PiCam stream stopped working after a reboot

quloquloqulo · July 8, 2020, 4:00pm

The Raspberry Pi camera worked properly until today morning. Currently I got the error

"Webcam stream not loaded"

If I check the webcamd status I get:

webcamd.service - the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config
Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/webcamd.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: start-limit-hit) since Wed 2020-07-08 17:57:18 CEST; 4min 54s ago
Process: 571 ExecStart=/root/bin/webcamd (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Jul 08 17:57:18 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Service RestartSec=100ms expired, scheduling restart.
Jul 08 17:57:18 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 5.
Jul 08 17:57:18 octopi systemd[1]: Stopped the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config.
Jul 08 17:57:18 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Jul 08 17:57:18 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Failed with result 'start-limit-hit'.
Jul 08 17:57:18 octopi systemd[1]: Failed to start the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config.

I get an appropriate response with the commands:
raspivid -v -o testvideo.h264 -t 5000
raspistill -v -o test.jpg
so I don't think it's a camera problem (Anyway I tried to replace the cable, but I got the same result).

Tried also to update and upgrade...

Any suggestion?

octoprint.log (25.4 KB)

/var/log/webcamd.log not found

I'm running octoprint 1.4.0 on Rasperry Pi 3B+

Edit 1:
I managed to get it to work with the commands:

git clone https://github.com/jacksonliam/mjpg-streamer.git
cd mjpg-streamer/mjpg-streamer-experimental
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=.
make
./mjpg_streamer -i "./input_raspicam.so -fps 15" -o "./output_http.so"

So it's definitely not an hardware problem.

The question now is: what caused the previous problem? and how do I solve it? with this method the stream starts but I should write a script to lunch it at every reboot

Edit 2:
Doing a

sudo service webcamd restart
service webcamd status

I get this output:

webcamd.service - the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config
Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/webcamd.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: activating (start) since Wed 2020-07-08 20:44:05 CEST; 505ms ago
Cntrl PID: 2102 (webcamd)
Tasks: 2 (limit: 2077)
Memory: 872.0K
CGroup: /system.slice/webcamd.service
|-2102 /bin/bash /root/bin/webcamd
`-2116 sleep 1
Jul 08 20:44:05 octopi webcamd[2102]: /dev/video0
Jul 08 20:44:05 octopi webcamd[2102]: /dev/video10
Jul 08 20:44:05 octopi webcamd[2102]: /dev/video11
Jul 08 20:44:05 octopi webcamd[2102]: /dev/video12
Jul 08 20:44:05 octopi webcamd[2102]: raspi
Jul 08 20:44:05 octopi webcamd[2102]: config file='/boot/octopi.txt':USB device was not set in options, start MJPG-strea
Jul 08 20:44:05 octopi root[2114]: Starting USB webcam
Jul 08 20:44:05 octopi webcamd[2102]: <13>Jul 8 20:44:05 root: Starting USB webcam
Jul 08 20:44:05 octopi webcamd[2102]: Running ./mjpg_streamer -o output_http.so -w ./www-octopi -n -i input_uvc.so -r 64
Jul 08 20:44:05 octopi webcamd[2102]: /root/bin/webcamd: l< C3>< AD>nia 120: ./mjpg_streamer: El fitxer o directori no exi

Could my problem be related to the last line?

Edit 3:
I tried to set "raspi" (instead of "auto") in octopi.txt and now in journalctl -u webcamd

Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: Starting up webcamDaemon...
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: --- Configuration: ----------------------------
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: cfg_file: /boot/octopi.txt
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: camera: raspi
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: usb options: -r 640x480 -f 10
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: raspi options: -fps 10
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: http options: -w ./www-octopi -n
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: Explicitly USB device:
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: -----------------------------------------------
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: Found video devices:
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: /dev/video0
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: /dev/video10
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: /dev/video11
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: /dev/video12
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: raspi
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: config file='/boot/octopi.txt':Start MJPG-streamer with video device: raspi
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi root[20539]: Starting Raspberry Pi camera
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: <13>Jul 9 17:37:38 root: Starting Raspberry Pi camera
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: Running ./mjpg_streamer -o output_http.so -w ./www-octopi -n -i input_raspicam.so
Jul 09 17:37:38 octopi webcamd[20528]: /root/bin/webcamd: lnia 120: ./mjpg_streamer: El fitxer o directori no ex
Jul 09 17:38:09 octopi webcamd[20528]: Done bring up all configured video device
Jul 09 17:38:09 octopi webcamd[20528]: Goodbye...
Jul 09 17:38:09 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Succeeded.
Jul 09 17:38:09 octopi systemd[1]: Started the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config.
Jul 09 17:38:10 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Service RestartSec=100ms expired, scheduling restart.
Jul 09 17:38:10 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 4.
Jul 09 17:38:10 octopi systemd[1]: Stopped the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config.
Jul 09 17:27:49 octopi webcamd[19959]: /dev/video10
Jul 09 17:27:49 octopi webcamd[19959]: /dev/video11
Jul 09 17:27:49 octopi webcamd[19959]: /dev/video12
Jul 09 17:27:49 octopi webcamd[19959]: raspi
Jul 09 17:27:49 octopi webcamd[19959]: config file='/boot/octopi.txt':Start MJPG-streamer with video device: raspi
Jul 09 17:27:49 octopi root[19970]: Starting Raspberry Pi camera
Jul 09 17:27:49 octopi webcamd[19959]: <13>Jul 9 17:27:49 root: Starting Raspberry Pi camera
Jul 09 17:27:49 octopi webcamd[19959]: Running ./mjpg_streamer -o output_http.so -w ./www-octopi -n -i input_raspicam.so
Jul 09 17:27:49 octopi webcamd[19959]: /root/bin/webcamd: lnia 120: ./mjpg_streamer: El fitxer o directori no ex
Jul 09 17:28:20 octopi webcamd[19959]: Done bring up all configured video device
Jul 09 17:28:20 octopi webcamd[19959]: Goodbye...
Jul 09 17:28:20 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Succeeded.
Jul 09 17:28:20 octopi systemd[1]: Started the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config.
Jul 09 17:28:20 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Service RestartSec=100ms expired, scheduling restart.
Jul 09 17:28:20 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 761.
Jul 09 17:28:20 octopi systemd[1]: Stopped the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config.
Jul 09 17:28:20 octopi systemd[1]: Starting the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config...
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: Starting up webcamDaemon...
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: --- Configuration: ----------------------------
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: cfg_file: /boot/octopi.txt
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: camera: raspi
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: usb options: -r 640x480 -f 10
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: raspi options: -fps 10
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: http options: -w ./www-octopi -n
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: Explicitly USB device:
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: -----------------------------------------------
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: Found video devices:
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: /dev/video0
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: /dev/video10
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: /dev/video11
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: /dev/video12
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: raspi
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: config file='/boot/octopi.txt':Start MJPG-streamer with video device: raspi
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi root[19995]: Starting Raspberry Pi camera
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: <13>Jul 9 17:28:21 root: Starting Raspberry Pi camera
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: Running ./mjpg_streamer -o output_http.so -w ./www-octopi -n -i input_raspicam.so
Jul 09 17:28:21 octopi webcamd[19983]: /root/bin/webcamd: lnia 120: ./mjpg_streamer: El fitxer o directori no ex
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi webcamd[19983]: Done bring up all configured video device
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi webcamd[19983]: Goodbye...
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Succeeded.
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi systemd[1]: Started the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config.
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Service RestartSec=100ms expired, scheduling restart.
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi systemd[1]: webcamd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 762.
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi systemd[1]: Stopped the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config.
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi systemd[1]: Starting the OctoPi webcam daemon with the user specified config...
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi webcamd[20007]: Starting up webcamDaemon...
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi webcamd[20007]: --- Configuration: ----------------------------
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi webcamd[20007]: cfg_file: /boot/octopi.txt
Jul 09 17:28:52 octopi webcamd[20007]: camera: raspi

it seems to have been trying to start the webcamDaemon all day..

derZorn · July 9, 2020, 5:20pm

I feel your pain..
Same problem here, seems to be around the same time that happened.
I just installed a fresh Octopi and was happy seeing a video stream from my c270 in the Chrome Browser after reading a ton of stuff on the net and these forums when I couldn't get it to work in Firefox.
Then I rebooted and the image is gone ever since.
I can access the camera page, but I only get blank images for both snapshot and stream...

