• CCTV capture card for new PC & Zoneminder

    From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Friday, September 13, 2024 13:38:39
    After the recent problems with the ancient Ubuntu and Zoneminder
    installation, I thought about upgrading the PC, the old Dell is now 24
    years old.
    I have a new separate Swann system, but I cannot find how to extract
    video from it, it likes Windows, not Linux.

    So I am looking at a new (or refurbished) desktop PC, hoping to use my
    existing CCTV cameras, all with BNC connectors, and to be able to add
    one more, making 4 in total. It also monitors one WiFi camera on the
    network. Tje PC is also my daily laptop backup device.
    My old video card is a PCI, which is now ancient history, so will be no
    good for a new PC. Satcure, where I got my first video card from, went
    bust some time ago.

    Looking around, I see modern versions, but at huge prices, =C2=A3250 up to =C2=A3600!! Yikes. Am I looking for the wrong item here? I don't believe the old card cost anything like that much.

    A sample of what I find: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0D9NQZ2VH/ref=3Dewc_pr_img_1?smid=3DAK= G67ZUVCCXRK&psc=3D1
    But I don't have SDI, and I don't want to replace my cameras or my
    cabling. I am just looking for a PCI-e, BNC connectors, CCTV video input
    card,

    There is:
    https://tinyurl.com/3smbmmhj
    also known as:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Potadak-Captura-Adapter-Computer-Camera-Black/dp/B= 0CCDCLL5G/ref=3Dsr_1_140?crid=3DZQ64KGYGR0UF&dib=3DeyJ2IjoiMSJ9.z-FIUNnsxAd= gHlwX1RlfFRn8U0hm9D5LhTXHaELlQN8lsa7tU6cLwpZo1bjed5npm5LPhrdsoubaowZjmN3hPh= os0n0Ly_t-JN4C1VIND-DuA8BJVTI3nh_AR-vGbt2iOKyERzGmK5VBKquSqV1-N3EZ4nkY8Pz5P= QtxttI1m2HqOQ-utUt18BBG8ICr_L7dqEBKreLTHnThSCZT0k1l4d8kjknq8IkmCHeS0WjnfSI.= EI8jbBtNOBcmbrhK97vIlojvxMOYz-tXJQWmixSWSrg&dib_tag=3Dse&keywords=3DPCI-E+v= ideo+camera+capture+cards&qid=3D1726225777&sprefix=3Dpci-e+video+camera+cap= ture+cards%2Caps%2C104&sr=3D8-140

    which doesn't say SDI, in fact it doesn't say much of anything, but
    therefore MIGHT work with my existing cameras. But there is no
    spec.! And I have no idea who Potadek is/are, they seem to sell
    everything you could think of. Jack of all trades, and master of none,
    comes to mind.
    I'm sort of lost here, any help welcome.

    --=20
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Friday, September 13, 2024 20:19:28
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I'm sort of lost here, any help welcome.

    Have a look at USB adapters. SD video is not that high bit rate, especially
    if the adapter is compressing. No idea of the marketplace, although I have a
    $7 composite video USB capture that's probably awful. BNC is just composite video I think - do they power from there or external power?

    If you have a lot of USB devices consider extra USB PCIe cards, but 4 behind
    a USB 3 hub is probably ok.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Friday, September 13, 2024 22:43:01
    On 13 Sep 2024 20:19:28 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I'm sort of lost here, any help welcome.

    Have a look at USB adapters. SD video is not that high bit rate,
    especially if the adapter is compressing. No idea of the marketplace, although I have a $7 composite video USB capture that's probably
    awful. BNC is just composite video I think - do they power from there
    or external power?

    If you have a lot of USB devices consider extra USB PCIe cards, but 4
    behind a USB 3 hub is probably ok.

    Theo

    Hmm. Since this will be a new installation, there will be little other
    demand on any resources.

    I am looking for something that will accept the BNC plugs coming from
    the cameras.

    I have not heard of USB devices that can do this, I will look.

    And the cameras are all powered from a separate 12v PSU, which splits
    to feed all the cameras. The standard camera cable has: Power, Video
    signal, Audio signal (if available).

    Thanks for the thoughts, I will report progress, if any.
    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Saturday, September 14, 2024 09:06:25
    On Fri, 13 Sep 2024 22:43:01 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On 13 Sep 2024 20:19:28 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I'm sort of lost here, any help welcome.

    Have a look at USB adapters. SD video is not that high bit rate,
    especially if the adapter is compressing. No idea of the
    marketplace, although I have a $7 composite video USB capture
    that's probably awful. BNC is just composite video I think - do
    they power from there or external power?

    If you have a lot of USB devices consider extra USB PCIe cards, but
    4 behind a USB 3 hub is probably ok.

    Theo

    Hmm. Since this will be a new installation, there will be little other
    demand on any resources.

    I am looking for something that will accept the BNC plugs coming from
    the cameras.

    I have not heard of USB devices that can do this, I will look.

    And the cameras are all powered from a separate 12v PSU, which splits
    to feed all the cameras. The standard camera cable has: Power, Video
    signal, Audio signal (if available).

    Thanks for the thoughts, I will report progress, if any.

    I cannot find any suitable BNC-input USB video cards. Plenty of HDMI
    and others, such as network, but not BNC. If you know of any, please
    send me a link.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Saturday, September 14, 2024 09:28:30
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    I cannot find any suitable BNC-input USB video cards. Plenty of HDMI
    and others, such as network, but not BNC. If you know of any, please
    send me a link.

    If it's composite video, you just need a BNC to phono (RCA) adapter: https://www.amazon.co.uk/10-BNC-Female-RCA-Adapter/dp/B013GKEYCU/

    Then plug into a 'USB video capture' box with 'RCA' inputs. Definitely
    not a recommendation, but this kind of thing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HENGBIRD-Grabber-Capture-Converter-Digitize/dp/B0CMGZTZH1/

    Software wise it would pay to search for one with Linux support - the one I have (branded 'EasyCAP') works with Linux but it's old and I'm not clear on
    the current market. Linux TV has info, under analog devices: https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hardware_device_information

    It often pays to look for reviews or text which says what chip is inside, as the cheap brand names change like the wind. Be prepared to return if
    you can't make it work under Linux.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Saturday, September 14, 2024 13:33:27
    On 14 Sep 2024 09:28:30 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    =20
    I cannot find any suitable BNC-input USB video cards. Plenty of HDMI
    and others, such as network, but not BNC. If you know of any, please
    send me a link. =20
    =20
    If it's composite video, you just need a BNC to phono (RCA) adapter: https://www.amazon.co.uk/10-BNC-Female-RCA-Adapter/dp/B013GKEYCU/
    =20
    Then plug into a 'USB video capture' box with 'RCA' inputs.
    Definitely not a recommendation, but this kind of thing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HENGBIRD-Grabber-Capture-Converter-Digitize/dp/B=
    0CMGZTZH1/
    =20
    Software wise it would pay to search for one with Linux support - the
    one I have (branded 'EasyCAP') works with Linux but it's old and I'm
    not clear on the current market. Linux TV has info, under analog
    devices:
    https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hardware_device_information
    =20
    It often pays to look for reviews or text which says what chip is
    inside, as the cheap brand names change like the wind. Be prepared to
    return if you can't make it work under Linux.
    =20
    Theo

    OK, I saw several USB devices with phono inputs. But I would need one
    device per channel. Messy, when I am replacing one internal card!

    I have an old Easy Cap, or EZCap, used for transferring video from NTSC
    tapes to PC, played on an appropriate VHS Player. When I got it, it
    was only Windows compatible, I tried to get it to work with Linux,
    including asking here for help, but in the end just kept Windows on an
    old Laptop for when I needed to do a tape transfer. It sounds from your statement that this changed later, if you had it working with Linux.

    A quick glance at that last link does not show me an easy answer, but I=20
    can study it in greater depth later.=20
    I am getting resigned to the idea that one of the =C2=A3200 cards, with some generic Chinese name, may be the best answer, but do they come with
    proper instructions? Question to Seller.
    More later. Thanks for the thoughts.

    --=20
    Davey


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, September 15, 2024 08:45:54
    On 14 Sep 2024 09:28:30 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    =20
    I cannot find any suitable BNC-input USB video cards. Plenty of HDMI
    and others, such as network, but not BNC. If you know of any, please
    send me a link. =20
    =20
    If it's composite video, you just need a BNC to phono (RCA) adapter: https://www.amazon.co.uk/10-BNC-Female-RCA-Adapter/dp/B013GKEYCU/
    =20
    Then plug into a 'USB video capture' box with 'RCA' inputs.
    Definitely not a recommendation, but this kind of thing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HENGBIRD-Grabber-Capture-Converter-Digitize/dp/B=
    0CMGZTZH1/
    =20
    Software wise it would pay to search for one with Linux support - the
    one I have (branded 'EasyCAP') works with Linux but it's old and I'm
    not clear on the current market. Linux TV has info, under analog
    devices:
    https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hardware_device_information
    =20
    It often pays to look for reviews or text which says what chip is
    inside, as the cheap brand names change like the wind. Be prepared to
    return if you can't make it work under Linux.
    =20
    Theo

    Another thought:
    Since the current PCI card works fine, I am going to see if I can find
    a refurbished PC, which I would not normally look at, to see if I can
    find a refurbished PCI slot-equipped machine.
    No cost of a =C2=A3200-plus PCIe card, a cheaper PC than a new one.=20 Thoughts?

    --=20
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, September 15, 2024 10:25:11
    On Sun, 15 Sep 2024 08:45:54 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On 14 Sep 2024 09:28:30 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
    =20
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote: =20
    =20
    I cannot find any suitable BNC-input USB video cards. Plenty of
    HDMI and others, such as network, but not BNC. If you know of
    any, please send me a link. =20
    =20
    If it's composite video, you just need a BNC to phono (RCA) adapter: https://www.amazon.co.uk/10-BNC-Female-RCA-Adapter/dp/B013GKEYCU/
    =20
    Then plug into a 'USB video capture' box with 'RCA' inputs.
    Definitely not a recommendation, but this kind of thing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HENGBIRD-Grabber-Capture-Converter-Digitize/dp=
    /B0CMGZTZH1/
    =20
    Software wise it would pay to search for one with Linux support -
    the one I have (branded 'EasyCAP') works with Linux but it's old
    and I'm not clear on the current market. Linux TV has info, under
    analog devices: https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hardware_device_information
    =20
    It often pays to look for reviews or text which says what chip is
    inside, as the cheap brand names change like the wind. Be prepared
    to return if you can't make it work under Linux.
    =20
    Theo =20
    =20
    Another thought:
    Since the current PCI card works fine, I am going to see if I can find
    a refurbished PC, which I would not normally look at, to see if I can
    find a refurbished PCI slot-equipped machine.
    No cost of a =C2=A3200-plus PCIe card, a cheaper PC than a new one.=20 Thoughts?
    =20

    Or possibly a PCI to PCIe adaptor card. There are plenty on offer, all
    looking the same. Cost: ~=C2=A325.

    --=20
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, September 15, 2024 11:55:11

    Davey wrote:

    I am going to see if I can find a refurbished PC, which I would not
    normally look at, to see if I can find a refurbished PCI slot-
    equipped machine.

    Or a PCIe to PCI riser?


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, September 15, 2024 13:37:09
    On Sun, 15 Sep 2024 11:55:11 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    I am going to see if I can find a refurbished PC, which I would not normally look at, to see if I can find a refurbished PCI slot-
    equipped machine.

    Or a PCIe to PCI riser?


    Called a " a PCI to PCIe adaptor card" by me at 10:25? The same thing,
    just different names. Although I agree that putting 'PCIe" before
    "PCI" is a more logical construction. Whatever we call it, it looks like
    the way to go, in my situation.
    I don't like refurbished PCs, anyway.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, September 15, 2024 14:47:18
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    Called a " a PCI to PCIe adaptor card" by me at 10:25? The same thing,
    just different names. Although I agree that putting 'PCIe" before
    "PCI" is a more logical construction. Whatever we call it, it looks like
    the way to go, in my situation.
    I don't like refurbished PCs, anyway.

    You may have a problem with mounting - the adapter card adds maybe 1-1.5" to the height of your card. Depends on how tall your PCI card is. You'll probably need to take the backplate off, but it may be short enough to fit
    in a full height PCIe slot.

    If this is problematic you can get PCIe 'riser' cables. Random example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/GLOTRENDS-Riser-Function-Features-Degree-Black/dp/B0CHRZQNRK/
    (various lengths and x1 / x4 / x8 / x16 available, many different designs)

    and then mount the card elsewhere in the case.

    If you're buying a new PC anyway there are a few mobos with native PCI slots: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#d=1,6&sort=price&page=1

    Most of them are for old CPUs, but those with AM4, AM5, LGA1200 or LGA1700
    CPU sockets are fairly modern: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#d=1,6&sort=price&s=33,41,39,40

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, September 15, 2024 15:00:18
    On 15 Sep 2024 14:47:18 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    Called a " a PCI to PCIe adaptor card" by me at 10:25? The same
    thing, just different names. Although I agree that putting 'PCIe"
    before "PCI" is a more logical construction. Whatever we call it,
    it looks like the way to go, in my situation.
    I don't like refurbished PCs, anyway.

    You may have a problem with mounting - the adapter card adds maybe
    1-1.5" to the height of your card. Depends on how tall your PCI card
    is. You'll probably need to take the backplate off, but it may be
    short enough to fit in a full height PCIe slot.

    If this is problematic you can get PCIe 'riser' cables. Random
    example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/GLOTRENDS-Riser-Function-Features-Degree-Black/dp/B0CHRZQNRK/
    (various lengths and x1 / x4 / x8 / x16 available, many different
    designs)

    and then mount the card elsewhere in the case.

    If you're buying a new PC anyway there are a few mobos with native
    PCI slots: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#d=1,6&sort=price&page=1

    Most of them are for old CPUs, but those with AM4, AM5, LGA1200 or
    LGA1700 CPU sockets are fairly modern: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#d=1,6&sort=price&s=33,41,39,40

    Theo

    Thanks. I will probably get the PC first, and then I can look inside and
    see what space there is, and therefore what I need to get to a PCI slot. Luckily, my existing system is still working, so it is not urgent.
    I will continue to report progress.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Monday, September 16, 2024 09:20:25
    On Sun, 15 Sep 2024 15:00:18 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On 15 Sep 2024 14:47:18 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    Called a " a PCI to PCIe adaptor card" by me at 10:25? The same
    thing, just different names. Although I agree that putting 'PCIe"
    before "PCI" is a more logical construction. Whatever we call it,
    it looks like the way to go, in my situation.
    I don't like refurbished PCs, anyway.

    You may have a problem with mounting - the adapter card adds maybe
    1-1.5" to the height of your card. Depends on how tall your PCI
    card is. You'll probably need to take the backplate off, but it
    may be short enough to fit in a full height PCIe slot.

    If this is problematic you can get PCIe 'riser' cables. Random
    example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/GLOTRENDS-Riser-Function-Features-Degree-Black/dp/B0CHRZQNRK/
    (various lengths and x1 / x4 / x8 / x16 available, many different
    designs)

    and then mount the card elsewhere in the case.

    If you're buying a new PC anyway there are a few mobos with native
    PCI slots: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#d=1,6&sort=price&page=1

    Most of them are for old CPUs, but those with AM4, AM5, LGA1200 or
    LGA1700 CPU sockets are fairly modern: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#d=1,6&sort=price&s=33,41,39,40

    Theo

    Thanks. I will probably get the PC first, and then I can look inside
    and see what space there is, and therefore what I need to get to a
    PCI slot. Luckily, my existing system is still working, so it is not
    urgent. I will continue to report progress.


    The new PC is ordered, from PC Specialists, who provided my laptop. A
    shame they don't do Linux, but nobody is perfect. I will install that
    myself.
    First, I will get it sorted without any hint of Zoneminder, it's other
    job will be to take over as my daily backup device. I will also take
    a look inside to see what room there is for PCI adaptors.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Monday, September 16, 2024 09:36:23
    Theo wrote:

    You may have a problem with mounting - the adapter card adds maybe 1-1.5" to the height of your card. Depends on how tall your PCI card is.

    You could get a 90° adapter, or many seem to use USB3 cable so could
    allow a double sided stickypad solution (n.b. the connection isn't
    actually USB3, just a bastardised use of the cable/connectors).

