[NTLUG:Discuss] Multiple CD-R Burners / Observations & Questions

[David Simmons]

Just to 'complete the thread', I thought I'd post the suggestions of
everyone (multiple-LUG's) and give the 'final results'.  It seemed that
the CLI, by-hand method was the way to go.  Here's what my
command-line/script turned out to be (note:  it seemed best to run this
script as ROOT so that CDRecord could set the 'priority' of the command
- as a user, it complained a bit):

cdrecord -v -speed=24 -dev=0,0,0 -data -eject -driveropts=burnfree
-fs=24m filename.iso

and of course change -dev=0,1,0 for the 2nd drive (and any additional).

Reasons for changes:

Since my filesize is <300M, it was suggested that the limit is 24x
anyways (since can only do the 'faster speeds' on the outer rings of the
disks and my filesize never gets me there).  Which is quite accurate,
because my Average Write Speeds (as reported by CDRecord) was between
16x - 18x.

Since both of my CD-Writers are fairly new - why not use the BURNFREE
option to ensure no failures.  While doing a test run of 10 burns,
CDRecord reported 'BURN-Free was never needed'....but it makes sense to
turn 'on' (since the default is off) for those 'just in case' times.
Good idea.

The -fs=24m defines buffer space.  Looks like the default FIFO buffer is
4Mb.  After doing incremental increases, it seemed at the 24M performed
the best (ie. with 'cdrecord: fifo was 0 times empty' messages).

The Results:

Since my .ISO image is only 147Mb....I was able to burn a CD every two
minutes....which means with dual-burners, I was able to kick out 10 CD's
in 5 minutes....or a rack of 50 in about 1/2 hour.....not too shabby.

HTH - Dave