Install the IPU6 Webcam Driver on Debian 13 (Trixie)

install-intel-ipu6-driver-on-debian-13.md

Install the IPU6 Webcam Driver on Debian 13 (Trixie)

Since kernel 6.10, the IPU6 driver has been included in the mainline kernel. This guide explains how to install the driver on Debian 13 and its derivatives.

Tested Environment

• PC: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
  • Camera: UHD 8.0MP + IR discrete, with privacy shutter, MIPI, fixed focus, Computer Vision, temporal noise reduction
• OS: Debian GNU/Linux 13 “Trixie”
  • Kernel: 6.12.38+deb13-amd64

Installation Steps

1. Install the required packages

   sudo apt install linux-headers-amd64 dkms git

2. Clone the driver source

   git clone https://github.com/intel/ipu6-drivers
   cd ipu6-drivers

3. Add the DKMS module

   sudo dkms add .

4. Build and install the module

   sudo dkms build ipu6-drivers/0.0.0
   sudo dkms install ipu6-drivers/0.0.0

   Or, simply run:

   sudo dkms autoinstall ipu6-drivers/0.0.0

References

• https://github.com/intel/ipu6-drivers
• https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=297262

Unfortunately, I "also" (assuming that many people also couldn't get it working) have no luck with the Dell Latitude 7640. The MIPI camera just doesn't work. Here I use Debian Stable with the kernel from the trixie-backport, which is currently at 6.17.13.
Only with qcam, you can reliably get the camera working again and again, but the picture is upside down. Other methods will occasionally work only.

I hope for the Linux kernel 6.18 release, which is said to ship support for MIPI cameras https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.18-USB
If someone should have Debian Sid running, then you might be able to test this right now already.

im on debian sid with 6.18, and qcam is fine but the quality is terrible

Unfortunately, I "also" (assuming that many people also couldn't get it working) have no luck with the Dell Latitude 7640. The MIPI camera just doesn't work. Here I use Debian Stable with the kernel from the trixie-backport, which is currently at 6.17.13. Only with qcam, you can reliably get the camera working again and again, but the picture is upside down. Other methods will occasionally work only.

I hope for the Linux kernel 6.18 release, which is said to ship support for MIPI cameras https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.18-USB If someone should have Debian Sid running, then you might be able to test this right now already.