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Tuesday, October 01, 2024 12:16:06
    On Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:20:25 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On Sun, 15 Sep 2024 15:00:18 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    =20
    On 15 Sep 2024 14:47:18 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
    =20
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote: =20
    Called a " a PCI to PCIe adaptor card" by me at 10:25? The same
    thing, just different names. Although I agree that putting
    'PCIe" before "PCI" is a more logical construction. Whatever we
    call it, it looks like the way to go, in my situation.
    I don't like refurbished PCs, anyway. =20
    =20
    You may have a problem with mounting - the adapter card adds maybe
    1-1.5" to the height of your card. Depends on how tall your PCI
    card is. You'll probably need to take the backplate off, but it
    may be short enough to fit in a full height PCIe slot.
    =20
    If this is problematic you can get PCIe 'riser' cables. Random
    example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/GLOTRENDS-Riser-Function-Features-Degree-Bla=
    ck/dp/B0CHRZQNRK/
    (various lengths and x1 / x4 / x8 / x16 available, many different designs)
    =20
    and then mount the card elsewhere in the case.
    =20
    If you're buying a new PC anyway there are a few mobos with native
    PCI slots: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#d=3D1,6&sort=3Dpric=
    e&page=3D1
    =20
    Most of them are for old CPUs, but those with AM4, AM5, LGA1200 or LGA1700 CPU sockets are fairly modern: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#d=3D1,6&sort=3Dpric=
    e&s=3D33,41,39,40
    =20
    Theo =20
    =20
    Thanks. I will probably get the PC first, and then I can look inside
    and see what space there is, and therefore what I need to get to a
    PCI slot. Luckily, my existing system is still working, so it is not urgent. I will continue to report progress.
    =20
    =20
    The new PC is ordered, from PC Specialists, who provided my laptop. A
    shame they don't do Linux, but nobody is perfect. I will install that
    myself.
    First, I will get it sorted without any hint of Zoneminder, it's other
    job will be to take over as my daily backup device. I will also take
    a look inside to see what room there is for PCI adaptors.
    =20

    Ok. The new PC arrived, and is on its way to being populated with the
    stuff I want on it. My OS is Ubuntu 22.04, ver. 24.04 is too different
    for me to battle with for now.
    The only problem I have with PCSpecialists is that they don't support
    Linux, they install a test version of Windows 11 (spit) that does
    minimal things, and wants you to Activate Windows, for the sum =C2=A3199.99 before it will do very much of anything except send you lots of
    advertising.

    Remember that the purpose of getting this PC is to work as a
    Zoneminder operator, and a backup for my laptop's daily workings. There
    is no intention to use it as a full-blown desktop PC. It will sit in a
    dark rarely-used room.
    When I was setting it up, I noticed that I could not hear any sounds,
    even though there was a speaker pair plugged in. Adjustments to the
    volume control eventually produced some Test sounds, but only with
    both the Volume and even the 'volume amplifier' setting both at
    maximum. The sound could just be heard with the speakers held close to
    the ear. The manufacturer suggested going back into Windows, and
    downloading a Driver Downloader Uninstaller, which would clean out and re-install the Windows sound drivers. But even if this works, it's in
    Windows, not Linux. Trying to install and run this was a mass exercise
    in demonstrating why I hate Windows.
    I hate to think about sending it back, with all the hassle involved,
    when I don't actually need sound on this particular machine. I have
    installed Zoneminder, (quite a long process there), and I have purchased
    a PCIe-to-PCI adapter card, but I have not installed it yet, pending
    the final decision on what to do, if anything, with the sound problem.
    They are sending me a Windows driver of some sort to help, I hope. The non-activated Windows will not let me access the Windows settings to
    test the speaker output.=20
    I am going to try playing about with alsa-mixer and pavucontrol to see
    if they help at all. After lunch, that is.

    More later, this one 'has legs'.

    --=20
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Tuesday, October 01, 2024 12:40:48
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    When I was setting it up, I noticed that I could not hear any sounds,
    even though there was a speaker pair plugged in. Adjustments to the
    volume control eventually produced some Test sounds, but only with
    both the Volume and even the 'volume amplifier' setting both at
    maximum. The sound could just be heard with the speakers held close to
    the ear. The manufacturer suggested going back into Windows, and
    downloading a Driver Downloader Uninstaller, which would clean out and re-install the Windows sound drivers. But even if this works, it's in Windows, not Linux. Trying to install and run this was a mass exercise
    in demonstrating why I hate Windows.

    Are you sure you aren't exporting sound via the HDMI (or Displayport)? It's
    a common way to use monitor/TV speakers nowadays, and it's possible the
    sound is going there - but if your monitor doesn't have speakers then you wouldn't hear anything.

    Although it sounds like the audio output does work, but perhaps the mixer volume is wrong. That could be influenced by software.

    Have you tried headphones, in case it's something related to the speakers?

    Do the speakers need external power? I used to have a set where they would
    be passive if the internal amplifier wasn't powered, resulting in much
    quieter volume.

    I hate to think about sending it back, with all the hassle involved,
    when I don't actually need sound on this particular machine. I have
    installed Zoneminder, (quite a long process there), and I have purchased
    a PCIe-to-PCI adapter card, but I have not installed it yet, pending
    the final decision on what to do, if anything, with the sound problem.
    They are sending me a Windows driver of some sort to help, I hope. The non-activated Windows will not let me access the Windows settings to
    test the speaker output.
    I am going to try playing about with alsa-mixer and pavucontrol to see
    if they help at all. After lunch, that is.

    Worst case, a USB audio output dongle is less than a tenner. Probably less cost than the postage to send it back.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Tuesday, October 01, 2024 13:53:58
    On 01 Oct 2024 12:40:48 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    When I was setting it up, I noticed that I could not hear any
    sounds, even though there was a speaker pair plugged in.
    Adjustments to the volume control eventually produced some Test
    sounds, but only with both the Volume and even the 'volume
    amplifier' setting both at maximum. The sound could just be heard
    with the speakers held close to the ear. The manufacturer suggested
    going back into Windows, and downloading a Driver Downloader
    Uninstaller, which would clean out and re-install the Windows sound drivers. But even if this works, it's in Windows, not Linux. Trying
    to install and run this was a mass exercise in demonstrating why I
    hate Windows.

    Are you sure you aren't exporting sound via the HDMI (or
    Displayport)? It's a common way to use monitor/TV speakers nowadays,
    and it's possible the sound is going there - but if your monitor
    doesn't have speakers then you wouldn't hear anything.


    Responses inline.

    Although it sounds like the audio output does work, but perhaps the
    mixer volume is wrong. That could be influenced by software.

    That is why I am going to play with alsa-mixer. It's a long tie sonce I
    last did, but it worked then.

    Have you tried headphones, in case it's something related to the
    speakers?

    No, but I have tried earbuds, all work in other PCs' audio-out
    sockets.

    Do the speakers need external power? I used to have a set where they
    would be passive if the internal amplifier wasn't powered, resulting
    in much quieter volume.

    None of those I have tried need external power.

    I hate to think about sending it back, with all the hassle involved,
    when I don't actually need sound on this particular machine. I have installed Zoneminder, (quite a long process there), and I have
    purchased a PCIe-to-PCI adapter card, but I have not installed it
    yet, pending the final decision on what to do, if anything, with
    the sound problem. They are sending me a Windows driver of some
    sort to help, I hope. The non-activated Windows will not let me
    access the Windows settings to test the speaker output.
    I am going to try playing about with alsa-mixer and pavucontrol to
    see if they help at all. After lunch, that is.

    Worst case, a USB audio output dongle is less than a tenner.
    Probably less cost than the postage to send it back.


    That would be a very simple and cheap solution, if I really do need one. Thanks.

    --
    Davey.



    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Tuesday, October 01, 2024 14:05:28
    Davey wrote:

    That is why I am going to play with alsa-mixer. It's a long tie sonce I
    last did, but it worked then.

    pulseaudio and/or pipewire might be sticking their oar in ...


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 09:58:40
    On Tue, 1 Oct 2024 14:05:28 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:
    =20
    That is why I am going to play with alsa-mixer. It's a long tie
    sonce I last did, but it worked then. =20
    =20
    pulseaudio and/or pipewire might be sticking their oar in ...
    =20

    After some inconclusive and time-wasting testing yesterday evening, I
    have decided to abandon, at least for now, the search for sound. It is
    not required for this PC, so wasting time is pointless. I have informed
    the supplier's online techies. about this.
    I have ordered a USB Sound dongle, for the princely sum of =C2=A36.99.

    So the next thing is to install the capture card. The limited
    instructions say to mount it, without any PCI card installed at
    first, and let it install its own drivers. There is a SCSI cable
    connection, advice seems to be to install that as well, to provide
    power to the future PCI card. I need to see if the new card socket and
    the cable supplied with the PC match.

    I was recommended to watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D_MIoC-CdEQw
    which explains, sort of, how to install one of these cards. But I
    am confused about at least one thing. I am sure there will be more as
    (if) this progresses.

    In that video, he uses Windows. After installation, he then* calls up a
    screen (BIOS?) that tells him whether or not the PC, a UEFI one like
    mine, sees the new card that he then installs. Will this be the same on
    my machine, and if so, how do I configure the BIOS to allow the legacy
    BIOS to be seen and used?
    I am clearly well out of my comfort zone here!

    * At about 4' 30" into the video.

    Any help very much appreciated.

    --=20
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 10:18:24
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I was recommended to watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MIoC-CdEQw
    which explains, sort of, how to install one of these cards. But I
    am confused about at least one thing. I am sure there will be more as
    (if) this progresses.

    In that video, he uses Windows. After installation, he then* calls up a screen (BIOS?) that tells him whether or not the PC, a UEFI one like
    mine, sees the new card that he then installs. Will this be the same on
    my machine, and if so, how do I configure the BIOS to allow the legacy
    BIOS to be seen and used?
    I am clearly well out of my comfort zone here!

    I think you're using it just for the video capture card here?

    In which case it doesn't matter if the BIOS doesn't see it, because you're
    not booting from it. It's fine if the card is ignored until in your OS,
    since your OS will boot from some SSD/HDD that's not connected via the PCI slot. The BIOS doesn't know or care about the video capture card, it's only bothered by discs and displays (both of which Adrian was trying to get to work), and the capture card doesn't have any firmware on it that's run at
    boot.

    Once the OS is booted, I think Linux will likely support such a PCIe-PCI
    bridge out of the box - there are no drivers you can install. So either
    it'll work or it won't, but probably you can just plug in the video capture card into the PCI slot and it'll be detected in Linux (check 'lspci').

    As the video suggests, things can be variable though. I tried one in the reverse direction - PCIe card in PCI slot, in a RISC OS machine not a PC -
    and just its presence stopped the machine from booting. But new into old is probably harder than old into new.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 10:23:36
    On 02 Oct 2024 10:18:24 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I was recommended to watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MIoC-CdEQw
    which explains, sort of, how to install one of these cards. But I
    am confused about at least one thing. I am sure there will be more
    as (if) this progresses.

    In that video, he uses Windows. After installation, he then* calls
    up a screen (BIOS?) that tells him whether or not the PC, a UEFI
    one like mine, sees the new card that he then installs. Will this
    be the same on my machine, and if so, how do I configure the BIOS
    to allow the legacy BIOS to be seen and used?
    I am clearly well out of my comfort zone here!

    I think you're using it just for the video capture card here?

    In which case it doesn't matter if the BIOS doesn't see it, because
    you're not booting from it. It's fine if the card is ignored until
    in your OS, since your OS will boot from some SSD/HDD that's not
    connected via the PCI slot. The BIOS doesn't know or care about the
    video capture card, it's only bothered by discs and displays (both of
    which Adrian was trying to get to work), and the capture card doesn't
    have any firmware on it that's run at boot.

    Once the OS is booted, I think Linux will likely support such a
    PCIe-PCI bridge out of the box - there are no drivers you can
    install. So either it'll work or it won't, but probably you can just
    plug in the video capture card into the PCI slot and it'll be
    detected in Linux (check 'lspci').

    As the video suggests, things can be variable though. I tried one in
    the reverse direction - PCIe card in PCI slot, in a RISC OS machine
    not a PC - and just its presence stopped the machine from booting.
    But new into old is probably harder than old into new.

    Theo

    Thanks for the encouragement! Yes, it is for the video capture card,
    but to leave that in operation in the old PC until I am ready for it, I
    have an old but unused Wifi PCI card available, which I hope will do
    the job of test mule.

    More when there is more.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 12:28:43
    On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 10:23:36 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On 02 Oct 2024 10:18:24 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I was recommended to watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MIoC-CdEQw
    which explains, sort of, how to install one of these cards. But I
    am confused about at least one thing. I am sure there will be more
    as (if) this progresses.

    In that video, he uses Windows. After installation, he then* calls
    up a screen (BIOS?) that tells him whether or not the PC, a UEFI
    one like mine, sees the new card that he then installs. Will this
    be the same on my machine, and if so, how do I configure the BIOS
    to allow the legacy BIOS to be seen and used?
    I am clearly well out of my comfort zone here!

    I think you're using it just for the video capture card here?

    In which case it doesn't matter if the BIOS doesn't see it, because
    you're not booting from it. It's fine if the card is ignored until
    in your OS, since your OS will boot from some SSD/HDD that's not
    connected via the PCI slot. The BIOS doesn't know or care about the
    video capture card, it's only bothered by discs and displays (both
    of which Adrian was trying to get to work), and the capture card
    doesn't have any firmware on it that's run at boot.

    Once the OS is booted, I think Linux will likely support such a
    PCIe-PCI bridge out of the box - there are no drivers you can
    install. So either it'll work or it won't, but probably you can
    just plug in the video capture card into the PCI slot and it'll be
    detected in Linux (check 'lspci').

    As the video suggests, things can be variable though. I tried one
    in the reverse direction - PCIe card in PCI slot, in a RISC OS
    machine not a PC - and just its presence stopped the machine from
    booting. But new into old is probably harder than old into new.

    Theo

    Thanks for the encouragement! Yes, it is for the video capture card,
    but to leave that in operation in the old PC until I am ready for it,
    I have an old but unused Wifi PCI card available, which I hope will do
    the job of test mule.

    More when there is more.


    I installed the first card that plugs into the motherboard, and ran the
    USB cable out through the next backplate slot, as that is where the
    video card will sit. For now, the PCI board sits on top of the PC, the
    bottom of it is well protected from touching anything. Later, it will
    hang off the rear of the video card, assuming I get that far!
    Due to operator error, I didn't see what happened, if anything, on the
    screen after powering up the PC, but the new PCI slot board has the
    little blue light glowing, which implies that it is happy.
    But the SATA cable supplied as a spare part with the PC has a different connector for the PCI board end, it needs a 15-pin connector instead of
    a 7-pin. The supplied cable has a 7-pin plug at each end.
    I am confused about the gender of the socket on the PCI board, is it
    male or a female, the difference seems to be very small to the untrained
    eye?

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CXSYTRH3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

    shows the board. I will assume that the SATA connector is female,
    needing a male plug, but another opinion would be welcomed. I am in an
    unknown world here.

    But looking at SATA cables, maybe the PC motherboard, which is described
    as having 6Gb/s SATA sockets, may not be capable of supplying actual
    power? I am confused. Again.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 12:36:34
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I installed the first card that plugs into the motherboard, and ran the
    USB cable out through the next backplate slot, as that is where the
    video card will sit. For now, the PCI board sits on top of the PC, the
    bottom of it is well protected from touching anything. Later, it will
    hang off the rear of the video card, assuming I get that far!
    Due to operator error, I didn't see what happened, if anything, on the
    screen after powering up the PC, but the new PCI slot board has the
    little blue light glowing, which implies that it is happy.
    But the SATA cable supplied as a spare part with the PC has a different connector for the PCI board end, it needs a 15-pin connector instead of
    a 7-pin. The supplied cable has a 7-pin plug at each end.
    I am confused about the gender of the socket on the PCI board, is it
    male or a female, the difference seems to be very small to the untrained
    eye?

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CXSYTRH3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

    shows the board. I will assume that the SATA connector is female,
    needing a male plug, but another opinion would be welcomed. I am in an unknown world here.

    But looking at SATA cables, maybe the PC motherboard, which is described
    as having 6Gb/s SATA sockets, may not be capable of supplying actual
    power? I am confused. Again.

    The SATA connector is for power, because the USB 3 cable can only carry a
    small amount of current from the motherboard. Plug in a SATA power
    connector from your PSU and you can power a beefy PCI card like a GPU from
    the PSU directly.

    It doesn't want anything to do with SATA data from the mobo.

    It may or may not work without the SATA power cable being connected, but
    better to supply power via the SATA connector and avoid brownouts.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 12:41:44
    On 02 Oct 2024 12:36:34 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I installed the first card that plugs into the motherboard, and ran
    the USB cable out through the next backplate slot, as that is where
    the video card will sit. For now, the PCI board sits on top of the
    PC, the bottom of it is well protected from touching anything.
    Later, it will hang off the rear of the video card, assuming I get
    that far! Due to operator error, I didn't see what happened, if
    anything, on the screen after powering up the PC, but the new PCI
    slot board has the little blue light glowing, which implies that it
    is happy. But the SATA cable supplied as a spare part with the PC
    has a different connector for the PCI board end, it needs a 15-pin connector instead of a 7-pin. The supplied cable has a 7-pin plug
    at each end. I am confused about the gender of the socket on the
    PCI board, is it male or a female, the difference seems to be very
    small to the untrained eye?

