Kernel Configuration - Part XXVI

No one can accuse us of covering Linux kernel configuration lightly. Today,
we’re at part 26 with a look at the Multimedia Device section.

The name of this section is, in fact, a bit deceptive. Configuring multimedia
device support is not about your sound card. It is, instead, about building
support for video and radio cards into your kernel or modules. More precisely,
the multimedia device configuration creates support for video/audio capture and
overlay devices.

When is this necessary? If you’re one of the ever-increasing number of webcam
users on the ‘net, you’ll need this support. Most TV tuner cards also require
these capabilities, especially those that provide “capture on the fly” functions

for creating stills from a TV or webcam signal. So, if you’re currently using
these devices and features, or have plans to do so in the future, you’ll need
multimedia device support in your kernel configuration.

As with the other kernel sections, you’ll need to choose your device brand
and/or interface protocol from the multimedia device section.

Tomorrow, we’ll look in-depth at filesystem support in the Linux kernel.