View Source: Video4Linux - Waikato Linux Users Group

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A framework for drivers of video cameras, TV tuners etc. The device [API] for userland processes is commonly called v4l or v4l2 (v4l being deprecated in theory). Also known as [V4L].

DeviceDriver~s written for this framework are normally compiled into the LinuxKernel as [Module]s. You must have the <tt>videodev</tt> [Module] loaded as well. The devices are enumerated by [UDev] and appear as <tt>/dev/video0</tt>, <tt>/dev/video1</tt> etc.

Some applications require a specific device name e.g. <tt>/dev/video</tt>, although this is probably not the desired behaviour and these apps will probably be modified in the future. If you are using an application that wants a <tt>/dev/video</tt> but your system only has a <tt>/dev/video0</tt> then you need to either make a symbolic link or set up [UDev] appropriately. For the latter, create/modify the file <tt>/etc/udev/rules.d/00_video4linux.rules</tt> and make sure it contains the following:''''

  <verbatim>
  # make a symlink to the first video device
  KERNEL="video0",        SYMLINK="video"
  </verbatim>

There are some useful links here:
* http://www.linuxtv.org/v4lwiki/index.php/Main_Page ([Video4Linux] Wiki)
* http://www.exploits.org/v4l/ ([Video4Linux] resources)

12 pages link to Video4Linux:

Last edited on Monday, September 26, 2005 1:13:38 pm by IanMcDonald

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