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CXSYTRH3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

    shows the board. I will assume that the SATA connector is female,
    needing a male plug, but another opinion would be welcomed. I am in
    an unknown world here.

    But looking at SATA cables, maybe the PC motherboard, which is
    described as having 6Gb/s SATA sockets, may not be capable of
    supplying actual power? I am confused. Again.

    The SATA connector is for power, because the USB 3 cable can only
    carry a small amount of current from the motherboard. Plug in a SATA
    power connector from your PSU and you can power a beefy PCI card like
    a GPU from the PSU directly.

    It doesn't want anything to do with SATA data from the mobo.

    It may or may not work without the SATA power cable being connected,
    but better to supply power via the SATA connector and avoid brownouts.

    Theo

    Ah, Ok. I'll look at the PSU and see what I can find. Forget the
    sockets on the motherboard, than.
    Thanks!

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 12:59:00
    Davey wrote:

    the new PCI slot board has the
    little blue light glowing, which implies that it is happy.
    But the SATA cable supplied as a spare part with the PC has a different connector for the PCI board end, it needs a 15-pin connector instead of
    a 7-pin. The supplied cable has a 7-pin plug at each end.
    I am confused about the gender of the socket on the PCI board, is it
    male or a female, the difference seems to be very small to the untrained
    eye?

    The SATA 15pin connector is to supply power to the PCI slots, if your
    PSU doesn't have a spare sata power plug on one of the drive cables, you
    could get a molex->sata cable e.g.

    <https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B00009YFTI>

    that one just has red 5V and yellow 12V, I highly doubt yu need the
    version with salmon 3.3V as well.

    If you have no spare molex plug, you can get a splitter.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 13:31:54
    On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 12:59:00 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    the new PCI slot board has the
    little blue light glowing, which implies that it is happy.
    But the SATA cable supplied as a spare part with the PC has a
    different connector for the PCI board end, it needs a 15-pin
    connector instead of a 7-pin. The supplied cable has a 7-pin plug
    at each end. I am confused about the gender of the socket on the
    PCI board, is it male or a female, the difference seems to be very
    small to the untrained eye?

    The SATA 15pin connector is to supply power to the PCI slots, if your
    PSU doesn't have a spare sata power plug on one of the drive cables,
    you could get a molex->sata cable e.g.

    <https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B00009YFTI>

    that one just has red 5V and yellow 12V, I highly doubt yu need the
    version with salmon 3.3V as well.

    If you have no spare molex plug, you can get a splitter.

    Thanks. I'll be looking at the PSU later this afternoon.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 14:14:26
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 12:59:00 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    the new PCI slot board has the
    little blue light glowing, which implies that it is happy.
    But the SATA cable supplied as a spare part with the PC has a
    different connector for the PCI board end, it needs a 15-pin
    connector instead of a 7-pin. The supplied cable has a 7-pin plug
    at each end. I am confused about the gender of the socket on the
    PCI board, is it male or a female, the difference seems to be very
    small to the untrained eye?

    The SATA 15pin connector is to supply power to the PCI slots, if your
    PSU doesn't have a spare sata power plug on one of the drive cables,
    you could get a molex->sata cable e.g.

    <https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B00009YFTI>

    that one just has red 5V and yellow 12V, I highly doubt yu need the version with salmon 3.3V as well.

    PCI is +/-12V, +5V and +3.3V. Some cards are 5V and some are 3.3V.
    Depending on how lazy the adapter manufacturer has been, I wouldn't be surprised if the card needs all these rails to come from the PSU, rather
    than taking 5V and regulating it down.

    There's no voltage conversion circuit on the front of the board - no pics of the back, but I suspect they cheapskate out of it. So I wouldn't assume a Molex adapter will work.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 16:04:34
    On 02 Oct 2024 14:14:26 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 12:59:00 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    the new PCI slot board has the
    little blue light glowing, which implies that it is happy.
    But the SATA cable supplied as a spare part with the PC has a
    different connector for the PCI board end, it needs a 15-pin
    connector instead of a 7-pin. The supplied cable has a 7-pin
    plug at each end. I am confused about the gender of the socket
    on the PCI board, is it male or a female, the difference seems
    to be very small to the untrained eye?

    The SATA 15pin connector is to supply power to the PCI slots, if
    your PSU doesn't have a spare sata power plug on one of the drive
    cables, you could get a molex->sata cable e.g.

    <https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B00009YFTI>

    that one just has red 5V and yellow 12V, I highly doubt yu need
    the version with salmon 3.3V as well.

    PCI is +/-12V, +5V and +3.3V. Some cards are 5V and some are 3.3V. Depending on how lazy the adapter manufacturer has been, I wouldn't be surprised if the card needs all these rails to come from the PSU,
    rather than taking 5V and regulating it down.

    There's no voltage conversion circuit on the front of the board - no
    pics of the back, but I suspect they cheapskate out of it. So I
    wouldn't assume a Molex adapter will work.

    Theo

    As it happens, I found a pair of cables neatly tied up in the case that
    would hold any front-mounted drives. They both have exactly the
    connector I need, and a Molex connector. Problem solved.
    So I moved on to the next stage. The card that I thought was an unused
    Wifi card is in fact a 'phone modem card 9(!), probably worth some
    money as a museum piece. I therefore bit the bullet, and removed the
    actual video card from the old PC, and moved it to the new one. I had
    already seen that there was going to be a big interference trying to
    fit both the adapter socket card and the video card into the spare
    slots, as the card is too big once it's in the socket. Hmm. But for
    testing, I ran both the USB cable and the SATA cable out through the
    next slot, and put the card on the table, for testing.
    The PC had been on its side for a while. When I powered it up for the
    first time with the video card installed and powered, there was a
    warning about Fan speed. I looked inside, and the fan was not
    running, but a quick tap made it start. From then on, it ran at varying
    speeds, so something is affected. Maybe the PSU is a: Underpowered to
    run the video card (unlikely), b: confused, c: Maybe there is a problem
    with the volts needed by the PCI card; d: all of the above. This will
    require monitoring.

    'lspci' saw the card, which is good.

    Now I need to make a box for the socket card. At the moment, the video
    card is back in its old place, still doing its job.

    So we have progress, with caveats.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 16:48:06
    Davey wrote:

    When I powered it up for the
    first time with the video card installed and powered, there was a
    warning about Fan speed. I looked inside, and the fan was not
    running, but a quick tap made it start. From then on, it ran at varying speeds, so something is affected. Maybe the PSU is a: Underpowered

    I suspect the fan's bearing has dried up and powering it off/on, or
    moving the case about has given it a chance to start acting up, dab a
    drop of light oil on the bearing, perhaps?

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 16:55:34
    On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 16:48:06 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    When I powered it up for the
    first time with the video card installed and powered, there was a
    warning about Fan speed. I looked inside, and the fan was not
    running, but a quick tap made it start. From then on, it ran at
    varying speeds, so something is affected. Maybe the PSU is a:
    Underpowered

    I suspect the fan's bearing has dried up and powering it off/on, or
    moving the case about has given it a chance to start acting up, dab a
    drop of light oil on the bearing, perhaps?

    Possibly. But it is a brand new PC, so it shouldn't have dried out yet.
    I'll keep an eye on it, oil ready if needed.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 03, 2024 10:22:23
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 16:48:06 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    When I powered it up for the
    first time with the video card installed and powered, there was a
    warning about Fan speed. I looked inside, and the fan was not
    running, but a quick tap made it start. From then on, it ran at
    varying speeds, so something is affected. Maybe the PSU is a: Underpowered

    I suspect the fan's bearing has dried up and powering it off/on, or
    moving the case about has given it a chance to start acting up, dab a
    drop of light oil on the bearing, perhaps?

    Possibly. But it is a brand new PC, so it shouldn't have dried out yet.
    I'll keep an eye on it, oil ready if needed.

    I'm confused - I thought you were talking about the fan on the video capture card that you transferred from the old PC? Or do you mean a fan on the CPU
    / GPU / motherboard / in the case?

    Modern PCs have variable speed fans - like laptops, they only spin the fans
    as fast as they need, based on temperature sensors. So changing speed is a feature not a bug. Although I wouldn't have expected speed to change based
    on a tap, perhaps it was coincidence that it happened to decide to spin up
    the fan at that time?

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 03, 2024 12:53:45
    On 03 Oct 2024 10:22:23 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 16:48:06 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    When I powered it up for the
    first time with the video card installed and powered, there was
    a warning about Fan speed. I looked inside, and the fan was not running, but a quick tap made it start. From then on, it ran at
    varying speeds, so something is affected. Maybe the PSU is a: Underpowered

    I suspect the fan's bearing has dried up and powering it off/on,
    or moving the case about has given it a chance to start acting
    up, dab a drop of light oil on the bearing, perhaps?

    Possibly. But it is a brand new PC, so it shouldn't have dried out
    yet. I'll keep an eye on it, oil ready if needed.

    I'm confused - I thought you were talking about the fan on the video
    capture card that you transferred from the old PC? Or do you mean a
    fan on the CPU / GPU / motherboard / in the case?

    Modern PCs have variable speed fans - like laptops, they only spin
    the fans as fast as they need, based on temperature sensors. So
    changing speed is a feature not a bug. Although I wouldn't have
    expected speed to change based on a tap, perhaps it was coincidence
    that it happened to decide to spin up the fan at that time?

    Theo

    Yes, it was the fan on the motherboard. When I powered it up, I was
    given a warning that there was a problem, and told to open the BIOS,
    which displays fan speed. Once I had tapped the fan and started it
    spinning, the speed display matched the sound of the fan, as it went
    into speed ranges that I had never heard before. Maybe it was just
    getting the temperature sorted out.
    The next time I boot up, without the video card installed, I will go
    into the BIOS and watch what happens.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 11:17:08
    On 03 Oct 2024 10:22:23 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 16:48:06 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
    =20
    Davey wrote:
    =20
    When I powered it up for the
    first time with the video card installed and powered, there was
    a warning about Fan speed. I looked inside, and the fan was not running, but a quick tap made it start. From then on, it ran at
    varying speeds, so something is affected. Maybe the PSU is a: Underpowered =20
    =20
    I suspect the fan's bearing has dried up and powering it off/on,
    or moving the case about has given it a chance to start acting
    up, dab a drop of light oil on the bearing, perhaps? =20
    =20
    Possibly. But it is a brand new PC, so it shouldn't have dried out
    yet. I'll keep an eye on it, oil ready if needed. =20
    =20
    I'm confused - I thought you were talking about the fan on the video
    capture card that you transferred from the old PC? Or do you mean a
    fan on the CPU / GPU / motherboard / in the case?
    =20
    Modern PCs have variable speed fans - like laptops, they only spin
    the fans as fast as they need, based on temperature sensors. So
    changing speed is a feature not a bug. Although I wouldn't have
    expected speed to change based on a tap, perhaps it was coincidence
    that it happened to decide to spin up the fan at that time?
    =20
    Theo

    Ok. I did some testing yesterday, trying to pin down what is happening.
    When I boot up the PC with only the adapter card connected, without the
    SATA cable, it always works with no problem.
    But once I start to add more, such as the SATA cable, the fan control
    has difficulties. Often, if the message comes up that there is a
    problem, and to go into the BIOS, just doing that and waiting for a few
    minutes will let it sort itself out. Nothing needs to actually be done.
    I tried it with the video card installed, and it really did not like it.
    It still sorted itself out, but I don't know if it would have done if I
    had not gone into the BIOS. Maybe another test. Not the way I breally
    want a system boot to progress.
    Knowing this, it is clear that there is something not happy. And that
    usually means trouble down the road. So I am looking on e-bay for a
    used PCIe x1 video card. I found one last night, but I have not done
    anything about ordering it, and I know it might be gone by the time I
    get around to it, if I decide to go that route. There will be another
    one sometime. But =C2=A380 is a lot better than =C2=A3270 for a new one. Meanwhile, I have got the Zoneminder working, it displays the image
    from my garage camera, which uses Wifi to transmit its signal back to
    the router. The actual cameras need me to move their power supply etc
    etc, so they will wait, the two PCs are in different rooms. But the
    programme is running successfully.
    Progress, one step at a time.

    --=20
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 13:53:25
    On Thu, 3 Oct 2024 12:53:45 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On 03 Oct 2024 10:22:23 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 16:48:06 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    When I powered it up for the
    first time with the video card installed and powered, there
    was a warning about Fan speed. I looked inside, and the fan
    was not running, but a quick tap made it start. From then on,
    it ran at varying speeds, so something is affected. Maybe the
    PSU is a: Underpowered

    I suspect the fan's bearing has dried up and powering it off/on,
    or moving the case about has given it a chance to start acting
    up, dab a drop of light oil on the bearing, perhaps?

    Possibly. But it is a brand new PC, so it shouldn't have dried out
    yet. I'll keep an eye on it, oil ready if needed.

    I'm confused - I thought you were talking about the fan on the video capture card that you transferred from the old PC? Or do you mean a
    fan on the CPU / GPU / motherboard / in the case?

    Modern PCs have variable speed fans - like laptops, they only spin
    the fans as fast as they need, based on temperature sensors. So
    changing speed is a feature not a bug. Although I wouldn't have
    expected speed to change based on a tap, perhaps it was coincidence
    that it happened to decide to spin up the fan at that time?

    Theo

    Yes, it was the fan on the motherboard. When I powered it up, I was
    given a warning that there was a problem, and told to open the BIOS,
    which displays fan speed. Once I had tapped the fan and started it
    spinning, the speed display matched the sound of the fan, as it went
    into speed ranges that I had never heard before. Maybe it was just
    getting the temperature sorted out.
    The next time I boot up, without the video card installed, I will go
    into the BIOS and watch what happens.


    The card I looked at is:

    https://tinyurl.com/26k8uy3b

    It is just about mentioned on the company website, buried
    deep in the Unsupported file. There is no mention of available
    documentation. The vendor says it was used in a Windows system, so has
    no idea about Linux use. My question is, is it
    possible/probable/certain that my Ubuntu would pick it up and go with
    it without any any further configuration?

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 14:19:29
    Davey wrote:

    https://tinyurl.com/26k8uy3b

    It is just about mentioned on the company website, buried
    deep in the Unsupported file. There is no mention of available
    documentation. The vendor says it was used in a Windows system, so has
    no idea about Linux use. My question is, is it
    possible/probable/certain that my Ubuntu would pick it up and go with
    it without any any further configuration?
    The capture chip looks to be supported by LinuxTV

    <https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Conexant_Fusion_878A>

    the other major chip on the card is a PCI/PCIe bridge

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Daniel James@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 15:08:01
    On 04/10/2024 11:17, Davey wrote:
    Ok. I did some testing yesterday, trying to pin down what is happening.
    When I boot up the PC with only the adapter card connected, without the
    SATA cable, it always works with no problem.
    But once I start to add more, such as the SATA cable, the fan control
    has difficulties. Often, if the message comes up that there is a
    problem, and to go into the BIOS, just doing that and waiting for a few minutes will let it sort itself out. Nothing needs to actually be done.
    I tried it with the video card installed, and it really did not like it.
    It still sorted itself out, ...

    My first thought here is that the card may draw more power than the PSU
    can comfortably deliver, at least at start-up.

    You say it seems to sort itself out, but have you gone on to try to get
    the card to do anything useful? If it's a PSU inadequacy I'd expect the
    system to fail in some way -- possibly crashing out and rebooting -- as
    soon as you make the card do anything.

    If I recall how this thread started you're trying to use an old video
    capture card in a new PC ... I don't really know what the power
    requirements of a video capture card might be but it's possible the
    supplier sold you a system with a PSU that was perfectly adequate for
    the hardware they were supplying but didn't allow any spare for
    additional hardware. Did you tell them you were planning to add capture
    card?

    --
    Cheers,
    Daniel.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Daniel James (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 15:18:48
    Daniel James wrote:

    My first thought here is that the card may draw more power than the PSU
    can comfortably deliver, at least at start-up.

    I think a PCIe card can draw max 75W from a dlot (presumably the second
    slot is unoccupied?)

    Not sure how much power a SATA cable can supply?

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From The Nomad@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 15:41:43
    On Fri, 4 Oct 2024 14:19:29 +0100, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    https://tinyurl.com/26k8uy3b

    It is just about mentioned on the company website, buried deep in the
    Unsupported file. There is no mention of available documentation. The
    vendor says it was used in a Windows system, so has no idea about Linux
    use. My question is, is it possible/probable/certain that my Ubuntu
    would pick it up and go with it without any any further configuration?
    The capture chip looks to be supported by LinuxTV

    <https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Conexant_Fusion_878A>

    the other major chip on the card is a PCI/PCIe bridge

    Indeed I ran a couple for ages (PCI not PCIe) work well

    Or <https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364218770565>

    HTH

    Avpx


    --
    A marriage is always made up of two people who are prepared to swear
    that only the other one snores.
    (The Fifth Elephant)
    Fri 11357 Sep 15:40:01 BST 1993
    15:40:01 up 6 days, 20:23, 1 user, load average: 0.38, 0.79, 0.72

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 16:04:18
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    The card I looked at is:

    https://tinyurl.com/26k8uy3b

    That's ebay item 185944607636, ie:

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185944607636

    instead of your giant tracking link :)

    It is just about mentioned on the company website, buried
    deep in the Unsupported file. There is no mention of available
    documentation. The vendor says it was used in a Windows system, so has
    no idea about Linux use. My question is, is it
    possible/probable/certain that my Ubuntu would pick it up and go with
    it without any any further configuration?

