CD-Writing HOWTO

Winfried Trümper <winni@xpilot.org>

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Disclaimer
• 1.2 Suggested readings
• 1.3 Terminology ... lasers at maximum ... fire!
• 1.4 Supported CD-Writers
• 1.5 Supported "features"
• 1.6 Mailinglists
• 1.7 Availability

2. Prepare your Linux-box for writing CD-ROMs

• 2.1 Set up the hardware
• 2.2 A note on writing CDs under Linux
• 2.3 Create the generic devices
• 2.4 Enable usage of the generic SCSI and loopback devices
• 2.5 Build and install the kernel
• 2.6 Reboot the computer for the changes to take effect.
• 2.7 Create loopback devices
• 2.8 Get the user-software for burning CDs

3. "If to smoke you turn I shall not cease to fiddle while you burn."

• 3.1 Determine which generic scsi device the writer is attached to
• 3.2 Collect software
• 3.3 Storing data on a CD.
• 3.4 Create an iso9660 filesystem
• 3.5 Test the CD-image
• 3.6 Remarks on the blank CD-Recordable discs
• 3.7 Write the CD-image to a CD
• 3.8 If something goes wrong ...

4. Frequently asked questions with answers

• 4.1 "How sensitive is the burning process?"
• 4.2 "Has fragmentation a bad impact on the throughput?"
• 4.3 "Is it possible to store the CD-image on an UMSDOS-filesystem?"
• 4.4 "Isn't there some way to get around the iso9660 limitations?"
• 4.5 "How to read and write audio CDs?"
• 4.6 "How to probe for SCSI-devices after boot?"
• 4.7 "Is it possible to make a 1:1 copy of a data CD?"
• 4.8 "Can Linux read Joliet CDs?"
• 4.9 "How do I read/mount CD-ROMs with the CD-writer?"

5. Troubleshooting

• 5.1 It doesn't work: under Linux
• 5.2 It doesn't work: under DOS and friends
• 5.3 SCSI errors during the burning phase

6. Credits