Skip to main content

Camera Connection and Usage

Configuration Order Reminder

Please strictly follow the order 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 camera parameter settings.

If you have already misoperated: If you configured the camera first but the crowsnest service was not enabled, you usually need to delete the camera configuration in the Web interface and then add it again 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 a USB port on the host computer, not into other non-USB interfaces on the host.
  • Camera Requirements: Please use a driverless, plug-and-play USB camera. Such cameras can usually be used directly in Klipper environments on systems like Linux, Armbian, etc., without requiring additional driver installation.
  • 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.
    Loading...
    Loading...
    • You will now see the .flyos-config folder. Inside this folder there is a file named sys-config.conf.
    Loading...
    • The sys-config.conf file is a symbolic link to the config.txt configuration file located in the FlyOS-Conf removable disk.
    Loading...

    • 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 change, save the configuration and restart the system
  • Please note, after modifying the configuration file, a system restart is required for the changes to take effect.
    Loading...

Open Configuration​

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

  • In Fluidd, find the configuration file, then open crowsnest.conf

    Loading...

  • Find device: and delete the ID configuration after it

    Loading...

Search for Camera ID​

tip
  • Please ensure the camera is already connected to the host computer.
  • Click on DEVICES above, then click VIDEO, and finally click refresh
    Loading...
  • Find path_by_id and copy the line following it
    Loading...

Add ID​

  • Add the ID and save the configuration
    Loading...

Enable Camera​

  • Click Settings, select Camera, then click Add Camera
    Loading...
  • Enter a name you like and click Save
    Loading...

Check if Enabled​

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