HOWTO DVD+/-RW writing without packet writing

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Because the DVD+RW format allows a true UDF file system, you can write to them without using packet writing. You do not need to apply any packet writing patches to the kernel to use this method of DVD+RW writing.

[edit] Walkthrough

Make sure to you compile UDF support into your kernel.

Linux Kernel Configuration: UDF support
File systems --->
   CD-ROM/DVD File Systems --->
      <M> UDF file system support

Edit you /etc/fstab and make sure you have two entries. One for accessing DVD in "normal" mode and one for accessing in writing mode.

/dev/hdb                /mnt/dvdrw      udf             noauto,noatime,unhide,users,rw          0 0
/dev/hdb                /mnt/cdrom      auto            noauto,noatime,ro,users                 0 0

My burner device location is /dev/hdb. Change this to point to your burner location.

Make sure you have the folder needed for the mount points.

mkdir /mnt/cdrom
mkdir /mnt/dvdrw

To format a new disc

dvd+rw-format /dev/hdb
mkudffs /dev/hdb

dvd+rw-format is from the dvd+rw-tools package and mkudffs is from the udftools package which you may need to emerge. The media must NOT be mounted when you perform these commands.

Mount the writeable disc and change permissions.

mount /dev/hdb /mnt/dvdrw
chmod a+rw /mnt/dvdrw

You only have to change the permissions the first time you mount the writeable disc.

You should now be able to copy to the folder as any user now.

Make sure to unmount the disc when done.

For KDE users, make two device icons on your desktop. One for DVDROM access and one for DVD+RW access. (You can name them whatever you want) Under the device properties both will point to /dev/hdb, but the mount points will be different. In addition make sure to unclick the read-only property for the writer. You can now use the desktop icons to mount and unmount both.

Warning: Every rw mount costs a superblock write and the media life is only about 1000 writes. When the superblock is dead, the data is gone. So tried to minimize your number of mounts. Either mount only when you needed to write or leave mounted if you leave your system on.

[edit] See also

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