    According to the writing on the chips, it has: https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Conexant_Fusion_878A
    behind a PCIe to PCI bridge:
    https://www.ti.com/product/XIO2001

    The above page says it's supported by the Linux bttv driver: https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Bttv

    So looks promising.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 16:09:35
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
    Daniel James wrote:

    My first thought here is that the card may draw more power than the PSU can comfortably deliver, at least at start-up.

    I think a PCIe card can draw max 75W from a dlot (presumably the second
    slot is unoccupied?)

    Not sure how much power a SATA cable can supply?

    It's 1.5A per pin, there are three pins per voltage rail. So:

    12*1.5*3 + 5*1.5*3 + 3.3*1.5*3 = 91.35W

    But that assumes you're pulling the max from each rail, which you almost certainly aren't.

    However I think that's a red herring here - video capture cards aren't especially power hungry. If they were there would be a big heatsink, which
    we don't see in the OP's recent PCIe example.

    It seems like something is wrong, but unclear what. Fans are usually
    powered from 12V, so perhaps the adapter did something bad with the 12V
    rail?

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 16:27:15
    Theo wrote:

    It seems like something is wrong, but unclear what. Fans are usually
    powered from 12V, so perhaps the adapter did something bad with the 12V
    rail?

    Maybe it wasn't keen on being connected just by the "not-really-USB3"
    cable providing the PCI lanes without the SATA cable providing any power?

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 17:11:49
    On 04 Oct 2024 16:04:18 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    The card I looked at is:

    https://tinyurl.com/26k8uy3b

    That's ebay item 185944607636, ie:

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185944607636

    instead of your giant tracking link :)

    It is just about mentioned on the company website, buried
    deep in the Unsupported file. There is no mention of available documentation. The vendor says it was used in a Windows system, so
    has no idea about Linux use. My question is, is it possible/probable/certain that my Ubuntu would pick it up and go
    with it without any any further configuration?

    According to the writing on the chips, it has: https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Conexant_Fusion_878A
    behind a PCIe to PCI bridge:
    https://www.ti.com/product/XIO2001

    The above page says it's supported by the Linux bttv driver: https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Bttv

    So looks promising.

    Theo

    The giant tracking link (hence the tinyurl link) was to the used version
    I am looking at, rather than the new one.
    So it does sound as thought the card would hopefully work. Thanks.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 04, 2024 17:13:51
    On Fri, 4 Oct 2024 14:41:43 -0000 (UTC)
    The Nomad <nomad@the.desert.invalid> wrote:

    On Fri, 4 Oct 2024 14:19:29 +0100, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk>
    wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    https://tinyurl.com/26k8uy3b

    It is just about mentioned on the company website, buried deep in
    the Unsupported file. There is no mention of available
    documentation. The vendor says it was used in a Windows system, so
    has no idea about Linux use. My question is, is it
    possible/probable/certain that my Ubuntu would pick it up and go
    with it without any any further configuration?
    The capture chip looks to be supported by LinuxTV

    <https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Conexant_Fusion_878A>

    the other major chip on the card is a PCI/PCIe bridge

    Indeed I ran a couple for ages (PCI not PCIe) work well

    Or <https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364218770565>

    HTH

    Avpx



    It does help.

    It think it has confirmed to me that a PCIE card is the way to go. With
    what I am (was) trying to do with the old one seems to be an unhappy
    condition for the PC.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Saturday, October 05, 2024 11:26:59
    On Fri, 4 Oct 2024 14:41:43 -0000 (UTC)
    The Nomad <nomad@the.desert.invalid> wrote:

    On Fri, 4 Oct 2024 14:19:29 +0100, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk>
    wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    https://tinyurl.com/26k8uy3b

    It is just about mentioned on the company website, buried deep in
    the Unsupported file. There is no mention of available
    documentation. The vendor says it was used in a Windows system, so
    has no idea about Linux use. My question is, is it
    possible/probable/certain that my Ubuntu would pick it up and go
    with it without any any further configuration?
    The capture chip looks to be supported by LinuxTV

    <https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Conexant_Fusion_878A>

    the other major chip on the card is a PCI/PCIe bridge

    Indeed I ran a couple for ages (PCI not PCIe) work well

    Or <https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364218770565>

    HTH

    Avpx



    I ordered the used PCIe card yesterday. Let's hope it works!

    But: When I powered up the PC this morning, I had removed the PCIE-PCI
    card completely, fully expecting a trouble-free boot. It was not to be, however. I got the familiar 'trouble with CPU fan control, enter BIOS'
    message, which showed the familiar slow CPU fan speed and hinted at a
    problem with temperature monitoring. I exited the BIOS, shut the PC off,
    and rebooted, on which the fan did not start at all. I knew already
    that, when unpowered, it will not rotate, being presumably under the
    total control of some stepper-type operator. This time, it felt
    similar, but I was able to physically get it started, and from then on,
    it ran (is still running) fine.
    Does this mean that I have somehow borked something in the BIOS? It is possible. If it is, I will contact the manufacturer, own up to what I
    have done, and see what they say. They have Remote Access to
    investigate and fix problems. It's not much use if I have to kick-start
    the fan every time it's booted up.

    This one is not over yet.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Saturday, October 05, 2024 11:46:02
    Davey wrote:

    when unpowered, it will not rotate, being presumably under the
    total control of some stepper-type operator.

    I've never encountered computer fans with stepper motors.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Saturday, October 05, 2024 12:58:36
    On Sat, 5 Oct 2024 11:46:02 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    when unpowered, it will not rotate, being presumably under the
    total control of some stepper-type operator.

    I've never encountered computer fans with stepper motors.

    Hmmm. Puzzled, then. It makes a very slight chugging sound, similar to,
    but not exactly like*, a bad bearing. It is almost inaudible with the
    side installed on the PC, though.

    * Thoughts of Peter Jones in "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy":
    'The vending machine produced something almost completely, but not
    totally, unlike tea'.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Saturday, October 05, 2024 17:35:39
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Sat, 5 Oct 2024 11:46:02 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    when unpowered, it will not rotate, being presumably under the
    total control of some stepper-type operator.

    I've never encountered computer fans with stepper motors.

    Hmmm. Puzzled, then. It makes a very slight chugging sound, similar to,
    but not exactly like*, a bad bearing. It is almost inaudible with the
    side installed on the PC, though.

    I've never come across a PC fan that won't spin by hand when powered off.
    It sounds like it's either powered but not enough to overcome friction to
    start (eg low voltage or speed control set too low), or bearings badly
    binding.

    As you say it's not spinning when unpowered (ie PC turned off), that rules
    out the first one. I'm thinking it would be worth changing the fan.

    It sounds like this is probably a red herring in relation to your capture
    card issues.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Saturday, October 05, 2024 18:22:55
    On 05 Oct 2024 17:35:39 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Sat, 5 Oct 2024 11:46:02 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    when unpowered, it will not rotate, being presumably under the
    total control of some stepper-type operator.

    I've never encountered computer fans with stepper motors.

    Hmmm. Puzzled, then. It makes a very slight chugging sound, similar
    to, but not exactly like*, a bad bearing. It is almost inaudible
    with the side installed on the PC, though.

    I've never come across a PC fan that won't spin by hand when powered
    off. It sounds like it's either powered but not enough to overcome
    friction to start (eg low voltage or speed control set too low), or
    bearings badly binding.

    As you say it's not spinning when unpowered (ie PC turned off), that
    rules out the first one. I'm thinking it would be worth changing the
    fan.

    It sounds like this is probably a red herring in relation to your
    capture card issues.

    Theo

    Ok, that makes sense. Maybe I'll report the fan problems to the
    manufacturer as is, and see what they come up with. I must admit that I
    can't see how even a momentary pull-down of power when the adaptor card
    was first fully connected would still have repercussions now. But
    what do I know? That's why I'm asking here! The PC was supposed to have
    gone through a several days-long test after being built. The fan
    concerned is on the ASUS motherboard.

    When I next power it up, I'll take a photo of what the screen
    shows, when it first tells me to open the BIOS, and then what the BIOS
    screen shows. Maybe I can add a sound file of the noise the fan makes,
    the manufacturer might be able to diagnose something from that
    information.

    If the PCIE card arrives tomorrow, I'll still try that.

    More later....
    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, October 06, 2024 16:15:01
    On 05 Oct 2024 17:35:39 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Sat, 5 Oct 2024 11:46:02 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    when unpowered, it will not rotate, being presumably under the
    total control of some stepper-type operator.

    I've never encountered computer fans with stepper motors.

    Hmmm. Puzzled, then. It makes a very slight chugging sound, similar
    to, but not exactly like*, a bad bearing. It is almost inaudible
    with the side installed on the PC, though.

    I've never come across a PC fan that won't spin by hand when powered
    off. It sounds like it's either powered but not enough to overcome
    friction to start (eg low voltage or speed control set too low), or
    bearings badly binding.

    As you say it's not spinning when unpowered (ie PC turned off), that
    rules out the first one. I'm thinking it would be worth changing the
    fan.

    It sounds like this is probably a red herring in relation to your
    capture card issues.

    Theo

    On bootup this morning, I got the familiar warning about bad fan
    control, and went into the BIOS. The CPU fan, the problem one, was not
    running, confirmed by the lack of noise. I opened the PC up, and
    flicked the fan, which then slowly sped up. I also made some changes to
    the Fan Speed profile, to try to encourage it to start up on its
    own. I shut it down, and when it was at rest, I checked the fan again,
    and now it spins freely. I took several photos along the way, for later analysis if required.
    When I powered back up, all worked well. I shut it down, and will
    reboot it shortly to see how it does.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Monday, October 07, 2024 10:03:55
    On 05 Oct 2024 17:35:39 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Sat, 5 Oct 2024 11:46:02 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    when unpowered, it will not rotate, being presumably under the
    total control of some stepper-type operator.

    I've never encountered computer fans with stepper motors.

    Hmmm. Puzzled, then. It makes a very slight chugging sound, similar
    to, but not exactly like*, a bad bearing. It is almost inaudible
    with the side installed on the PC, though.

    I've never come across a PC fan that won't spin by hand when powered
    off. It sounds like it's either powered but not enough to overcome
    friction to start (eg low voltage or speed control set too low), or
    bearings badly binding.

    As you say it's not spinning when unpowered (ie PC turned off), that
    rules out the first one. I'm thinking it would be worth changing the
    fan.

    It sounds like this is probably a red herring in relation to your
    capture card issues.

    Theo

    There seems to be progress, if anybody is still interested in this
    saga.
    When I fired it up yesterday afternoon, it started up perfectly. A
    noiseless fan, no warnings about Low Fan Speed or instructions to open
    the BIOS, it just worked.
    After I shut it down, I tried the fan, and it spun freely. I wonder if,
    when I tried it before and it would not spin, did I have a hold of the
    shroud around the impeller instead of the impeller itself? I will never
    know. But it would explain the lack of movement.
    I shut it down for the night, and again this morning, it started fine. I
    opened the BIOS anyway, to check how I had left the fan speed control.
    It is set at a manually set low speed of 30%, instead of the delivered
    auto speed of 20%. Maybe I'll try 20% next time.

    The new video card should arrive soon......

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 09, 2024 12:31:05
    On 13 Sep 2024 20:19:28 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I'm sort of lost here, any help welcome.

    Have a look at USB adapters. SD video is not that high bit rate,
    especially if the adapter is compressing. No idea of the marketplace, although I have a $7 composite video USB capture that's probably
    awful. BNC is just composite video I think - do they power from there
    or external power?

    If you have a lot of USB devices consider extra USB PCIe cards, but 4
    behind a USB 3 hub is probably ok.

    Theo

    Well, we have progressed, sort of.
    I have a used Euresys Protocol 2 PCIE video input card.
    I removed the troublesome adapter card, and gradually, the PC returned
    to its correct start-up and running behaviour. No warnings, fan runs
    almost inaudibly, etc. There could have never been a problem.
    Now I have the problem of getting the new card to work. Euresys provide
    a mass of drivers and things, so I tried everything I could without any
    of them. Whatever configuration I tried in Zoneminder, it was never
    happy, refusing to recognise any of the 4 inputs.
    I then decided to provide valid camera signal, in case that was the
    problem. I took the currently operating PSU from the running system, and
    hooked that up to a camera that is new, apart from being used for
    testing.
    Nada.
    Ok, let's try the Euresys drivers. The one for the card is Multicam,
    which I downloaded, followed the instructions for installation, and it
    kept on failing for lack of something or other. Every attempt prompted
    an Uninstall to clean the system. It wanted Memento, and it actually
    said 'install Memento', but with no clue as to where to find it. I
    eventually did, buried deep in the website, and downloaded the
    documentation and installer for that. I tried to install it,
    but it fails:
    "Building memento
    make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.8.0-45-generic'
    warning: the compiler differs from the one used to build the kernel
    The kernel was built by: x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-12 (Ubuntu 12.3.0-1ubuntu1~22.04) 12.3.0 You are using:
    CC
    [M] /opt/euresys/memento-linux-x86_64-24.07.0.8/drivers/linux/os_crash.o /bin/sh:
    1: gcc-12: not found make[3]: ***
    [scripts/Makefile.build:243: /opt/euresys/memento-linux-x86_64-24.07.0.8/drivers/linux/os_crash.o]
    Error 127 make[3]: *** Waiting for unfinished jobs.... make[2]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.8.0-45-generic/Makefile:1925: /opt/euresys/memento-linux-x86_64-24.07.0.8/drivers/linux]
    Error 2 make[1]: *** [Makefile:240: __sub-make] Error 2 make[1]:
    Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.8.0-45-generic' make: *** [Makefile:74: default] Error 2 make: Leaving directory '/opt/euresys/memento-linux-x86_64-24.07.0.8/drivers/linux' Please run uninstall.sh to clean the system.

    I don't mind admitting that I am WAY out of my comfort zone here. At
    least the old card 'Just Worked' in the Dell PC.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:41:13
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    Ok, let's try the Euresys drivers. The one for the card is Multicam,
    which I downloaded, followed the instructions for installation, and it
    kept on failing for lack of something or other. Every attempt prompted
    an Uninstall to clean the system. It wanted Memento, and it actually
    said 'install Memento', but with no clue as to where to find it. I
    eventually did, buried deep in the website, and downloaded the
    documentation and installer for that. I tried to install it,
    but it fails:

    The first rule is never ever use vendor drivers, they are the route to much pain and suffering.

    Supposedly the chip supports the 'bttv' driver: https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Bttv

    which in theory should work out of the box.

    See:
    https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/v4.14/media/v4l-drivers/index.html
    specifically the bttv section.

    You might need to install a package containing the 'bttv.ko' kernel module - you may need a linux-modules-extra-... package. eg to install for your
    current kernel version:

    $ sudo apt install linux-modules-extra-$(uname -r)

    (you may need to repeat the command when your kernel version gets updated,
    not sure if there's a way to keep them in sync)

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 10, 2024 13:33:58
    On 10 Oct 2024 10:41:13 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    Ok, let's try the Euresys drivers. The one for the card is Multicam,
    which I downloaded, followed the instructions for installation, and
    it kept on failing for lack of something or other. Every attempt
    prompted an Uninstall to clean the system. It wanted Memento, and
    it actually said 'install Memento', but with no clue as to where to
    find it. I eventually did, buried deep in the website, and
    downloaded the documentation and installer for that. I tried to
    install it, but it fails:

    The first rule is never ever use vendor drivers, they are the route
    to much pain and suffering.

    Supposedly the chip supports the 'bttv' driver: https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Bttv

    which in theory should work out of the box.

    See:
    https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/v4.14/media/v4l-drivers/index.html specifically the bttv section.

    You might need to install a package containing the 'bttv.ko' kernel
    module - you may need a linux-modules-extra-... package. eg to
    install for your current kernel version:

    $ sudo apt install linux-modules-extra-$(uname -r)

    (you may need to repeat the command when your kernel version gets
    updated, not sure if there's a way to keep them in sync)

    Theo

    Many thanks. I tried the instructions that came with the original bttv
    driver card, but got nowhere. But that was for an early version of
    Ubuntu, so I was not surprised.
    I will try your suggestions, thanks.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 10, 2024 14:21:22
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    Many thanks. I tried the instructions that came with the original bttv
    driver card, but got nowhere. But that was for an early version of
    Ubuntu, so I was not surprised.
    I will try your suggestions, thanks.

