their 7th build of version 1.8.

I’m leaving on vacation tomorrow for Rome for a 5 day vacation, so I will not be monitoring the forum during that time frame. I have to pack and do a bunch of stuff between now and then. I hope I have given you enough know, and I hope it is relevant, that we can get you back OFF of what I think was the wrong path, and back on the right path.

Good luck.

16

I know it is supported. I had it working under Ubuntu 9.04. Plug And Play.
Secondly… I said that it is NOT in the list, but has the exact same name.
If you really wanted to help me, then you could have proven me wrong by directing me how to set a new driver alias.

17

I am truely sorry for the rudeness of my last post. Thank you for spending the time searching for a solution. However, I could not compile the files in that archive because it expected a more-debian-based OS to compile on. However I have found a solution for my problem.
All I had to do was unplug

# modprobe -r gspca_stv06xx
# modprobe quickcam_messenger
#dmesg
....
[114313.398435] usb 6-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 15
[114313.573688] usb 6-2: New USB device found, idVendor=046d, idProduct=08f0
[114313.573698] usb 6-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=1, SerialNumber=0
[114313.573705] usb 6-2: Product: Camera
[114313.573797] usb 6-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[114313.624614] usb 6-2: QCM on video0: canvas=320x240 videosize=320x240
[114313.624650] input: QCM button as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb6/6-2/input/input11

I am now running cheese in the user level and it is working perfectly.
Again, thank you for your effort in helping me.

18

Glad to read that you have your webcam working :slight_smile: , and noting that it was working under Ubuntu 9.04 is new information that would have been useful to share at the start of the thread.

kloplop321, please do not take offence, but the “exact same name” means nothing for this webcam. As I noted, my research indicated there are many Logitech webcams, that have different hardware, with the exact same name.

This is not only true for this webcam, but also other webcams and other USB devices. One has to go by the vendor-ID / device-ID and not by the name, even IF it is the “exact same name”.

compilation can be difficult of a tarball built on another distribution.

GREAT !!

Thank you for sharing your solution.

Please note you had to remove the gspca_stv06xx kernel module (driver) and install the quickcam_messenger kernel driver. I still believe your webcam is NOT supported by the gspca. I believe quickcam_messenger is not a gspca nor is it uvc module. Frankly I do not know what package that “quickcam_messenger” kernel module comes from, other than it appears to come with the kernel (assuming you did nothing extra). I suspect it may indeed be the qc-usb-messenger that I asked you to compile, but instead it is ALREADY in the kernel and I did not know this.

If you find that you have to run that command sequence every time you boot, you could look at blacklisting gspca_stv06xx in your /etc/modprobe.d/50-blacklist.conf file.

It is great to see your web cam working.

Here is a link to a thread where a bunch of us had fun playing with our webcams webcam & microphone command line fun … - openSUSE Forums For example, on that page are examples where

  • one can make their webcam pix a dynamically changing back ground to their desktop (use it like a mirror),
  • one can record audio and video with their web cam (for example on my laptop I press 2 keys and the webcam/mic silently record everything it can hear/see - I use this for security)
  • … plus other things

Another webcam program (besides cheese) is wxcam. This is not yet built for openSUSE-11.2. In this thread (post#14): wxCam - openSUSE Forums the participants noted a functional rpm for wxcam could be made with alien, by downloading the .deb file and converting it with:

alien --to-rpm wxcam_1.0.4-1~getdeb1_amd64.deb

I also note the webcam package “camorama” not built for openSUSE-11.2, but built for 11.0, can be easily rebuilt for 11.2, and I give it as my example in this software tips post here under “REBUILD AN OLD RPM” : openSUSE software installation hints - openSUSE Forums

Enjoy your webcam !

19

My curiousity is perked, but I don’t have time to sort this.

I do note this post about kernel drivers (ie modules INCLUDED with the kernel) about the quickcam_messenger kernel module. kernel/drivers/media/video/usbvideo/quickcam_messenger.h At the top and bottom of that page it makes it clear that the quickcam_messenger kernel module uses code from the qc-usb-messenger.
ie:

 * -  this define is taken from the qc-usb-messenger code

/* this table is derived from the qc-usb-messenger code */

As to how much code, and how the migration progressed from “qc-usb-messenger” tarball to “quickcam_messenger” kernel module, I can’t find.

Now I have to run and finish packing. :slight_smile:

20

While pondering this in between throwing things in my suitcase in a mad panic to pack for my vacation, I suspect what happened is development of “qc-usb-messenger” stopped at version 1.8, where “qc-usb-messenger” was migrated to a kernel module called “quickcam-messenger” and from then on maintenance (if any) of the code will take place in the “quickcam-messenger” kernel module.