How do I install video4linux2 in Ubuntu 12.10, and do I need to?

drivers video webcam empathy video4linux

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In a terminal:

sudo apt-get install v4l-utils

http://www.techytalk.info/webcam-settings-control-ubuntu-fedora-linux-operating-system-cli/

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Jason

I spent about 15 years of my life supporting Microsoft and Mac based systems and products as a hardware specialist, systems administrator, and networking technician. I finally got burned out dealing with software and operating systems which never were stable and didn't work as advertised that I had to pay a lot of money for... So now I'm re-learning Linux... and so far I'm loving it. My work nowadays consists mostly of photography and custom woodworking and design. I use Ubuntu/LINUX for productivity and work-flow in the post processing of digital images and video and for 2D and 3D design of woodworking and metal fabrication projects. So far Ubuntu/LINUX offers the OS stability and speed that other operating systems promised, but never delivered on, and offers a diverse selection of free, stable apps that easily rival all of the expensive commercial software I had to pay for when using Microsoft and Mac based systems. I think I am here to stay. I can't see the need to ever go back to MS or Mac again, and that makes me very happy.

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

Jason almost 2 years

I'm still pretty new to Ubuntu so please bear with me.

I am running Ubuntu 12.10 and I am trying to get a couple of old external USB webcams working on my laptops. The built-in laptop webcams work just fine, but sometimes I need an external cam. I can make the cams work in VLC, but my other cam apps like Camorama and Empathy don't "see" the external cams and there is no place in the apps to specify a device path to choose between the default (built-in) or an external cam.

Do I need to install video4linux2 to make these cams work on my other apps?

If so, how do I install it? I downloaded a packed file from the V4L2 website, but they don't seem to have any detailed instructions on how to install it on Ubuntu.

Any help would be most appreciated. Thank you.