    Anyway, it appears Memento is completely the wrong thing for your
    application:

    "Memento is an advanced event message logging system that greatly facilitates the debugging of machine vision applications using Euresys frame grabbers.

    Memento is a set of software tools allowing:
    * Kernel drivers and user space applications – Memento Contributors – to inject trace messages – Memento Messages – into a common memory area – the Memento Ring Buffer.
    * Memento Contributors to time-stamp Memento messages using a common time scale – Memento Time Scale.
    * To view selected sets of recent- or past- Memento Messages using the Memento Viewer function
    * To dump Memento data from the Memento Ring Buffer to disk using the Memento Dump function

    The Memento software package has two main components:
    * A kernel-mode driver: Memento Driver.
    * A user-mode application: Memento Application." https://documentation.euresys.com/Products/Memento/Memento_9_4/Content/01%20Getting%20Started/Abstract.htm


    I don't think you're debugging a machine vision application, so what you
    were trying to install seems like a complete red herring.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 10, 2024 14:53:29
    On 10 Oct 2024 14:21:22 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    Many thanks. I tried the instructions that came with the original
    bttv driver card, but got nowhere. But that was for an early
    version of Ubuntu, so I was not surprised.
    I will try your suggestions, thanks. =20
    =20
    Anyway, it appears Memento is completely the wrong thing for your application:
    =20
    "Memento is an advanced event message logging system that greatly
    facilitates the debugging of machine vision applications using
    Euresys frame grabbers.
    =20
    Memento is a set of software tools allowing:
    * Kernel drivers and user space applications =E2=80=93
    Memento Contributors =E2=80=93 to inject trace messages =E2=80=93 Memento=
    Messages =E2=80=93
    into a common memory area =E2=80=93 the Memento Ring Buffer.
    * Memento Contributors to time-stamp Memento messages
    using a common time scale =E2=80=93 Memento Time Scale.
    * To view selected sets of recent- or past- Memento
    Messages using the Memento Viewer function
    * To dump Memento data from the Memento Ring Buffer
    to disk using the Memento Dump function
    =20
    The Memento software package has two main components:
    * A kernel-mode driver: Memento Driver.
    * A user-mode application: Memento Application." https://documentation.euresys.com/Products/Memento/Memento_9_4/Content/01=
    %20Getting%20Started/Abstract.htm
    =20
    =20
    I don't think you're debugging a machine vision application, so what
    you were trying to install seems like a complete red herring.

    I certainly won't argue with that! Compared with how the original PC and
    PCI card worked, this whole thing seemed far more complex than
    necessary. Simplicity is what is required..

    --=20
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 11, 2024 18:12:07
    On 10 Oct 2024 10:41:13 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    Ok, let's try the Euresys drivers. The one for the card is Multicam,
    which I downloaded, followed the instructions for installation, and
    it kept on failing for lack of something or other. Every attempt
    prompted an Uninstall to clean the system. It wanted Memento, and
    it actually said 'install Memento', but with no clue as to where to
    find it. I eventually did, buried deep in the website, and
    downloaded the documentation and installer for that. I tried to
    install it, but it fails:

    The first rule is never ever use vendor drivers, they are the route
    to much pain and suffering.

    Supposedly the chip supports the 'bttv' driver: https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Bttv

    which in theory should work out of the box.

    See:
    https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/v4.14/media/v4l-drivers/index.html specifically the bttv section.

    You might need to install a package containing the 'bttv.ko' kernel
    module - you may need a linux-modules-extra-... package. eg to
    install for your current kernel version:

    $ sudo apt install linux-modules-extra-$(uname -r)

    (you may need to repeat the command when your kernel version gets
    updated, not sure if there's a way to keep them in sync)

    Theo

    Ok. I sent some time on this today. As far as I can see, all the
    required modules etc are loaded. I can find nothing to be missing, but I
    am not familiar with this.
    It looks as though all the components are there, the PC recognises the
    card, but I can't get Zoneminder to open a channel. I'm leaving it
    alone overnight.

    In order to test the card, I have dug out an unused camera, by Defender Security. It worked when I bought it and tested it, but I can't now get
    it to function correctly when attached to the empty input on the old
    PC. It may be that I tested it on the independent Swann CCTV system. It
    has a resolution of 976 x 496, but if I set it to that, I get a sliced
    and angled image. If I try some other setups, all the other inputs go
    crazy, so my attempt to use a known good camera on the new PC fails. I
    will have to temporarily remove one of the working cameras from its
    place, use it for testing, and then replace it.
    If I can get the PC and the card to talk turkey, that is.

    And just to confuse me, Euresys replied to my earlier message about
    Memento and Multicam, saying that Memento is not needed, and is old,
    and suggesting I try Multicam alone. In direct contravention of their
    own instruction manual!
    it looks like a busy weekend at the workbench.

    --
    Davey


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Saturday, October 12, 2024 17:13:58
    On Fri, 11 Oct 2024 18:12:07 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On 10 Oct 2024 10:41:13 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    Ok, let's try the Euresys drivers. The one for the card is
    Multicam, which I downloaded, followed the instructions for
    installation, and it kept on failing for lack of something or
    other. Every attempt prompted an Uninstall to clean the system.
    It wanted Memento, and it actually said 'install Memento', but
    with no clue as to where to find it. I eventually did, buried
    deep in the website, and downloaded the documentation and
    installer for that. I tried to install it, but it fails:

    The first rule is never ever use vendor drivers, they are the route
    to much pain and suffering.

    Supposedly the chip supports the 'bttv' driver: https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Bttv

    which in theory should work out of the box.

    See:
    https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/v4.14/media/v4l-drivers/index.html specifically the bttv section.

    You might need to install a package containing the 'bttv.ko' kernel
    module - you may need a linux-modules-extra-... package. eg to
    install for your current kernel version:

    $ sudo apt install linux-modules-extra-$(uname -r)

    (you may need to repeat the command when your kernel version gets
    updated, not sure if there's a way to keep them in sync)

    Theo

    Ok. I sent some time on this today. As far as I can see, all the
    required modules etc are loaded. I can find nothing to be missing,
    but I am not familiar with this.
    It looks as though all the components are there, the PC recognises the
    card, but I can't get Zoneminder to open a channel. I'm leaving it
    alone overnight.

    In order to test the card, I have dug out an unused camera, by
    Defender Security. It worked when I bought it and tested it, but I
    can't now get it to function correctly when attached to the empty
    input on the old PC. It may be that I tested it on the independent
    Swann CCTV system. It has a resolution of 976 x 496, but if I set it
    to that, I get a sliced and angled image. If I try some other setups,
    all the other inputs go crazy, so my attempt to use a known good
    camera on the new PC fails. I will have to temporarily remove one of
    the working cameras from its place, use it for testing, and then
    replace it. If I can get the PC and the card to talk turkey, that is.

    And just to confuse me, Euresys replied to my earlier message about
    Memento and Multicam, saying that Memento is not needed, and is old,
    and suggesting I try Multicam alone. In direct contravention of their
    own instruction manual!
    it looks like a busy weekend at the workbench.


    Update. This morning, I went over everything that I could. All seems
    correct, but still no dice. I used one of the existing, working
    cameras, and ran a new cable from it to the new PC. I used a
    single-camera PSU, which I tried successfully yesterday.
    I was confused by one thing: the card is identified as something
    different from the Picolo, so I added the instruction 'card=97' to the configuration file, to tell it what to address. No change.
    Zoneminder itself is working, it shows the signal from the Wifi camera
    in the garage, which it gets from the router. It's seeing the PCIE
    card, but downloading a signal from it, that is the part
    that's not working.

    Maybe I'll try Multicam again tomorrow!

    Any suggestions welcome.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Saturday, October 12, 2024 17:27:48
    Davey wrote:

    Any suggestions welcome.

    Does "lspci" show the brooktree card(s)?
    does "ls /dev/video*" show the devices?

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, October 13, 2024 10:13:52
    On Sat, 12 Oct 2024 17:27:48 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    Any suggestions welcome.

    Does "lspci" show the brooktree card(s)?

    Partial response:
    03:00.0 PCI bridge: Texas Instruments XIO2001 PCI Express-to-PCI Bridge
    04:00.0 Multimedia video controller: Brooktree Corporation Bt878 Video
    Capture (rev 11) 04:00.1 Multimedia controller: Brooktree Corporation
    Bt878 Audio Capture (rev 11) 05:00.0 Non-Volatile memory controller:
    Silicon Motion, Inc. SM2263EN/SM2263XT SSD Controller (rev 03)


    does "ls /dev/video*" show the devices?

    ~$ ls /dev/video*

    ls: cannot access '/dev/video*': No such file or directory

    Now, I know I saw video0 somewhere before, I specically looked for it. I
    can't remember if it was in /dev. Then, I followed the instructions in HOW-TO-etc, and it was there before I rebooted. Now it's not. I need to
    do some more route retracing.

    Thanks for the tip. Let's hope...
    --

    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, October 13, 2024 11:18:48
    Davey wrote:

    ls: cannot access '/dev/video*': No such file or directory

    Now, I know I saw video0 somewhere before, I specically looked for it. I can't remember if it was in /dev. Then, I followed the instructions in HOW-TO-etc, and it was there before I rebooted. Now it's not. I need to
    do some more route retracing.

    The entries under /dev would only appear if a driver had loaded,
    normally PnP would handle it, but maybe some furtling with modprobe or
    insmod required?

    Probably look first for clues with "dmesg | grep -i -e bt878 -e brook"


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, October 13, 2024 12:15:20
    On Sun, 13 Oct 2024 11:18:48 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    ls: cannot access '/dev/video*': No such file or directory

    Now, I know I saw video0 somewhere before, I specically looked for
    it. I can't remember if it was in /dev. Then, I followed the
    instructions in HOW-TO-etc, and it was there before I rebooted. Now
    it's not. I need to do some more route retracing.

    The entries under /dev would only appear if a driver had loaded,
    normally PnP would handle it, but maybe some furtling with modprobe
    or insmod required?

    Probably look first for clues with "dmesg | grep -i -e bt878 -e brook"


    Thanks, I'll give that a go.

    "The answer is there somewhere, the hard part is finding it".

    (Davey, approx. year 2000 +1/-10)

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Sunday, October 13, 2024 15:23:45
    On Sun, 13 Oct 2024 11:18:48 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    ls: cannot access '/dev/video*': No such file or directory

    Now, I know I saw video0 somewhere before, I specically looked for
    it. I can't remember if it was in /dev. Then, I followed the
    instructions in HOW-TO-etc, and it was there before I rebooted. Now
    it's not. I need to do some more route retracing.

    The entries under /dev would only appear if a driver had loaded,
    normally PnP would handle it, but maybe some furtling with modprobe
    or insmod required?

    Probably look first for clues with "dmesg | grep -i -e bt878 -e brook"


    "dmesg | grep -i -e bt878 -e brook"

    produced no results. Hmm.

    I ran "$ sudo dmesg | less" again, it had previously produced lines
    showing that bttv was loaded. This time it did not.

    I then ran "$ sudo modprobe -v bttv", and then the dmesg showed the bttv entries again. So modprobe is needed, at least at the moment.

    Then, again, the dmesg | grep instruction shows:

    ~$ sudo dmesg | grep -i -e bt878 -e brook
    [16854.002864] bttv: 0: Bt878 (rev 17) at 0000:04:00.0, irq: 19, latency: 32, mmio: 0x83401000

    So things are heading in the right direction, even if for now manual configuration is needed.

    Then $lsmod

    "Module Size Used by
    bttv 176128 0
    tveeprom 24576 1 bttv
    tea575x 20480 1 bttv
    videobuf2_dma_sg 20480 1 bttv
    videobuf2_memops 16384 1 videobuf2_dma_sg
    videobuf2_v4l2 36864 1 bttv
    videobuf2_common 81920 4 bttv,videobuf2_v4l2,videobuf2_dma_sg,videobuf2_memops
    rc_core 73728 1 bttv
    i2c_algo_bit 16384 1 bttv
    videodev 356352 3 tea575x,bttv,videobuf2_v4l2
    mc 81920 3 videodev,videobuf2_v4l2,videobuf2_common"

    which shows an entry for v4l2.

    Then:
    $ ls /dev/video*
    /dev/video0

    So far, so good, it looks. But Zoneminder still does not see anything.

    Still puzzled, with at least a list of what to do on boot to load
    things.

    --



    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Monday, October 14, 2024 12:11:17
    On Sun, 13 Oct 2024 15:23:45 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On Sun, 13 Oct 2024 11:18:48 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    ls: cannot access '/dev/video*': No such file or directory

    Now, I know I saw video0 somewhere before, I specically looked for
    it. I can't remember if it was in /dev. Then, I followed the
    instructions in HOW-TO-etc, and it was there before I rebooted.
    Now it's not. I need to do some more route retracing.

    The entries under /dev would only appear if a driver had loaded,
    normally PnP would handle it, but maybe some furtling with modprobe
    or insmod required?

    Probably look first for clues with "dmesg | grep -i -e bt878 -e
    brook"

    "dmesg | grep -i -e bt878 -e brook"

    produced no results. Hmm.

    I ran "$ sudo dmesg | less" again, it had previously produced lines
    showing that bttv was loaded. This time it did not.

    I then ran "$ sudo modprobe -v bttv", and then the dmesg showed the
    bttv entries again. So modprobe is needed, at least at the moment.

    Then, again, the dmesg | grep instruction shows:

    ~$ sudo dmesg | grep -i -e bt878 -e brook
    [16854.002864] bttv: 0: Bt878 (rev 17) at 0000:04:00.0, irq: 19,
    latency: 32, mmio: 0x83401000

    So things are heading in the right direction, even if for now manual configuration is needed.

    Then $lsmod

    "Module Size Used by
    bttv 176128 0
    tveeprom 24576 1 bttv
    tea575x 20480 1 bttv
    videobuf2_dma_sg 20480 1 bttv
    videobuf2_memops 16384 1 videobuf2_dma_sg
    videobuf2_v4l2 36864 1 bttv
    videobuf2_common 81920 4 bttv,videobuf2_v4l2,videobuf2_dma_sg,videobuf2_memops rc_core
    73728 1 bttv i2c_algo_bit 16384 1 bttv
    videodev 356352 3 tea575x,bttv,videobuf2_v4l2
    mc 81920 3
    videodev,videobuf2_v4l2,videobuf2_common"

    which shows an entry for v4l2.

    Then:
    $ ls /dev/video*
    /dev/video0

    So far, so good, it looks. But Zoneminder still does not see anything.

    Still puzzled, with at least a list of what to do on boot to load
    things.


