Acer Aspire 5630 orbicam camera problem

I found out that my camera is not supported by by the gspca module. it seems to be supporting quite a few cameras from logitech but not mine. Thats why the /dev/video0 file was not getting created.
I came to know that USB Video class is supporting my camera (from linux-uvc.berlios.de) and I was able to make it work on my system. I am putting the details here so that it maybe of use to somebody else.

(1) Install the following packages:-
linux-uvc-source - Linux Kernel USB Video Class module
linux-uvc-tools - Linux Kernel USB Video Class module
(2) This puts the uvc source in /usr/src
extract the source. it comes to modules directory (/usr/src/modules/linux-uvc)
(a)type make
The module shall get compiled.(Ensure that headers
for your kernel are installed otherwise it will fail.
Incase you are a newbie this means that the linux-headers package for your kernel must be there.
If it is the default etch kernel this package shall be
linux-headers-2.6.18-4-686. To know your kernel no
type uname -r or see the name in grub before bootup )
(b) type make install
This puts your uvcvideo.ko (the kernel driver) into /lib/modules/2.6.18-4-686/usb/video (put your kernel name here if it is different).
On my system modprobe uvcvideo was not working so i loaded it manually using insmod modulename (must include full path as shown above i.e. insmod /lib/modules/2.6.18-4-686/usb/video/uvcvideo.ko as ROOT)

If it gives an error about some symbols not being present like me remember that it depends on some other modules (usbcore, videodev ,v4l1_compat , v4l2_common , compat_ioctl32) whidh are missing. in that case modprobe for these modules also.
When you do lsmod after this it should look something like below:-
# lsmod |grep uvcvideo
>> > uvcvideo 37156 0
>> > compat_ioctl32 1472 1 uvcvideo
>> > videodev 21120 1 uvcvideo
>> > v4l1_compat 12036 2 uvcvideo,videodev
>> > v4l2_common 20448 2 uvcvideo,videodev
>> > usbcore 112644 5 uvcvideo,usbhid,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
>> >

This shows that the module is loaded. It is now ready to be used but problem doesn't finish here. You now need software which supports the linux usb video class. Unfortumately it doesn't work with camorama and i couldn't see any image on xawtv also).
For this the software luvcview should be available. Unfortunately it did not reach etch(its still a part of lenny for some reason). So i downloaded a copy from http://mxhaard.free.fr/download.html .
Extract the tar file.
It needs the libsdl1.2-dev package for successful compilation so please install this package and for running libsdl1.2debian will be needed which will get put automatically when you put the dev package. (I actually put second one and put the first one when it did not compile!!).
(for newbies this can be done easily by typing aptitude install AS ROOT).
Then type make in the directory where you have put the uvcview software code). It will compile and produce the luvcview executable.
Type make install to run it. I have to run the luvcview -f yuv option to use my camera.
This shows me my live video and i can take snapshots also.
The picture is not very good but ok atleast it works decently. Unfortunately the recording start/stop button doesn't seem to be producing any actual avi files. (the files are stored in same directory with current time date as name so don't get confused with some ppm or someother name format extension)
To get the video i installed the ffmpeg utility using apt.
ffmpeg -y -vd /dev/video0 -target vcd -t 15 test.avi records my video for 15 seconds.

I hope it wasn't very confusing. If somebody else is having the same laptop they could also get it working.

I was also able to get my wifi to work now which i didn't query here. it a 3945abg intel wifi on it. Put the following packages for it to work:-
(1) firmware-ipw3945 9 (The firmware or microcode)
(2) ipw3945d 9 (The daemon)
(3) ipw3945-modules-2.6.18-4-686 (The module)
Earlier i had put only the last item thats why it was not working. one of the packages above is non-free so i got it from the non-free section.
After this wifi is detected and when i switch on/off the switch i get an appropriate kernel message. it tries to scan the wifi network also in kwifimanager.

I have tried to put all information here. If you have doubts feel free to get back to me.
Thanks.

This is a very interesting! Anyway, I believe that you have a WiFi and the OrbiCam working. Well, basically if you have been able to get all devices working seamlessly then I will follow suit. Have a good one!

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