webcam does not work

[iulek]

Dear all,

I have a latitude 9430. I shrinked windows, made new partitions and installed along, then as a dual boot, Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS. My webcam does not work. I searched a bit around, some information I gathered and mention here is:
i) In the bios, "enable camera" is ticket
ii) Both lspci and lsusb do not seem to list any device related to the camera
iii) I installed cheese, the message in its screen is "There was an error playing video from the webcam". At preferences --> webcam --> device, there is "ipu6" greyed out.
ipu6 should be an intel camera, right? For it to work, it should have its module loaded, right?

In fact:

"
root@silicon:~# lsmod | grep ipu6
intel_ipu6_psys 102400 0
intel_ipu6_isys 131072 0
videobuf2_dma_contig 20480 9 intel_ipu6_isys
videobuf2_v4l2 32768 1 intel_ipu6_isys
v4l2_fwnode 32768 2 ov02c10,intel_ipu6_isys
videobuf2_common 77824 4 videobuf2_dma_contig,videobuf2_v4l2,intel_ipu6_isy s,videobuf2_memops
v4l2_async 28672 3 v4l2_fwnode,ov02c10,intel_ipu6_isys
videodev 253952 5 v4l2_async,videobuf2_v4l2,ov02c10,intel_ipu6_isys, videobuf2_common
intel_ipu6 94208 2 intel_ipu6_isys,intel_ipu6_psys
mc 61440 5 videodev,videobuf2_v4l2,ov02c10,intel_ipu6_isys,vi deobuf2_common
root@silicon:~#
"

Might I suppose the module for the camera is loaded? So why does not the camera work? At this point I could not get to know how to proceed further.
Thanks,


J.

P.S.: camera works under windows...

[claydoh]

Try different tools, such as Kamoso, or a program that can access webcams (zoom), or a web interface to one.
Cheese can be....inconsistent.

What does lspci or lsusb actually show? it may not be obvious.
What kernel are you on?
Have you tried toggling any keyboard shortcusts tha enable/disasble the webcam?
Have you tried a more modern install, even via live session. to see if better support is found there?

How are you getting the ipu6 module in 20.04?
Apparently, not-crap support for this cam is very recent.
intel-ipu6-dkms is in Ubuntu, starting with 22.04, and less crappy support in newer kernel stacks.

Might I suppose the module for the camera is loaded?

Yes, but if it needs a binary firmware or binary driver blob, other support modules and libraries or manual configuration, the module by itself might be useless.

Have you seen this
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Dell

I think this hooks into Dell's own repos for related items for this, among other hardware support for a 9430.

camera works under windows...

Unfortunately, that is meaningless if Intel don't provide good support for it in Linux.

[Snowhog]

Maybe helpful: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/e...rating-systems

[GreyGeek]

On Snowhog's link is a suggestion to build a driver. Here is one source of code
https://github.com/intel/ipu6-drivers
and it is for
" Content of this repository:

• IPU6 kernel driver
• Drivers for HM11B1, OV01A1S, OV01A10, OV02C10, OV2740, HM2170 and HI556 sensors"

Does anything in lshw match one of those numbers?

[iulek]

Thanks for all input. Trying to be comprehensive.

iulek@silicon:/usr/local$ lspci
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 4601 (rev 04)
0000:00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Device 46a8 (rev 0c)
0000:00:04.0 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake Innovation Platform Framework Processor Participant (rev 04)
0000:00:05.0 Multimedia controller: Intel Corporation Device 465d (rev 04)
0000:00:06.0 System peripheral: Intel Corporation Device 09ab
0000:00:07.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Alder Lake-P Thunderbolt 4 PCI Express Root Port #0 (rev 04)
0000:00:07.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Alder Lake-P Thunderbolt 4 PCI Express Root Port Home (rev 04)
0000:00:08.0 System peripheral: Intel Corporation 12th Gen Core Processor Gaussian & Neural Accelerator (rev 04)
0000:00:0d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake-P Thunderbolt 4 USB Controller (rev 04)
0000:00:0d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake-P Thunderbolt 4 NHI #0 (rev 04)
0000:00:0e.0 RAID bus controller: Intel Corporation Volume Management Device NVMe RAID Controller
0000:00:12.0 Serial controller: Intel Corporation Device 51fc (rev 01)
0000:00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake PCH USB 3.2 xHCI Host Controller (rev 01)
0000:00:14.2 RAM memory: Intel Corporation Alder Lake PCH Shared SRAM (rev 01)
0000:00:14.3 Network controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake-P PCH CNVi WiFi (rev 01)
0000:00:15.0 Serial bus controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake PCH Serial IO I2C Controller #0 (rev 01)
0000:00:15.1 Serial bus controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake PCH Serial IO I2C Controller Home (rev 01)
0000:00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake PCH HECI Controller (rev 01)
0000:00:16.3 Serial controller: Intel Corporation Device 51e3 (rev 01)
0000:00:19.0 Serial bus controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake-P Serial IO I2C Controller #0 (rev 01)
0000:00:1d.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Device 51b3 (rev 01)
0000:00:1e.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake PCH UART #0 (rev 01)
0000:00:1e.3 Serial bus controller: Intel Corporation Device 51ab (rev 01)
0000:00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Alder Lake PCH eSPI Controller (rev 01)
0000:00:1f.3 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake PCH-P High Definition Audio Controller (rev 01)
0000:00:1f.4 SMBus: Intel Corporation Alder Lake PCH-P SMBus Host Controller (rev 01)
0000:00:1f.5 Serial bus controller: Intel Corporation Alder Lake-P PCH SPI Controller (rev 01)
0000:71:00.0 Unassigned class [ff00]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTS525A PCI Express Card Reader (rev 01)
10000:e0:06.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 12th Gen Core Processor PCI Express x4 Controller #0 (rev 04)
10000:e1:00.0 Non-Volatile memory controller: Micron Technology Inc Device 5411 (rev 01)
iulek@silicon:/usr/local$

iulek@silicon:/usr/local$ lsusb
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 1241:1111 Belkin Mouse
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 8086:0b63 Intel Corp. USB Bridge
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
iulek@silicon:/usr/local$

kernel:
5.15.0-67-generic

The F9 key should also turn on and of the camera; pressing it lights on and off its embedded led (and a small noise is heard); but no camera.