    Ok, new day.
    As previously determined, I ran dmesg | grep -i -e bt878 -e brook
    to see if the card was recognised. It wasn't so I ran ./MAKEDEV and
    modprobe -v bttv.
    I re-ran dmesg | grep -i -e bt878 -e brook
    to see if the card was recognised. It was:
    "[ 224.609203] bttv: 0: Bt878 (rev 17) at 0000:04:00.0, irq: 19,
    latency: 32, mmio: 0x83401000"
    "Module Size Used by
    bttv 176128 0
    tveeprom 24576 1 bttv
    tea575x 20480 1 bttv
    videobuf2_dma_sg 20480 1 bttv
    videobuf2_memops 16384 1 videobuf2_dma_sg
    videobuf2_v4l2 36864 1 bttv
    videodev 356352 3 tea575x,bttv,videobuf2_v4l2
    videobuf2_common 81920 4 bttv,videobuf2_v4l2,videobuf2_dma_sg,videobuf2_memops mc
    81920 3 videodev,videobuf2_v4l2,videobuf2_common rc_core
    73728 1 bttv i2c_algo_bit 16384 1 bttv
    nvidia_uvm 1429504 0
    nvidia_drm 77824 6
    nvidia_modeset 1212416 9 nvidia_drm
    intel_rapl_msr 20480 0
    intel_rapl_common 40960 1 intel_rapl_msr
    nvidia 35643392 364 nvidia_uvm,nvidia_modeset intel_uncore_frequency 16384 0
    intel_uncore_frequency_common 16384 1 intel_uncore_frequency intel_tcc_cooling 12288 0
    x86_pkg_temp_thermal 20480 0
    intel_powerclamp 24576 0
    snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl 12288 0
    snd_sof_intel_hda_common 217088 1 snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl
    soundwire_intel 73728 1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common snd_sof_intel_hda_mlink 45056 2
    soundwire_intel,snd_sof_intel_hda_common soundwire_cadence 40960
    1 soundwire_intel snd_sof_intel_hda 24576 1
    snd_sof_intel_hda_common snd_sof_pci 24576 2 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl snd_sof_xtensa_dsp
    12288 1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common snd_sof 380928 3 snd_sof_pci,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_intel_hda snd_sof_utils
    16384 1 snd_sof snd_soc_hdac_hda 24576 1
    snd_sof_intel_hda_common snd_hda_ext_core 32768 4 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda,snd_sof_intel_hda_mlink,snd_sof_intel_hda
    snd_soc_acpi_intel_match 98304 2 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl snd_soc_acpi
    16384 2 snd_soc_acpi_intel_match,snd_sof_intel_hda_common soundwire_generic_allocation 12288 1 soundwire_intel soundwire_bus
    110592 3
    soundwire_intel,soundwire_generic_allocation,soundwire_cadence snd_hda_codec_realtek 200704 1 snd_soc_core 438272 4 soundwire_intel,snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda
    coretemp 24576 0 snd_hda_codec_generic 122880 1 snd_hda_codec_realtek snd_compress 28672 1 snd_soc_core snd_hda_codec_hdmi 94208 1 ac97_bus 12288 1
    snd_soc_core snd_pcm_dmaengine 16384 1 snd_soc_core kvm_intel
    487424 0 snd_hda_intel 61440 4
    snd_intel_dspcfg 36864 3
    snd_hda_intel,snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common kvm
    1409024 1 kvm_intel snd_intel_sdw_acpi 16384 2 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_intel_dspcfg snd_hda_codec 204800
    6 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_soc_hdac_hda,snd_sof_intel_hda
    binfmt_misc 24576 1 snd_hda_core 139264 9 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_ext_core,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda,snd_sof_intel_hda
    snd_hwdep 20480 1 snd_hda_codec nls_iso8859_1
    12288 1 irqbypass 12288 1 kvm snd_pcm
    192512 11 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,soundwire_intel,snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_compress,snd_soc_core,snd_sof_utils,snd_hda_core,snd_pcm_dmaengine
    crct10dif_pclmul 12288 1 polyval_clmulni 12288 0
    polyval_generic 12288 1 polyval_clmulni snd_seq_midi
    24576 0 ghash_clmulni_intel 16384 0
    snd_seq_midi_event 16384 1 snd_seq_midi
    sha256_ssse3 32768 0
    sha1_ssse3 32768 0
    snd_rawmidi 57344 1 snd_seq_midi
    aesni_intel 356352 0
    crypto_simd 16384 1 aesni_intel
    snd_seq 114688 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
    cryptd 24576 2 crypto_simd,ghash_clmulni_intel
    snd_seq_device 16384 3 snd_seq,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi
    cmdlinepart 12288 0
    rapl 20480 0
    snd_timer 49152 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
    spi_nor 163840 0
    intel_cstate 24576 0
    snd 143360 22 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_sof,snd_timer,snd_compress,snd_soc_core,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi
    eeepc_wmi 12288 0 mei_me 53248 0
    wmi_bmof 12288 0
    ee1004 16384 0
    soundcore 16384 1 snd
    mtd 98304 3 spi_nor,cmdlinepart
    intel_pmc_core 118784 0
    mei 167936 1 mei_me
    intel_vsec 20480 1 intel_pmc_core
    pmt_telemetry 16384 1 intel_pmc_core
    joydev 32768 0
    input_leds 12288 0
    pmt_class 12288 1 pmt_telemetry
    acpi_pad 184320 0
    acpi_tad 20480 0
    mac_hid 12288 0
    sch_fq_codel 24576 2
    msr 12288 0
    parport_pc 53248 0
    ppdev 24576 0
    lp 28672 0
    parport 73728 3 parport_pc,lp,ppdev
    efi_pstore 12288 0
    ip_tables 32768 0
    x_tables 65536 1 ip_tables
    autofs4 57344 2
    hid_generic 12288 0
    usbhid 77824 0
    hid 180224 2 usbhid,hid_generic
    mfd_aaeon 12288 0
    asus_wmi 86016 2 eeepc_wmi,mfd_aaeon
    ledtrig_audio 12288 1 asus_wmi
    nvme 61440 2
    sparse_keymap 12288 1 asus_wmi
    intel_lpss_pci 24576 0
    spi_intel_pci 12288 0
    i2c_i801 36864 0
    nvme_core 208896 3 nvme
    platform_profile 12288 1 asus_wmi
    ahci 49152 0
    intel_lpss 12288 1 intel_lpss_pci
    xhci_pci 24576 0
    e1000e 356352 0
    video 73728 2 asus_wmi,nvidia_modeset
    crc32_pclmul 12288 0
    spi_intel 32768 1 spi_intel_pci
    i2c_smbus 16384 1 i2c_i801
    nvme_auth 28672 1 nvme_core
    libahci 53248 1 ahci
    idma64 20480 0
    vmd 24576 0
    xhci_pci_renesas 20480 1 xhci_pci
    wmi 28672 4 video,asus_wmi,wmi_bmof,mfd_aaeon pinctrl_alderlake 32768 0

    whereas previously, I had seen that v4l2 is mentioned, it is only as
    part of 'videobuf

    Another thing that puzzles me:
    I can locate bttv.ko, the module to load the driver, but I can't read
    it, I get some strange script as though I need a different language.

    Any help welcome.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Monday, October 14, 2024 12:13:44
    On Mon, 14 Oct 2024 12:11:17 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    it is only as
    part of 'videobuf2'

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Monday, October 14, 2024 12:51:48
    Davey wrote:

    Another thing that puzzles me:
    I can locate bttv.ko, the module to load the driver, but I can't read
    it, I get some strange script as though I need a different language.

    Curious why you think it ought to be readable? It's compiled code.

    It's ages since I dabbled with ZM, so nothing I can say about persuading
    it to use cameras.

    can you get ffmpeg, gstreamer or vlc to capture from the camera?

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Monday, October 14, 2024 14:30:50
    On Mon, 14 Oct 2024 12:51:48 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    Another thing that puzzles me:
    I can locate bttv.ko, the module to load the driver, but I can't
    read it, I get some strange script as though I need a different
    language.

    Curious why you think it ought to be readable? It's compiled code.

    Ok, I haven't met any before, I thought that Linux was all
    text-based. Live and learn.

    It's ages since I dabbled with ZM, so nothing I can say about
    persuading it to use cameras.

    can you get ffmpeg, gstreamer or vlc to capture from the camera?

    I can try. Not my normal area of expertise, but anything is worth
    trying.

    More later, thanks for thoughts.

    --
    Davey.



    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Monday, October 14, 2024 14:43:22
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I can try. Not my normal area of expertise, but anything is worth
    trying.

    More later, thanks for thoughts.

    It's worth looking at logs from Zoneminder, vlc or anywhere else that's relevant. It's possible they're complaining about something that is
    stopping the card from being accepted.

    In the olden days the logfiles lived in /var/log (some still do), but
    nowadays you need to interact with 'journalctl', eg 'journalctl -x -e'

    If you find a log line that's relevant, google the message and see what
    comes up.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Monday, October 14, 2024 16:19:22
    On 14 Oct 2024 14:43:22 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I can try. Not my normal area of expertise, but anything is worth
    trying.

    More later, thanks for thoughts.

    It's worth looking at logs from Zoneminder, vlc or anywhere else
    that's relevant. It's possible they're complaining about something
    that is stopping the card from being accepted.

    In the olden days the logfiles lived in /var/log (some still do), but nowadays you need to interact with 'journalctl', eg 'journalctl -x -e'

    If you find a log line that's relevant, google the message and see
    what comes up.

    Theo

    Thanks. I tried to configure vlc to look at the camera, I had never
    done that before, and I could not find the right configuration for the
    boxes. It kept on telling me to look at the logs, but didn't say where
    to find them. It was certainly not obvious from the vlc menu.
    And I have never done anything with ffmpeg, and I remember once using
    gstreamer many years ago. I have been otherwise busy this afternoon,
    maybe back at it later. I must automate the required actions that I
    know about to make bootup easier.

    I'll look for some logs, and see if I can find anything of use.
    This getting boring!

    Thanks for the ideas.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Monday, October 14, 2024 16:59:45
    Davey wrote:

    I must automate the required actions that I
    know about to make bootup easier.

    You ought to be able to force the equivalent of the insmod/modprobe
    you're doing, by putting entries into /etc/modprobe.conf

    Or at worst, adding the module name to the kernel command line in your grub.cfg

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Monday, October 14, 2024 20:02:34
    On Mon, 14 Oct 2024 16:59:45 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    I must automate the required actions that I
    know about to make bootup easier.

    You ought to be able to force the equivalent of the insmod/modprobe
    you're doing, by putting entries into /etc/modprobe.conf

    Or at worst, adding the module name to the kernel command line in
    your grub.cfg

    Thanks, I'll look at those tomorrow.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 10:04:22
    On Mon, 14 Oct 2024 16:59:45 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    I must automate the required actions that I
    know about to make bootup easier.

    You ought to be able to force the equivalent of the insmod/modprobe
    you're doing, by putting entries into /etc/modprobe.conf

    Or at worst, adding the module name to the kernel command line in
    your grub.cfg

    As an aside, I was wondering whether to load Ubuntu 24.04 onto the new
    PC, alongside the 22.04 that I am currently using, and see if
    installing that, with the videocard already in place, might be worth a
    try.
    I installed 22.04 because 24.04 seemed to be lacking some programmes
    that I use, whereas 22.04 is familiar with them. If 22.04 works, then
    that would be fine, as the PC's main purpose is to run Zoneminder.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 10:09:37
    On Tue, 15 Oct 2024 10:04:22 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On Mon, 14 Oct 2024 16:59:45 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    I must automate the required actions that I
    know about to make bootup easier.

    You ought to be able to force the equivalent of the insmod/modprobe
    you're doing, by putting entries into /etc/modprobe.conf

    Or at worst, adding the module name to the kernel command line in
    your grub.cfg

    As an aside, I was wondering whether to load Ubuntu 24.04 onto the new
    PC, alongside the 22.04 that I am currently using, and see if
    installing that, with the videocard already in place, might be worth a
    try.
    I installed 22.04 because 24.04 seemed to be lacking some programmes
    that I use, whereas 22.04 is familiar with them. If 22.04 works, then
    that would be fine, as the PC's main purpose is to run Zoneminder.

    "If 24.04 works......"

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 14:50:34
    On 14 Oct 2024 14:43:22 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I can try. Not my normal area of expertise, but anything is worth
    trying.

    More later, thanks for thoughts.

    It's worth looking at logs from Zoneminder, vlc or anywhere else
    that's relevant. It's possible they're complaining about something
    that is stopping the card from being accepted.

    In the olden days the logfiles lived in /var/log (some still do), but nowadays you need to interact with 'journalctl', eg 'journalctl -x -e'

    If you find a log line that's relevant, google the message and see
    what comes up.

    Theo

    I just tried again, and then looked for the log. And the first thing
    that comes up is:
    "FAT [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0: Permission denied]"
    which gives a reason for failure. The log is as follows:
    FAT [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0: Permission
    denied] Oct 15 14:22:43 david-desktop-2 zmc_dvideo0[7153]: FAT
    [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0: Permission
    denied] Oct 15 14:22:43 david-desktop-2 zmdc[1072]: ERR ['zmc -d
    /dev/video0' exited abnormally, exit status 255]
    Oct 15 14:22:47 david-desktop-2 zmwatch[1271]: ERR [Memory map file '/dev/shm/zm.mmap.1' does not exist in zmMemAttach. zmc might not be
    running
    Oct 15 14:22:47 david-desktop-2 zmwatch[1271]: ERR [Memory map
    file '/dev/shm/zm.mmap.2' does not exist in zmMemAttach. zmc might not
    be running

    Repeated ad nauseam. I'll look and see if I can find how to give
    permission to open /dev/video0. [I think I might have just found that.]
    I never had these problems with the old PC and Zoneminder.

    Maybe it might be worth removing and reinstalling Zoneminder after
    getting the ./MAKEDEV and modprobe -v bttv processes completed. I seem
    to be just spinning my wheels here.

    If anybody can give me the correct setup for vlc to view the input
    card, that would be much appreciated.

    Also, I tried adding Ubuntu 24.04 to the PC, and, unlike when I
    installed 22.04, it didn't go through the process of synchronising the
    display, and I have a larger the monitor view, and no apparent way to
    get it right. so I'm still on 22.04.

    More later, if I haven't thrown the whole PC out the window!
    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 15:33:43
    Davey wrote:

    I just tried again, and then looked for the log. And the first thing
    that comes up is:
    "FAT [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0: Permission denied]"

    Can you use sudo or su to run whatever you're running?

    Maybe chmod/chown the /dev/video0 device

    run vlc, with su or sudo
    from within the gui choose Media / Open Capture Device
    and for video device use /dev/video0
    leave audio device as 'none'



    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 17:28:56
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I just tried again, and then looked for the log. And the first thing
    that comes up is:
    "FAT [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0: Permission denied]"
    which gives a reason for failure.

    On Ubuntu 24.04 I get:

    $ ls -l /dev
    ....
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 9 09:13 video0
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 1 Oct 9 09:13 video1
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 2 Oct 9 09:13 video2
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 3 Oct 9 09:13 video3

    so only those in the 'video' group get access to the video device.

    Have you checked that your user is in the 'video' group?

    Maybe it might be worth removing and reinstalling Zoneminder after
    getting the ./MAKEDEV and modprobe -v bttv processes completed. I seem
    to be just spinning my wheels here.

    ../MAKEDEV is a very old way of doing things. These days the tool is 'udev' and you have udev rules which say how the devices are made as things are hotplugged. I have pre-existing rules in various files:

    $ grep -r video /lib/udev/rules.d/
    /lib/udev/rules.d/95-cd-devices.rules:# video cameras /lib/udev/rules.d/95-cd-devices.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", ENV{ID_V4L_PRODUCT}!="", ENV{COLORD_DEVICE}="1", ENV{COLORD_KIND}="camera"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:SUBSYSTEM!="video4linux", GOTO="persistent_v4l_end"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*", ENV{ID_SERIAL}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-id/$env{ID_BUS}-$env{ID_SERIAL}-video-index$attr{index}"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*|vbi*", ENV{ID_PATH}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-path/$env{ID_PATH}-video-index$attr{index}"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*|vbi*", ENV{ID_PATH_WITH_USB_REVISION}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-path/$env{ID_PATH_WITH_USB_REVISION}-video-index$attr{index}"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", TAG+="uaccess" /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules:# DRI video devices /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="graphics", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="drm", KERNEL!="renderD*", GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="dvb", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="media", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="cec", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="firewire", TEST=="units", ENV{IEEE1394_UNIT_FUNCTION_VIDEO}=="1", GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/70-camera.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", ENV{ID_BUS}="usb", \
    /lib/udev/rules.d/80-debian-compat.rules:KERNEL=="lirc[0-9]*", GROUP="video"

    You shouldn't edit those rules, but put new rules in /etc/udev/rules.d

    However I don't think you need new rules, just putting your user in the
    'video' group and then logging out and back in again should fix it.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 17:58:12
    On 15 Oct 2024 17:28:56 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I just tried again, and then looked for the log. And the first thing
    that comes up is:
    "FAT [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0:
    Permission denied]"
    which gives a reason for failure.

    On Ubuntu 24.04 I get:

    $ ls -l /dev
    ...
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 9 09:13 video0
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 1 Oct 9 09:13 video1
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 2 Oct 9 09:13 video2
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 3 Oct 9 09:13 video3

    so only those in the 'video' group get access to the video device.

    Have you checked that your user is in the 'video' group?

    Maybe it might be worth removing and reinstalling Zoneminder after
    getting the ./MAKEDEV and modprobe -v bttv processes completed. I
    seem to be just spinning my wheels here.

    ./MAKEDEV is a very old way of doing things. These days the tool is
    'udev' and you have udev rules which say how the devices are made as
    things are hotplugged. I have pre-existing rules in various files:

    $ grep -r video /lib/udev/rules.d/
    /lib/udev/rules.d/95-cd-devices.rules:# video cameras /lib/udev/rules.d/95-cd-devices.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", ENV{ID_V4L_PRODUCT}!="", ENV{COLORD_DEVICE}="1",
    ENV{COLORD_KIND}="camera" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:SUBSYSTEM!="video4linux",
    GOTO="persistent_v4l_end" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*",
    ENV{ID_SERIAL}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-id/$env{ID_BUS}-$env{ID_SERIAL}-video-index$attr{index}" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*|vbi*",
    ENV{ID_PATH}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-path/$env{ID_PATH}-video-index$attr{index}" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*|vbi*",
    ENV{ID_PATH_WITH_USB_REVISION}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-path/$env{ID_PATH_WITH_USB_REVISION}-video-index$attr{index}" /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux",
    TAG+="uaccess" /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules:# DRI video
    devices /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="graphics", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="drm", KERNEL!="renderD*",
    GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="dvb", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="media", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="cec", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="firewire", TEST=="units", ENV{IEEE1394_UNIT_FUNCTION_VIDEO}=="1",
    GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/70-camera.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", ENV{ID_BUS}="usb",
    \ /lib/udev/rules.d/80-debian-compat.rules:KERNEL=="lirc[0-9]*", GROUP="video"

    You shouldn't edit those rules, but put new rules in /etc/udev/rules.d

    However I don't think you need new rules, just putting your user in
    the 'video' group and then logging out and back in again should fix
    it.

