Finding and installing CD-burner

[Bashar]

I bet this is a classic, but here I go anyway:

I have a computer with a LiteOn CD-RW 52x32x52 drive in it.
I run Mandrake 9.0.
How do I make sure if the drive is installed?
If it ain't installed, how do I do it?
And can you perhaps name the most critical system-files on Mandrake.
I have some experience from DOS and Windows, so I guess Linux also has some files like autoexec.bat and config.sys?

I know these are pretty fundamental things to know, but hey, I gotta start somewhere.
I have already been looking around for the CDROM for a while, but I can't seem to find it...

I hope you can assist me on one or more of these issues.
Bashar

[hard candy]

A good site to get started (http://home.powertech.no/oyvinsat/a/en/howto.html)

The above site is one of many to get you started. The Help file library on this site is good. Mandrake forums are good. O'Reilly books and their web site is good. There is more info in the man pages, just run "man ***" in the console for the command or program you want info on. Also, "info ***" will give info on programs. Put "mandrake" in the search utility on this site and you can read through some of the tips and solutions on this site.

[Satanic Atheist]

CD-Burners in Linux are ALWAYS listed as SCSI devices (whether they are or not).

If the CDROM drive is accessible (bung a CD in and see if you can access it) then chances are that the Burn feature is enabled as well (I think IDE-SCSI support is standard in the Mandrake stock kernel these days).

Using a CD-Burning package like K3B, burn a CD (or at least simulate it).

After installation, any detected CDROM drives have /mnt/cdrom* (where *= white space or a number). My machine has a DVD Rom (/mnt/cdrom) a CDRW drive (/mnt/cdrom1) and (initially undetected) SCSI CDROM. Since the SCSI controller had no drivers for it, I had to create /mnt/cdrom2 and set it all up manually.

If your drive is SCSI, you'll need drivers for your SCSI card. If you don't have these yet, post back and we'll (I'll???) help you get them.

As for the critical files, experiment as a user.

(MAKE SURE YOU ARE A USER FOR THIS AND NOT ROOT!!!)

Try:

> rm -rf /etc

And see what happens. As root, you'd quickly find a few things not working, and eventually nothing working. As a user, you won't be allowed to do it (I hope).

Just about every file on a linux system is critical, except stuff in your home directory and /tmp.

/dev are not files, they are devices.
/mnt is where you mount your extra (non-system) partitions and removable media
/opt is for optional packages (KDE goes in here)
/etc are the system configuration files (note - no executables)
/sbin is for System Binaries (for the root user)
/bin is for binaries (that anyone can use)
/usr is for user based stuff
/boot is for booting (duh!) - your kernel is in here
/tmp is temporary storage space
/home is for home files and user profiles

I think that's all (I'm not at a Linux terminal so I can't check).

Playing around as a user is (at most) able to break your logon account. You cannot damage a Linux system (easily) if you don't use the Root account.

AS for the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys (ahhh - that brings back memories), there is no "real" equivalent in Linux. That said, almost all configuration files in Linux are text based.

You can find your boot-up scripts in /etc/rc.d (and ./init.d). Since you're using mandrake try the following (as root):

> chkconfig --list

This lists what services are started on bootup. You can turn off unneeded services (lpd? - the Line Printer Daemon for example) with the following command:

> chkconfig --level 123456 lpd off

And to turn it back on in run levels 3,4 & 5:

> chkconfig --level 345 lpd on

Note - NEVER turn on programs like this for run-level 1 or 6 (start-up and shutdown).

Have fun,

James

[hard candy]

I just remembered about this site:
Linux Tutorial (http://www.linux-tutorial.info/cgi-bin/display.pl?224&0&0&0&3)

[malloc]

don't forget to add hdx=ide-scsi to your lilo boot options (where x is your cd-burner letter), if you don't i believe it will be recognized as an ordinary ide-atapi cd-rom and you won't be able to use it as a burner...

PS - Maybe offtopic but anybody as a clue when will the next K3B version is going to be release (the one with dvd-burning capability :D) ?

[hlrguy]

open a console...

cdrecord --scanbus

if your CDROM is listed...like mine...
0,0,0 0) 'HL-DT-ST' 'CD-RW GCE-8240B ' '1.07' Removable CD-ROM

you are good to go. Also, as mentioned, simply starting k3b will tell you if it finds any burner devices.

Your best place to start, the Mandrake doc CD or their web site, starter guide. It will walk you through desktop, tools, command line, programs, configuration, etc. Mandrakes docs are second to none.

hlrguy

[Seph64]

Satanic, /var most log files go in a sub-directory under this directory. :)

And for clarification, you don't have to mount other filesystems in /mnt but it's more organised if you did. My Windows drive is mounted on /windows

Oh yea, Bashar, listen to these people. it's great advice. Of course some of this information could be found in the Newbieized Help Files, or the NHFs. Just click on the library button->hardware->adding an IDE CD-Writer in Linux. That's how I learned how to use my CD-Writer (when I had an old Hewlett Packard CD Writer that is).

And I have a simular drive. Same brand name, Lite-On, but it's 52x-24x-52x

[Satanic Atheist]

Seph64 - Ooh you warrant a reply.

Thank God I'm not flaming.

You're right, I forgot /var but I wasn't in front of a Linux terminal at the time (Hey - I was at work and I'm a Slacker!!!)

/var is for mostly variable files that change such as logs. Hence the name. /var/log/ is possibly (and argumentably) THE most important directory on a Linux/UNIX system (hoping I'm in the right) since when things go wrong... whether it's a service or server failure, this is the place to begin.

Seph64 - you're damn right. How the hell can I forget THAT one???

/mnt is for mounting non-system partitions, but there is absolulely no requirement to do so. It does keep things tidy, but there's no reason why you should do it. I have Wine running and I have my pseudo Windows setup running with a SymLink to /. You can mount a drive anywhere you want. (But I recommend an empty folder).

James

[Seph64]

*notices his Sarcasm detector beeping loudly* Uh oh, here we go. *Sarcasm detector explodes covering my face in black dust*

Ahem, I am not trying to be rude. Just pointing out that most logs are in a sub-directory of /var and that mounting filesystems don't have to be mounted in /mnt (although it's good to do so). I apologise if I seem to be attacking at your character.

[Satanic Atheist]

Not at all! No sarcasm intended (although it IS hard to avoid in text). I was having a laugh. Thanks for pointing it our.

James

[Bashar]

Hello all contributors (SA, you here again? If I ever master Linux, you will definately be one of the responsibles).

I have seen your posts and will try all the tips.
I knew there was a section with tutorials and how-tos on this HP, but I hadn't looked under "libriary". Don't ask me why. Apparently my brain works in the most irrational way at the moment (moment being defined as "since approximately a month ago").
I'll be back soon with a summary of my endeavour.

Bashar

[Satanic Atheist]

Yo, I'm here. As usual.

Good luck with looking for info and remember to look at The Linux Documentation Project (http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX/howtos.html) for help with getting started.

James