Linux is preffered. Least amount of problems are encounterd when both developing and using existing applications. Here is a simple step by step LINUX INSTALL instruction.

If you need to have this running under Microsoft Windows you will need CYGWIN. You will find instructions on how to install Player/Stage under Microsoft Windows using CYGWIN INSTALL by Paul Osmialowski.

A simple way of using Player/Stage software under Microsoft Windows is to use recompiled versions of playerv and videoplayer. DOWNLOAD EXPERIMENTAL PACKAGES by Paul Osmialowski.

A detailed instruction on how to install the Player/Stage system can be found here: Player Installation

A HOWTO for the Gentoo distribution can be found on the Gentoo-Wiki pages. GENTOO INSTALLATION

videoplayer by Paul Osmialowski
Once installed:

#videoplayer vlab.pjwstk.edu.pl 6665 x

where x is the index number of a camera interface

playerv by Player/Stage Team
Once installed:

#playerv -h vlab.pjwstk.edu.pl -p 6665

winplayerv recompiled by Paul Osmialowski
Once downloaded and extracted, go to the Start Menu, then Run, and type in: cmd

move to the directory where the extracted files are located and type

#playerv -h vlab.pjwstk.edu.pl

A detailed documentation on how to connect using these clients can be found here: Client Examples

Player Server = vlab.pjwstk.edu.pl
Read-Only Port = 6665

Clear Camera
0 - firewire
1 - pioneer

Filtered Camera
5 - firewire canny
6 - pioneer canny