    Theo

    Thanks. The group entry was what I found, and is what I was going to
    try tomorrow morning.
    The MAKEDEV is because that's how the HOW-TO document says to do it. I
    try to follow the rules in an unknown (to me) world!
    I'll take a look, for sure.

    I was thinking of removing Zoneminder, and re-installing it while
    following the ZM document, and see what happens. But it works with the
    Wifi camera, but that does not use any video input card.

    The 24.04 OS screen size is a real pain, too, it makes that installation unusable. Out it comes, if I can't find how to resize the screen.
    All NVIDIA offered me was a choice of 100% (active) or 200%. No thanks!

    I'll let it rest overnight, back at it in the morning.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:26:48
    On Tue, 15 Oct 2024 15:33:43 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    I just tried again, and then looked for the log. And the first thing
    that comes up is:
    "FAT [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0:
    Permission denied]"

    Can you use sudo or su to run whatever you're running?

    Maybe chmod/chown the /dev/video0 device

    run vlc, with su or sudo
    from within the gui choose Media / Open Capture Device
    and for video device use /dev/video0
    leave audio device as 'none'



    1. Ran the ./MAKEDEV and modprobe instructions to create /dev/video0.
    2. Ran vlc as described above. "Your input can't be opened:
    VLC is unable to open the MRL 'v4l2:///dev/video0'. Check the log for
    details."
    3. "Oct 16 10:21:53 david-desktop-2 zmc_dvideo0[7288]: FAT [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0: Permission denied]
    Oct 16
    10:21:53 david-desktop-2 zmdc[1101]: ERR ['zmc -d /dev/video0' exited abnormally, exit status 255]"
    4. $ ls -l: "crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 16 10:09
    video0".
    5. $ sudo grep -e video /etc/group video:x:44:david. That is my
    username. I am stumped.
    6. Ran vlc again. Result as before: Your input can't be opened:
    VLC is unable to open the MRL 'v4l2:///dev/video0'. Check the log for
    details" Why does it say: "///dev/video0"? It does same even if I use dev/video0 instead of /dev/video0.
    7. OK. Message in log is:
    "FAT [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0: Permission denied]"
    In Zoneminder, I found a log sheet! It displays:
    "10/16/24, 10:38:11 AM GMT+1 zmdc 1101 ERR
    'zmc -d /dev/video0' exited abnormally, exit status 255
    zmdc.pl -
    10/16/24, 10:38:11 AM GMT+1 zmc_dvideo0 9362 FAT
    Failed to open video device /dev/video0: Permission denied
    zm_local_camera.cpp 719"
    This is in reverse chronological order, ie 2nd line occurs before `1st
    line.
    8. So there is still a problem with permission for /dev/video0, but I
    don't know what to change!
    9. Going through Zoneminder's menus, there are LOTS more things to
    configure than on the older version. I need a Zoneminder specialist to
    talk me through it, I think. But if I can't get perimssion to open
    /dev/video0, I don't think there is any point in worrying aabout that,
    yet.

    Time for a break. I feel I am heading in the right direction, but with
    no clear path to success.
    I thank everyone for their help to this point.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:12:34
    On 15 Oct 2024 17:28:56 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I just tried again, and then looked for the log. And the first thing
    that comes up is:
    "FAT [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0:
    Permission denied]"
    which gives a reason for failure.

    On Ubuntu 24.04 I get:

    $ ls -l /dev
    ...
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 9 09:13 video0
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 1 Oct 9 09:13 video1
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 2 Oct 9 09:13 video2
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 3 Oct 9 09:13 video3

    so only those in the 'video' group get access to the video device.

    Have you checked that your user is in the 'video' group?

    Maybe it might be worth removing and reinstalling Zoneminder after
    getting the ./MAKEDEV and modprobe -v bttv processes completed. I
    seem to be just spinning my wheels here.

    ./MAKEDEV is a very old way of doing things. These days the tool is
    'udev' and you have udev rules which say how the devices are made as
    things are hotplugged. I have pre-existing rules in various files:

    $ grep -r video /lib/udev/rules.d/
    /lib/udev/rules.d/95-cd-devices.rules:# video cameras /lib/udev/rules.d/95-cd-devices.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", ENV{ID_V4L_PRODUCT}!="", ENV{COLORD_DEVICE}="1",
    ENV{COLORD_KIND}="camera" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:SUBSYSTEM!="video4linux", GOTO="persistent_v4l_end" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*", ENV{ID_SERIAL}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-id/$env{ID_BUS}-$env{ID_SERIAL}-video-index$attr{index}" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*|vbi*", ENV{ID_PATH}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-path/$env{ID_PATH}-video-index$attr{index}" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*|vbi*", ENV{ID_PATH_WITH_USB_REVISION}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-path/$env{ID_PATH_WITH_USB_REVISION}-video-index$attr{index}"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux",
    TAG+="uaccess" /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules:# DRI video devices /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="graphics",
    GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="drm",
    KERNEL!="renderD*", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="dvb",
    GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="media",
    GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="cec",
    GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="firewire",
    TEST=="units", ENV{IEEE1394_UNIT_FUNCTION_VIDEO}=="1", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/70-camera.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", ENV{ID_BUS}="usb", \ /lib/udev/rules.d/80-debian-compat.rules:KERNEL=="lirc[0-9]*",
    GROUP="video"

    You shouldn't edit those rules, but put new rules in /etc/udev/rules.d

    However I don't think you need new rules, just putting your user in
    the 'video' group and then logging out and back in again should fix
    it.

    Theo

    OK. Since I have very little idea what the man page* is talking about, I
    agree with your last statement. I just can't seem to make it work!

    * Ref:
    https://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/jammy/man7/CREATE_RULE.7.html#notes

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 15:09:46
    On 15 Oct 2024 17:28:56 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I just tried again, and then looked for the log. And the first thing
    that comes up is:
    "FAT [zmc_dvideo0] [Failed to open video device /dev/video0:
    Permission denied]"
    which gives a reason for failure.

    On Ubuntu 24.04 I get:

    $ ls -l /dev
    ...
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 9 09:13 video0
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 1 Oct 9 09:13 video1
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 2 Oct 9 09:13 video2
    crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 3 Oct 9 09:13 video3

    so only those in the 'video' group get access to the video device.

    Have you checked that your user is in the 'video' group?

    Maybe it might be worth removing and reinstalling Zoneminder after
    getting the ./MAKEDEV and modprobe -v bttv processes completed. I
    seem to be just spinning my wheels here.

    ./MAKEDEV is a very old way of doing things. These days the tool is
    'udev' and you have udev rules which say how the devices are made as
    things are hotplugged. I have pre-existing rules in various files:

    $ grep -r video /lib/udev/rules.d/
    /lib/udev/rules.d/95-cd-devices.rules:# video cameras /lib/udev/rules.d/95-cd-devices.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", ENV{ID_V4L_PRODUCT}!="", ENV{COLORD_DEVICE}="1",
    ENV{COLORD_KIND}="camera" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:SUBSYSTEM!="video4linux", GOTO="persistent_v4l_end" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*", ENV{ID_SERIAL}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-id/$env{ID_BUS}-$env{ID_SERIAL}-video-index$attr{index}" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*|vbi*", ENV{ID_PATH}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-path/$env{ID_PATH}-video-index$attr{index}" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*|vbi*", ENV{ID_PATH_WITH_USB_REVISION}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-path/$env{ID_PATH_WITH_USB_REVISION}-video-index$attr{index}"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux",
    TAG+="uaccess" /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules:# DRI video devices /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="graphics",
    GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="drm",
    KERNEL!="renderD*", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="dvb",
    GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="media",
    GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="cec",
    GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="firewire",
    TEST=="units", ENV{IEEE1394_UNIT_FUNCTION_VIDEO}=="1", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/70-camera.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", ENV{ID_BUS}="usb", \ /lib/udev/rules.d/80-debian-compat.rules:KERNEL=="lirc[0-9]*",
    GROUP="video"

    You shouldn't edit those rules, but put new rules in /etc/udev/rules.d

    However I don't think you need new rules, just putting your user in
    the 'video' group and then logging out and back in again should fix
    it.

    Theo

    OK. I get this:
    $ grep -r video /lib/udev/rules.d/ /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux",
    TAG+="uaccess" /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules:# DRI video devices /lib/udev/rules.d/80-debian-compat.rules:KERNEL=="lirc[0-9]*",
    GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/95-cd-devices.rules:# video cameras /lib/udev/rules.d/95-cd-devices.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux", ENV{ID_V4L_PRODUCT}!="", ENV{COLORD_DEVICE}="1",
    ENV{COLORD_KIND}="camera" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:SUBSYSTEM!="video4linux", GOTO="persistent_v4l_end" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:KERNEL=="video*", ENV{ID_SERIAL}=="?*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-id/$env{ID_BUS}-$env{ID_SERIAL}-video-index$attr{index}" /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-v4l.rules:ENV{ID_PATH}=="?*", KERNEL=="video*|vbi*", SYMLINK+="v4l/by-path/$env{ID_PATH}-video-index$attr{index}" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="video4linux",
    GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="graphics",
    GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="drm", KERNEL!="renderD*", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="dvb", GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="media",
    GROUP="video" /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="cec", GROUP="video"
    /lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="firewire",
    TEST=="units", ENV{IEEE1394_UNIT_FUNCTION_VIDEO}=="1", GROUP="video"


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 15:22:27
    Please ignore previous post, it was a partial repeat.
    However, this video0 permissions problem won't go away.

    followed the procedure for confirming david as a member of the group,
    grep -e video /etc/group : "video:x:44:david"

    and reaffirmed /dev/video0's permissions:
    $ ls -l /dev/video0
    "crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 16 10:09 /dev/video0"

    (I then logged out. Why is the day's date the 0 of the month?
    But vlc still fails on Permission refused! What am I doing wrong?

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 15:56:30
    Davey wrote:

    "crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 16 10:09 /dev/video0"

    Why is the day's date the 0 of the month?

    the 81, 0 are the major and minor device numbers, the date is the 16
    following the month name :-)

    But vlc still fails on Permission refused! What am I doing wrong?

    I know it's not really the done thing, but will Ubuntu actually let you
    log on as root to test it does work that way? Not suggesting it's an
    actual fix.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 17:29:18
    On Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:56:30 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    "crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 16 10:09 /dev/video0"

    Why is the day's date the 0 of the month?

    the 81, 0 are the major and minor device numbers, the date is the 16 following the month name :-)

    But vlc still fails on Permission refused! What am I doing wrong?

    I know it's not really the done thing, but will Ubuntu actually let
    you log on as root to test it does work that way? Not suggesting
    it's an actual fix.

    I tried that yesterday, but it replied that vlc would not work with
    root.
    Good idea, though!

    My other problem (well, one of them) is that the Ubuntu 24.04 that I
    installed alongside my 22.04 did not make any attempt to match the
    output to the monitor itself, and I can't find any way to make it do
    that. The image is about 150% of the size available. The output is an
    NVIDIA card. I don't speak NVIDIA as a language, but it only offered
    zoom choices of 100% or 200%. I want about 70%.
    Either that, or I could un-install the 24.04, but research shows that to
    be a difficult process, fraught with problems.

    I feel tempted to just blow it all away, keep my notes, and start from
    zero. Maybe with 24.04 and no 22.04. Just keep to the latest (and most complicated).
    I would also look for an earlier version of Zoneminder, the simpler one
    I have on the old Dell 'just works'. It is on Ubuntu 8.04 ! t never
    complained about lack of permissions for video0.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 17, 2024 09:00:10
    On Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:29:18 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:56:30 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    "crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 16 10:09 /dev/video0"

    Why is the day's date the 0 of the month?

    the 81, 0 are the major and minor device numbers, the date is the
    16 following the month name :-)

    But vlc still fails on Permission refused! What am I doing
    wrong?

    I know it's not really the done thing, but will Ubuntu actually let
    you log on as root to test it does work that way? Not suggesting
    it's an actual fix.

    I tried that yesterday, but it replied that vlc would not work with
    root.
    Good idea, though!

    To elaborate on this: I can run vlc without any problem. I can watch a different camera on my Swann system via rtsp. It is this /dev/video(0) permission problem that is stopping it working with the Zoneminder
    cameras.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 17, 2024 10:42:37
    Davey wrote:

    To elaborate on this: I can run vlc without any problem. I can watch a different camera on my Swann system via rtsp. It is this /dev/video(0) permission problem that is stopping it working with the Zoneminder
    cameras.

    can you show the output of "id" when logged in as davey

    and again after running "su -"



    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 17, 2024 10:54:21
    On Thu, 17 Oct 2024 09:00:10 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:29:18 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    On Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:56:30 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    "crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 16 10:09 /dev/video0"

    Why is the day's date the 0 of the month?

    the 81, 0 are the major and minor device numbers, the date is the
    16 following the month name :-)

    But vlc still fails on Permission refused! What am I doing
    wrong?

    I know it's not really the done thing, but will Ubuntu actually
    let you log on as root to test it does work that way? Not
    suggesting it's an actual fix.

    I tried that yesterday, but it replied that vlc would not work with
    root.
    Good idea, though!

    To elaborate on this: I can run vlc without any problem. I can watch a different camera on my Swann system via rtsp. It is this /dev/video(0) permission problem that is stopping it working with the Zoneminder
    cameras.


    I think I'm ready to give up!
    I followed a procedure I found in the Zoneminder Forums, to add
    www-data to the video group permissions. The first encouraging result
    was that I don't now get the "ERR! permission refused" fault, which
    made me think that vlc might work. No chance, still the same error.
    I then opened up the Zoneminder running log, and it is producing a
    stream of faults, mostly the same ones repeating. I don't know what
    they mean. for example, one fault describes "inappropriate ioctl",
    which means nothing to me. The Manual: https://zoneminder.readthedocs.io/en/stable/index.html
    has a Search facility, which finds nothing using either "inappropriate
    ioctl" or just "ioctl". There are other faults displayed, similarly unexplained.
    I am lost. As I mentioned previously, I might just reload one of the
    Ubuntu versions from scratch, and install the earliest version of
    Zoneminder that I can find online.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 17, 2024 11:58:43
    On Thu, 17 Oct 2024 10:42:37 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    To elaborate on this: I can run vlc without any problem. I can
    watch a different camera on my Swann system via rtsp. It is this /dev/video(0) permission problem that is stopping it working with
    the Zoneminder cameras.

    can you show the output of "id" when logged in as davey

    and again after running "su -"


    $ id
    uid=1000(david) gid=1000(david) groups=1000(david),4(adm),24(cdrom),27(sudo),30(dip),44(video),46(plugdev),122(lpadmin),135(lxd),136(sambashare)

    I see 44(video) in there.

    "su -" wants a Password. Where do I find that? It won't accept mine,
    obviously.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 17, 2024 12:08:40
    Davey wrote:

    "su -" wants a Password. Where do I find that? It won't accept mine, obviously.
    it's root's

    alternatively you could use "sudo su -" and your own password


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 17, 2024 12:25:44
    On Thu, 17 Oct 2024 12:08:40 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Davey wrote:

    "su -" wants a Password. Where do I find that? It won't accept mine, obviously.
    it's root's

    alternatively you could use "sudo su -" and your own password

    david@david-desktop-2:~$ sudo su
    [sudo] password for david:
    root@david-desktop-2:~# id
    uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root)

    BTW, I have managed to get some response from Zoneminder, it seems to
    want to Monitor 2 of the three inputs. Any two, but not all three. But
    they still show "Not connected".
    The garage view via Wifi is still working.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Chris Elvidge@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 17, 2024 12:48:31
    On 17/10/2024 at 12:08, Andy Burns wrote:
    Davey wrote:

    "su -" wants a Password. Where do I find that? It won't accept mine,
    obviously.
    it's root's

    alternatively you could use "sudo su -" and your own password


    Or sudo -i

    As this is a private computer, is there any harm in adding your user to
    a group (or individual) with NOPASSWD: set?

    $ sudo cat /etc/sudoers.d/010_pi-nopasswd
    chris ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL

    from one of my Pis

    --
    Chris Elvidge, England
    THEY ARE LAUGHING AT ME, NOT WITH ME


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Friday, October 18, 2024 17:45:27
    On 13 Sep 2024 20:19:28 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    I'm sort of lost here, any help welcome.

    Have a look at USB adapters. SD video is not that high bit rate,
    especially if the adapter is compressing. No idea of the marketplace, although I have a $7 composite video USB capture that's probably
    awful. BNC is just composite video I think - do they power from there
    or external power?

    If you have a lot of USB devices consider extra USB PCIe cards, but 4
    behind a USB 3 hub is probably ok.

