Howdy: Multiple Cameras

[joshlangley]

I often plug my laptop into a sort of docking station setup with an external webcam (which I use most of the time), but there is the occasion when I want to use Howdy authentication when my laptop is unplugged. (And use the builtin webcam.) I don't know how easy it would be to implement, but it would be nice for there to be support for multiple webcam devices.
Thanks again for this wonderful software!

[boltgolt]

Does sound nice, if more people are interested i'll consider implementing it

[Barltarman]

I have the exact same scenario, would love to have this functionality. The only issue I would have though is that the external webcam doesn't have any IR emitters so would be reliant upon the IR coming from the laptop. Would that even be possible? Love the app btw, so incredibly useful!

[dav-is]

This is something I'd be interested in. Ideally, it would first try to use my external webcam, and if it wasn't detected it would fallback to the webcam on my laptop. My external webcam has IR emitters, as well as the new laptop I've been looking at buying next month.

[tdaniely]

To make it work for now.

1. Add file /lib/udev/rules.d/99-howdy-camera-select.rules
   Replace video0 / video2 with your devices. The first one is the camera from the dock. The second one is the builtin. The first device in the list that is found will grab the symlink, You can chain as many as you want.

KERNEL=="video2", SYMLINK+="videohowdy"
KERNEL=="video0", SYMLINK+="videohowdy"

1. trigger udev sudo udevadm trigger
2. sudo howdy config
device_path = /dev/videohowdy
   
   
   
   1. if you close your lid when docked then also
      
      ignore_closed_lid = false
   
   
3. sudo howdy add with both cameras seperately.
4. magic.

Worked for me on Ubuntu 20.10 on latitude 5511 with Logitech BRIO through WD19TB dock.

Ain't linux great xD

[boltgolt]

See #515