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Camera Connection and Usage

Configuration Sequence Reminder

Please strictly follow the sequence below, otherwise the camera may not be recognized:

  1. First, enable the service: Ensure the crowsnest service is started and running normally.
  2. Then, configure the camera: After the service is running normally, proceed with the specific parameter settings for the camera.

If misoperation occurred: If you configured the camera first but the crowsnest service was not enabled, you typically need to delete the camera configuration in the Web interface and then re-add it to ensure the configuration takes effect.

Note: This refers to deleting the camera configuration entry in the Web interface, not deleting the crowsnest.cfg configuration file.

Connection and Configuration Notes
  • Connection Method: Please plug the camera directly into the USB port of the host computer, not into other non-USB ports on the host.
  • Camera Requirements: Please use a driver-free, plug-and-play USB camera. Such cameras can usually be used directly in Linux, Armbian, and other Klipper environments without needing additional drivers.
  • Software Environment: This tutorial is based on the latest versions of Klipper, Crowsnest, and Fluidd. If you use Mainsail or other frontends, the configuration principles are similar. Please refer to their official documentation for specific operations.

Important Notes​

Must Read
  • Settings in the configuration file will only take effect the first time the system starts after flashing.
  • As the configuration process is relatively complicated, it is highly recommended to connect to the device via network and then configure through a browser.
  • This tutorial only provides modifiable options.
Note
  • It is recommended to use either mainsail or fluidd web interfaces for configuration changes.
  • Please do not enable browser translation, as the system may fail to start after saving.
  • It is better not to enter Chinese or special characters in the configuration file.
  • Changes to the configuration file will take effect only after restarting the system.
dangerous
  • Do not modify any content below ######### PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THE FOLLOWING ######### in the configuration file.

How to Modify the Configuration File​

Modifying the Configuration File After Flashing​

  • Configuration options that only take effect on the first boot must be modified by using a professional text editor to open the config.txt configuration file located in the FlyOS-Conf removable disk immediately after flashing.

Online Configuration Modification After System Startup​

  • For general configuration options, you can modify them via the web configuration interface of the system and the changes will take effect after restarting the system.

    • Open the device's IP address in your browser, for example: 192.168.1.2/
    • In fluidd, uncheck the option as shown in the left image below -> Hide hidden files and folders.
    • In mainsail, check the option as shown in the right image below -> Show hidden files.
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    • You will now see the .flyos-config folder. Inside this folder there is a file named sys-config.conf.
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    • The sys-config.conf file is a symbolic link to the config.txt configuration file located in the FlyOS-Conf removable disk.
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    • Open the sys-config.conf file, modify the required configuration items, then Save -> Close and restart the system.

    • Note: The format of configuration items in the sys-config.conf file is key=value. Do not change it to key: value.

    • After saving modifications, restart the system for the changes to take effect.

Enable the Crowsnest Service​

  • In the configuration, search for crowsnest=0 and change it to crowsnest=1
  • After making the changes, save the configuration and restart the system
  • Please note that after modifying the configuration file, a system restart is required for the changes to take effect.
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Open the Configuration​

tip
  • The camera ID varies depending on the system; we only need to identify the ID that will not change.

  • In Fluidd, locate the configuration file and open crowsnest.conf

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  • Find device: and delete the ID configured after it

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Search for Camera ID​

tip
  • Ensure the camera is connected to the host machine.
  • Click on DEVICES at the top, then click VIDEO, and finally click refresh
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  • Locate path_by_id and copy the line following it
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Add the ID​

  • Add the ID and save the configuration
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Enable the Camera​

  • Click on Settings, select Camera, and then click Add Camera
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  • Enter a name of your choice and click Save
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Check if Enabled​

  • Click on the Dashboard; the camera feed should now appear normally
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  • If it does not display, restart the system again
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