    Theo

    Today, there was a hint of sanity. I played around with the Zoneminder Monitors' Sources configuration, disabling the card inputs with no
    camera, and other variations of the Source inputs. Briefly, I saw a live
    image of the outside of the house, but when I tried to reproduce it on a different input, it would not, and I could not get it back on the
    previously working one. But, I have at last seen the Source reference
    for some tabs on the Console screen go green instead of red, albeit
    it with a blue screen, and I have seen the ZM Log produce only "Capturing......." messages instead of a stream of pink-coloured
    alarms, the wording of which means nothing to me. I will next
    concentrate on trying to get the working image back, and hoping to
    proceed from there.

    Wish me luck!

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 24, 2024 11:12:01
    On Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:38:39 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    After the recent problems with the ancient Ubuntu and Zoneminder installation, I thought about upgrading the PC, the old Dell is now 24
    years old.
    I have a new separate Swann system, but I cannot find how to extract
    video from it, it likes Windows, not Linux.
    =20
    So I am looking at a new (or refurbished) desktop PC, hoping to use my existing CCTV cameras, all with BNC connectors, and to be able to add
    one more, making 4 in total. It also monitors one WiFi camera on the
    network. Tje PC is also my daily laptop backup device.
    My old video card is a PCI, which is now ancient history, so will be
    no good for a new PC. Satcure, where I got my first video card from,
    went bust some time ago.
    =20
    Looking around, I see modern versions, but at huge prices, =C2=A3250 up to =C2=A3600!! Yikes. Am I looking for the wrong item here? I don't believe
    the old card cost anything like that much.
    =20
    A sample of what I find: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0D9NQZ2VH/ref=3Dewc_pr_img_1?smid=3D=
    AKG67ZUVCCXRK&psc=3D1
    But I don't have SDI, and I don't want to replace my cameras or my
    cabling. I am just looking for a PCI-e, BNC connectors, CCTV video
    input card,
    =20
    There is:
    https://tinyurl.com/3smbmmhj
    also known as:
    =20
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Potadak-Captura-Adapter-Computer-Camera-Black/dp=
    /B0CCDCLL5G/ref=3Dsr_1_140?crid=3DZQ64KGYGR0UF&dib=3DeyJ2IjoiMSJ9.z-FIUNnsx= AdgHlwX1RlfFRn8U0hm9D5LhTXHaELlQN8lsa7tU6cLwpZo1bjed5npm5LPhrdsoubaowZjmN3h= Phos0n0Ly_t-JN4C1VIND-DuA8BJVTI3nh_AR-vGbt2iOKyERzGmK5VBKquSqV1-N3EZ4nkY8Pz= 5PQtxttI1m2HqOQ-utUt18BBG8ICr_L7dqEBKreLTHnThSCZT0k1l4d8kjknq8IkmCHeS0WjnfS= I.EI8jbBtNOBcmbrhK97vIlojvxMOYz-tXJQWmixSWSrg&dib_tag=3Dse&keywords=3DPCI-E= +video+camera+capture+cards&qid=3D1726225777&sprefix=3Dpci-e+video+camera+c= apture+cards%2Caps%2C104&sr=3D8-140
    =20
    which doesn't say SDI, in fact it doesn't say much of anything, but
    therefore MIGHT work with my existing cameras. But there is no
    spec.! And I have no idea who Potadek is/are, they seem to sell
    everything you could think of. Jack of all trades, and master of none,
    comes to mind.
    I'm sort of lost here, any help welcome.
    =20
    Well, I have been playing around, and talking to the card manufacturer,
    who still wants me to do things like recompiling their Multicam
    programme!=20
    To condense the results, I am now using a new camera, with a
    higher resolution than the ones that work perfectly well on the old
    card in the old PC.
    Using channel 0 of the new card, with the other channels set to None
    for Function, I have the input for the card set as:
    Mode: PAL; Capture Palette: RGB32; Target colorspace: 32 bit colour;
    Capture Resolution: 768 x 576.
    The camera says that its resolution is 976 x 496. Using these figures
    in the setup results in nothing.
    With the 768 x 576 setup, the Source tag on the Console screen goes
    green, and I get an image. But the image is continuously scrolling, and
    is fractured. Vague hunts of the real view are tantalisingly hunted at.
    Any other Resolution setup I try fails again. I am sure the answer is
    out here, but how do I find it?
    Again, any help very welcome.
    But at least I have made progress!

    --=20
    Davey.



    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 24, 2024 12:18:59
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    Using channel 0 of the new card, with the other channels set to None
    for Function, I have the input for the card set as:
    Mode: PAL; Capture Palette: RGB32; Target colorspace: 32 bit colour;
    Capture Resolution: 768 x 576.
    The camera says that its resolution is 976 x 496. Using these figures
    in the setup results in nothing.
    With the 768 x 576 setup, the Source tag on the Console screen goes
    green, and I get an image. But the image is continuously scrolling, and
    is fractured. Vague hunts of the real view are tantalisingly hunted at.
    Any other Resolution setup I try fails again. I am sure the answer is
    out here, but how do I find it?
    Again, any help very welcome.
    But at least I have made progress!


    I know nothing about video capture, so I'm out here. But it sounds like PAL 768x576 is the right thing (the camera is PAL if it's TV standard as I think most analogue security cameras are). Do you need to turn on interlacing?
    PAL is 50Hz interlaced, ie 576i.

    You could ask in one of the TV groups as it sounds like a TV-type problem.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Andy Burns@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 24, 2024 12:33:27
    Theo wrote:

    it sounds like PAL
    768x576 is the right thing (the camera is PAL if it's TV standard

    Yes, the camera may mention "resolution of 976x496" but that's only in
    terms of its ability to resolve that many TVL from a chart like this, it doesn't mean it spits out 976x496 pixels, or should be captured at that resolution, 768x576 is correct.

    <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EIA_1956_resolution_chart#/media/File:EIA_Resolution_Chart_1956.svg>

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 24, 2024 14:08:27
    On Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:33:27 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Theo wrote:

    it sounds like PAL
    768x576 is the right thing (the camera is PAL if it's TV standard

    Yes, the camera may mention "resolution of 976x496" but that's only
    in terms of its ability to resolve that many TVL from a chart like
    this, it doesn't mean it spits out 976x496 pixels, or should be
    captured at that resolution, 768x576 is correct.

    <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EIA_1956_resolution_chart#/media/File:EIA_Resolution_Chart_1956.svg>

    The Deinterlacing box was already set at Linear, by default.
    Options offered are: Disabled, Four field motion adaptive-Soft, Four
    field motion adaptive-Medium, Four field motion adaptive-Hard,
    Discard, Blend, Blend (25%), V4L2: Capture top field only, V4L2: Capture
    bottom field only, V4L2: Capture Alternate fields (Bob), V4L2 progressive, V4L2 Interlaced.

    I had hoped that one of the V4L2 options would be correct, but none of
    any of the options offered seem to work. The behaviour of the image
    might change slightly, but it still does not work.
    Hmm.
    Considering where I was at a couple of weeks ago, this is
    still progress, but I still can't get over that final hurdle.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Theo@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 24, 2024 17:39:52
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:33:27 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Theo wrote:

    it sounds like PAL
    768x576 is the right thing (the camera is PAL if it's TV standard

    Yes, the camera may mention "resolution of 976x496" but that's only
    in terms of its ability to resolve that many TVL from a chart like
    this, it doesn't mean it spits out 976x496 pixels, or should be
    captured at that resolution, 768x576 is correct.

    <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EIA_1956_resolution_chart#/media/File:EIA_Resolution_Chart_1956.svg>

    The Deinterlacing box was already set at Linear, by default.
    Options offered are: Disabled, Four field motion adaptive-Soft, Four
    field motion adaptive-Medium, Four field motion adaptive-Hard,
    Discard, Blend, Blend (25%), V4L2: Capture top field only, V4L2: Capture bottom field only, V4L2: Capture Alternate fields (Bob), V4L2 progressive, V4L2 Interlaced.

    I had hoped that one of the V4L2 options would be correct, but none of
    any of the options offered seem to work. The behaviour of the image
    might change slightly, but it still does not work.
    Hmm.
    Considering where I was at a couple of weeks ago, this is
    still progress, but I still can't get over that final hurdle.

    It isn't NTSC is it? Probably not if it's a UK setup, but eg I was looking
    at reversing cameras for cars and they mostly seem to be NTSC composite
    video. Suppose it makes sense as they don't need special versions for
    Europe and they are never displayed on a TV, only on the dashboard LCD.

    If the camera has only ever been used by a capture card and never a
    TV/monitor, it could be NTSC.

    Theo

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: University of Cambridge, England (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, October 24, 2024 17:58:08
    On 24 Oct 2024 17:39:52 +0100 (BST)
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
    On Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:33:27 +0100
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

    Theo wrote:

    it sounds like PAL
    768x576 is the right thing (the camera is PAL if it's TV
    standard

    Yes, the camera may mention "resolution of 976x496" but that's
    only in terms of its ability to resolve that many TVL from a
    chart like this, it doesn't mean it spits out 976x496 pixels, or
    should be captured at that resolution, 768x576 is correct.

    <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EIA_1956_resolution_chart#/media/File:EIA_Resolution_Chart_1956.svg>


    The Deinterlacing box was already set at Linear, by default.
    Options offered are: Disabled, Four field motion adaptive-Soft, Four
    field motion adaptive-Medium, Four field motion adaptive-Hard,
    Discard, Blend, Blend (25%), V4L2: Capture top field only, V4L2:
    Capture bottom field only, V4L2: Capture Alternate fields (Bob),
    V4L2 progressive, V4L2 Interlaced.

    I had hoped that one of the V4L2 options would be correct, but none
    of any of the options offered seem to work. The behaviour of the
    image might change slightly, but it still does not work.
    Hmm.
    Considering where I was at a couple of weeks ago, this is
    still progress, but I still can't get over that final hurdle.

    It isn't NTSC is it? Probably not if it's a UK setup, but eg I was
    looking at reversing cameras for cars and they mostly seem to be NTSC composite video. Suppose it makes sense as they don't need special
    versions for Europe and they are never displayed on a TV, only on the dashboard LCD.

    If the camera has only ever been used by a capture card and never a TV/monitor, it could be NTSC.

    Theo

    I did try NTSC earlier, but it failed. This camera is new and unused, UK sourced. But I'll try NTSC again tomorrow. No harm done if it fails
    again.

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 15:11:52
    On Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:38:39 +0100
    Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

    After the recent problems with the ancient Ubuntu and Zoneminder installation, I thought about upgrading the PC, the old Dell is now 24
    years old.
    I have a new separate Swann system, but I cannot find how to extract
    video from it, it likes Windows, not Linux.

    After a few weeks of doing nit very much with this, I blew away all the
    various OS versions that I had installed, and started from scratch.
    So I now have a Clean install of Ubuntu 22.04, Zoneminder is again
    installed and operating. It grabs the image from the CCTV camera in the
    garage, as it passes through the router. I have not managed to get
    anything yet directly from a camera connected to the Picolo card, usig
    Linux commands, so I am returning to the Proprietary Euresys software
    provided by the manufacturer of the Picolo card, Muliticam. I have
    followed the labyrinthine instructions for installing and setting the
    card and software up, and I freely admit that I am way out if depth, it
    is aimed at people who do coding and programming for their living.
    I have again come up against a compiling issue, and I know zero about
    this.
    When I initiate the Install procedure, it stops on a compiler
    difference condition. I pate the relavant text:

    Building glfm1
    make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.8.0-49-generic'
    warning: the compiler differs from the one used to build the kernel
    The kernel was built by: x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-12 (Ubuntu 12.3.0-1ubuntu1~22.04) 12.3.0 You are using:
    CC [M] /opt/euresys/multicam-linux-x86_64-6.19.1.5480/drivers/linux/os_basic_dma.o /bin/sh:
    1: gcc-12: not found make[3]: ***
    [scripts/Makefile.build:243: /opt/euresys/multicam-linux-x86_64-6.19.1.5480/drivers/linux/os_basic_dma.o]
    Error 127 make[2]: ***
    [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.8.0-49-generic/Makefile:1925: /opt/euresys/multicam-linux-x86_64-6.19.1.5480/drivers/linux]
    Error 2 make[1]: *** [Makefile:240: __sub-make] Error 2 make[1]:
    Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.8.0-49-generic' make: *** [Makefile:74: default] Error 2 make: Leaving directory '/opt/euresys/multicam-linux-x86_64-6.19.1.5480/drivers/linux'

    gcc is installed on the PC.

    None of this is familiar to me, so I am asking for help in working out
    what instruction(s) I need to issue to do whatever it wants to satisfy
    this compiler issue. And is it indeed that simple, or is there
    something else that is going to make this unworkable? After this is
    working, I still need to get communication between the card and the PC.

    Any help greatly welcomed! Euresys helped a little bit, then gave up
    after admitting that they had found and were fixing a bug in the
    software. They don't need little people like me, they work with big
    industrial contractors who know how to code!

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Daniel James@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, November 28, 2024 13:53:53
    On 27/11/2024 15:11, Davey wrote:
    When I initiate the Install procedure, it stops on a compiler
    difference condition. I pate the relavant text:

    I haven't built a linux driver for some years, now ... but I recall the toolchain being quite fussy (with good reason) about the actual versions
    of the individual tools. I have on occasion found that building my own
    kernel was the easiest way to get everything consistent (or it may just
    be that I didn't understand the process well enough).

    The kernel was built by: x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-12 (Ubuntu 12.3.0-1ubuntu1~22.04) 12.3.0 You are using:

    That looks truncated ... it should tell you what version you are using
    but that information is missing.

    You can find out the actual version of gcc that you have installed by typing

    gcc --version

    With a distro as old as Ubuntu 22.04 you may find that successive
    updates have landed with a newer kernel (compiled using a newer compiler
    than you have) or a newer compiler (than was used to compile the
    kernel). Short of switching to a fresh distro with no updates (which
    *should* be consistent) or building your own kernel and drivers with the compiler you have I don't know a way to ensure consistency.

    1: gcc-12: not found make[3]: ***

    That seems to be saying that the make tool isn't installed. The easiest
    way to get the full toolchain installed is to install the metapackage
    called "build-essential".

    --
    Cheers,
    Daniel.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Daniel James (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Davey@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, November 28, 2024 14:23:58
    On Thu, 28 Nov 2024 13:53:53 +0000
    Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> wrote:

    On 27/11/2024 15:11, Davey wrote:
    When I initiate the Install procedure, it stops on a compiler
    difference condition. I pate the relavant text:

    I haven't built a linux driver for some years, now ... but I recall
    the toolchain being quite fussy (with good reason) about the actual
    versions of the individual tools. I have on occasion found that
    building my own kernel was the easiest way to get everything
    consistent (or it may just be that I didn't understand the process
    well enough).

    The kernel was built by: x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-12 (Ubuntu 12.3.0-1ubuntu1~22.04) 12.3.0 You are using:

    That looks truncated ... it should tell you what version you are
    using but that information is missing.

    You can find out the actual version of gcc that you have installed by
    typing

    gcc --version

    With a distro as old as Ubuntu 22.04 you may find that successive
    updates have landed with a newer kernel (compiled using a newer
    compiler than you have) or a newer compiler (than was used to compile
    the kernel). Short of switching to a fresh distro with no updates
    (which *should* be consistent) or building your own kernel and
    drivers with the compiler you have I don't know a way to ensure
    consistency.

    1: gcc-12: not found make[3]: ***

    That seems to be saying that the make tool isn't installed. The
    easiest way to get the full toolchain installed is to install the
    metapackage called "build-essential".


    Thanks for the response. The deeper I get into this, the
    more complicated it becomes. When I installed Zoneminder into the
    original ver. 8.04 machine, it was simple: Follow a script, edit a
    conf. file for the card, re-boot and start operating. This just goes
    from nothing to another nothing. and the old Pentium 111 PC using ver.
    8.04 is still working with Zoneminder!
    My present options seem to be:
    Abandon using the new PC with its own Zoneminder setup (includes
    removing the video input card. Maybe I can re-sell it!); continue to use
    the old PC, on which I can still view screens and operate the setup
    from other PCs; try again to get the Swann system to talk to Ubuntu, but
    as far as I can see that is not a common concept.

    But I have wasted enough time on this new PC and Zoneminder to say:
    "Enough is enough".
    Thanks for confirming that what I am trying to do is pointless!

    --
    Davey.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Daniel James@2:250/1 to All on Thursday, November 28, 2024 23:08:40
    On 28/11/2024 14:23, Davey wrote:
    Thanks for confirming that what I am trying to do is pointless!

    I didn't say 'pointless' ... and there may be easier ways through the
    process than I know ... but it does require that everything use
    compatible versions of all the tools, and the easiest way to ensure compatibility is to be consistent.

    I take it you have seen this:

    https://zoneminder.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installationguide/ubuntu.html

    It seems someone has provided a prebuilt binary in a PPA, which you can
    chose to trust and just install.

    --
    Cheers,
    Daniel.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Daniel James (2:250/1@fidonet)