More modern install: Maybe I could try a system update

ipu6 module in 20.04: I have not done anything else apart from what comes with the distribution (up to now).

I saw the pointed links. If I get it well, there is no ready drivers (module) for this camera. And unfortunately lshw does not show any of HM11B1, OV01A1S, OV01A10, OV02C10, OV2740, HM2170 and HI556.

I will try to update my system, but as far as I understand, I would have to find somewhere the driver (module) for this webcam.

J.

[Schwarzer Kater]

This is certainly not what you want to hear, but IPU6 cameras don't seem to be a good choice for any Linux system at present - some information on how to solve this (or not…) in this (three months old) video "Intel Ruined Webcams, Now Slightly Less Broken":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRC44i27Bkw

PS: I don't know if those patches mentioned in the video have made it into kernel 6.2 yet, are being backported by the Ubuntu kernel team or with which kernel version they are released - something you could keep an eye on…

[claydoh]

From my link:

The Intel IPU6/IPU6EP is supported on some certified platforms, it contains the characteristic below:

• The IPU6 kernel driver is out-of-tree, we are collaborating with Intel about the upstream and maintenance
• Camera performance: 720p at 30fps
• CPU performance is impacted by a daemon doing buffer copying for v4l2 loopback device.
• To install IPU6/IPU6EP stack maunally on certified platform which install 20.04 stock Ubuntu

.......

Dell Latitude 9430

• $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:oem-solutions-engineers/oem-projects-meta
• $ sudo apt install oem-somerville-arbok-meta
• $ sudo apt update
• $ sudo apt full-upgrade
• $ sudo systemctl poweroff

This hooks into Dell's own repos for hardware support on the specific certified platforms

[Schwarzer Kater]

*thumbs up*

Luckily the OP seems to have a Dell laptop - for other brands a solution could be much more complicated.

[iulek]

Sorry for not answering so promptly, you all taking your time to advise me to solve my problem. As pointed by Claydoh, 9430 is my model and then it should be the way to go. I will let you know of success (or not, in case...).
I would just like to mention that I also installed kamoso as pointed earlier (like cheese, a new program I come to know), and that my former mention to windows was to say that the problem is not due to faulty hardware. Well, now it seems clear I should install the dell repository and follow its recipe.
Eeerr, at my system update a bit earlier... there is the good advice to not stop before full completion, but it stuck at a certain point, not my fault, so it got midway, and now some program are not working all right... before rebooting my laptop I had better make a full rsync to my external drive for security (which is at my work place). I will try to sort out, but maybe only tomorrow I can continue, to be in the safe side, i.e., to finish system update, go to Dell repository, etc.
Again, my gratitute and acknowledgement to all trying to help.

[iulek]

Good morning, just a quick note, I tried the procedure pointed at the dell's site for latitude 9430, no luck, in fact, I could not even boot normally my system, had to rescue to secure mode. I will have to pause this now due to some urgent demands at work. Thanks.

[Schwarzer Kater]

In the meantime you could write a quick e-mail asking the Dell support for a solution as they seem to officially support your laptop, *ubuntu and this camera.
I have no idea how good and/or willing to help they are, though.

[iulek]

Hello. Some follow-up. Recalling, I did the procedure described at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Dell , specifically the one at

"... To install IPU6/IPU6EP stack manually on 22.04 stock Ubuntu (non-certified for 22.04)..."

despite the warning

"... there is no guarantee that the Intel MIPI camera will work..." ;

I could no longer boot kubuntu normally but at least I can resort to a secure mode to get back the system.

But
"
root@silicon:/usr/local# apt-mark showmanual | grep ipu6
libcamhal-ipu6ep0
linux-modules-ipu6-generic-hwe-22.04
root@silicon:/usr/local#
"
At least at google-meet it does not say a camera is not available, but no image is captured (it seems to be using the camera).
I went to dell costumer, found this discussion
https://www.dell.com/community/Linux...ng/m-p/8322168
which pointed me to
https://github.com/intel/ipu6-drivers/issues/94
So, it seems an "easier"(?) solution would be to have the kernel 6.1.0; I m running now 5.15.0-67-generic. What I do not know is how good this idea might be, a more advanced kernel, tested/stable, this other area I would have to study more, and how to implement it (I suppose I had better have a stable release with this kernel).
As I can see the newest Kubuntu is 22.10 (Kinetic Kudu) is with kernel 5.19 (probably the one I have now after upgrade, but became faulty at trying to install the camera driver).
Thanks.

J.

[Schwarzer Kater]

Your GitHub link says that in one case the 6.1 kernel did work and in another it didn't (and the reason why it did in one case seems unclear)…
You could try booting from a USB stick with a daily Kubuntu 23.04 build - there the kernel is at version 6.1 - just to test this possibility, but I doubt the camera will "just work":
https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/daily-live/current/

If it does work this way you will only have to wait for another month until 23.04 is released.

[iulek]

Follow-up.
I booted from a pendrive containing Lunar Lobster Daily Build. I should say I could get the system to interact reasonably only when booting at safe graphics mode. But unfortunately, no camera here. Therefore, all I think now it to stack one other claim for Dell to provide (or develop) drivers, but I just devise the community forums.