Ewald_Ikemann · July 9, 2020, 5:31pm

Hello @derZorn!

Firefox is quite over sensible with some things. You may try to disable the protection for the OctoPrint GUI with the little shield left to the address bar:

derZorn · July 9, 2020, 5:41pm

No problem, I use Chrome on most of my devices anyway.
The stream did work flawlessly on a number of devices including an Ipad , Notebook and Windows PC.
It just stopped for no reason that I can see.

derZorn · July 9, 2020, 6:19pm

So, since I am willing to solve that issue.
I started the whole process from scratch on another SD card.

I use a Raspberry Pi4b 2Gb.
use version '2019-09-26-octopi-buster-lite-0.17.0.img' to
freshly install on SD-Card as per instructions on octoprint.org
Camera works out of the box.
update to 1.4.0 as suggested by the screaming window on the top right
.. reload page
still working
reboot Raspi
still working !
let's see what happens when I connect the Ender...

derZorn · July 9, 2020, 6:28pm

Ok, had a hunch and tried this....

turnig off the Raspi
cut the power
then boot again...
Here's what it did look like before:

octopi1657×863 244 KB
`

And this is what I am seeing after I power down,cut the power and reboot..

What the ??
Any ideas ?

and another warm reboot later...

This is weird, and really unreliable. Why is this happening ?

Ewald_Ikemann · July 9, 2020, 6:37pm

Maybe a camera issue? Do you have another to test?

derZorn · July 9, 2020, 6:56pm

I fear I don't have another camera.
It seems the camera is not correctly recognized as chrome lists the webcam tab as 'webcam(640x480) .
The c270 should have an HD resolution (1280 x 720 px) .
So I set my
camera option in octopi.txt to reflect this.

camera_usb_options="-r 1280x720 -f 30"

after cold restart, I got a scrambled but widescreen image from the camera similar to the one above,
then I rebooted warm and the image is as intended...
Still weird, but I guess I can live with that for now.

I've been here before.
Now to connect the Ender...

quloquloqulo · July 9, 2020, 7:43pm

My problem is different... I'm unable to start the webcam daemon properly...
The raspi cam has no issue it works but the daemon doesn't start and I can't see anything in the control tab

derZorn · July 9, 2020, 8:38pm

Sorry for somewhat hijacking your post, hope you find a solution to your problem and post it here.

quloquloqulo · July 10, 2020, 11:43am

After a fresh installation of OctoPi on another microsd every works again... I also restored a backup and everything seems to be ok...
Is there a metod to reinstall OctoPi without losing installations of other things (such as postgresql, multi-instance Octoprint, pyaes, scripts, etc.) it would take me a while to restore everything ... as long as I don't forget something...

[already tried to upgrade/downgrade, nothing happened]

Manny · November 26, 2020, 3:55pm

this worked for me https://www.reddit.com/r/octoprint/comments/f85szx/need_to_run_sudo_systemctl_restart_webcamd_over/

jneilliii · November 26, 2020, 7:31pm

You modified /etc/systemd/system/webcamd.service and added After=octoprint.service in the Unit section? That's actually not a bad idea and could be incorporated into octopi if that resolves a lot of issues for others.

jakebullet70 · February 7, 2021, 11:43am

This too worked for me but only for 1 day. (i did soft reboots and all was good) Next day back to the snowy webcam. If i go to the terminal a 'sudo service webcamd restart' works. Strange problem.

HarleyA · March 24, 2021, 2:55pm

Having the same issue on a clean install. I can boot without the c270 cam connected, plug the cam in after it boots and everything is good. But I get the same distorted video if I boot with the cam connected.