In this post I will explain you how I got my Logitech Quickcam Messenger webcam working with Gentoo Linux using qc-usb-messenger drivers (module will be called quickcam).

Webcam information:

Manufacturer: Logitech
Part Number: 861144-0000
Model: Logicool V-UM27 Quickcam USB

# lsusb information:
ID 046d:08f0 Logitech, Inc. QuickCam Messenger

First of all we will prepare our kernel so our driver compiles neatly. I am currently using kernel 2.6.23-gentoo-r2.

Select the following kernel options and recompile:

Device Drivers ---> Multimedia devices --->
<M> Video For Linux
[*] Enable Video For Linux API 1 compatible Layer
[*] Video capture adapters (NEW) --->

 

Device Drivers ---> Multimedia devices ---> Video capture adapters -->
[*] Autoselect pertinent encoders/decoders and other helper chips
[*] V4L USB devices (NEW) --->

 

Device Drivers ---> Multimedia devices ---> Video capture adapters --> V4L USB devices -->
(none)

Next we emerge our qc-usb-messenger drivers:

emerge --quiet media-video/qc-usb-messenger

Now we check if the driver loads, so we connect our camera

# tail -f /var/log/messages should give us a message similar to:
kp_1 quickcam [48.266871]: poisoning qc in qc_usb_exit
kp_1 quickcam [54.779816]: ----------LOADING QUICKCAM MODULE------------
kp_1 quickcam [54.779852]: struct quickcam size: 4612
kp_1 quickcam: QuickCam USB camera found (driver version QuickCam Messenger/Communicate USB 1.7 $Date: 2007/09/02 00:00:00 $)
kp_1 quickcam: Kernel:2.6.23-gentoo-r2 bus:2 class:FF subclass:FF vendor:046D product:08F0
kp_1 quickcam [54.780122]: poisoning qc in qc_usb_init
kp_1 quickcam [54.809479]: E00A contains 08F0
kp_1 quickcam: Sensor VV6450 detected
kp_1 input: Quickcam snapshot button as /devices/virtual/input/input2
kp_1 quickcam [54.813168]: Quickcam snapshot button registered on usb-0000:00:01.3-2/input0
kp_1 quickcam: Registered device: /dev/video0
kp_1 usbcore: registered new interface driver quickcam

if driver is not automatically loaded, you can always modprobe it, and the check if interface has been registered
kp_1 ~ # modprobe quickcam

And that's it! now you can configure any program that can read v4l devices, like xawtv and Zoneminder

- Feel free to leave any comment, suggestion, request or correction you want. I will update this page constantly -

-=kp=-