Content: - TAO Multi-Session CD Cookbook - Overwriteable DVD Cookbook ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TAO Multi-Session CD Cookbook ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guided by reading mmc-r10a.pdf , O.8 "Write a Track" from http://www.t10.org/ftp/t10/drafts/mmc/ backed by reading mmc5r03c.pdf from http://www.t10.org/ftp/t10/drafts/mmc5/ by reading spc3r23.pdf from http://www.t10.org/ftp/t10/drafts/spc3/ and by experiments with drives NEC ND-4570A, LG GSA-4082B, LITE-ON LTR48125S which used in part code from http://icculus.org/burn. For libburnia.pykix.org by Thomas Schmitt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Media type can be recognized by Current Profile from 46h GET CONFIGURATION. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.6.2.1) CD-R 0009h CD-RW 000ah The following topics are covered: - About blank, appendable and finalized CD media - Writing a session to CD - Obtaining CD multi-session info for extending ISO-9660 filesystems - Obtaining a Table Of Content from CD >>> under construction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About blank, appendable and finalized CD media : CD media have to be blank or appendable in order to be writeable in TAO mode. The according status may be inquired by 51h READ DISC INFORMATION requesting Data Type 000b Standard Disc Information, where reply value Disc Status indicates: 00b blank 01b appendable 10b finalized 11b others (unsuitable for this recipe) (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.22.3.1.4) CDs which are finalized or appendable may be blanked by command A1h BLANK with blanking types 000b "Blank the disc" or 001b "Minimally blank the disc". The Start Address/Track Number will be ignored so it may well be 0. Because the operation is long running it is advised to set the Immed bit and to watch the progress by commands 00h TEST UNIT READY and 03h REQUEST SENSE with DESC bit set to 0 for fixed format reply. It is done when 00h succeeds and 03h reports 0 in PROGRESS INDICATION (byte 1+2 in Table 22 = byte 16+17 SENSE KEY SPECIFIC in table 26). (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.2 BLANK) (spc3r23.pdf 4.5.2.4.4 table 22, 4.5.3 table 26, 6.27 REQUEST SENSE, 6.33 TEST UNIT READY) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Writing a session to CD : The writing method for blank or appendable media is the same. If the media is blank then the new track will be the first and only one in the table of content. If the media is appendable then a new session will be opened automatically and the new track will be the first and only one in this session. Speed may be set by BBh SET CD SPEED parameter Drive Write Speed. Note that kbytes/sec means 1000 bytes/sec and not 1024/sec. Rotational control should be set to 00b. 1x CD speed is 176.4 kbytes/sec. Speed is usually set to the next lower possible value by the drive. So it is helpful to add a few kbytes/sec just in case the drive has rounding problems. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.37) Before writing can occur, a Write Parameters mode page 05h has to be composed and transmitted via 55h MODE SELECT. Mode page 05h describes several burn parameters: BUFE Buffer Underrun protection 0=off, 1=on Test Write -dummy mode for writing 0=off, 1=on Write Type Packet/TAO/SAO/RAW 01h = TAO Multi-session Wether to keep appendable 00b = close, 11b = appendable Track Mode Describes frame type 4 for data , 0 for audio Data Block Type Layout of payload blocks 8 for 2048 byte data blocks 0 for 2352 byte audio blocks Audio Pause Length 150 = 2 seconds Any other parameters may be set to 0. Mode page data as of MMC-5 table 644 are preceded by a Mode Parameter Header as of SPC-3 table 240. This 8-byte header may be filled with 0s ... obviously. (mmc5r03c.pdf 7.5.4 The Mode Page, 4.2.3.4 Table 17 CONTROL = Track Mode) (spc3r23.pdf 6.8 MODE SELECT, 7.4.3 Mode parameter header formats) Writing has to begin at the address returned by 52h READ TRACK INFORMATION with Address/Number Type set to 01b and Logical Block Address/Track/Session Number set to FFh. The Next Writeable Address as of table 500 is the number to start writing with. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.27 ) Writing is done by 2Ah WRITE with the Logical Block Address counted up from the initial number in sync with the number of blocks written. Only full blocks can be written. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.44) When writing is done, it is mandatory to force the drive's buffer to media by 35h SYNCHRONIZE CACHE. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.41) The track has to be closed by 5Bh CLOSE TRACK SESSION Close Function 001b. Older MMC specifies a valid Logical Track Number FFh to depict the open track. MMC-5 is quite silent about this. FFh works for my drives. After that, a new track can be written beginning with sending the mode page 05h again (it is not tested wether this can be omitted). (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.3.3.1.2) After the last track of a session, 5Bh CLOSE TRACK SESSION Close Function 010b with Logical Track Number 0 closes the session. It depends on the Multi-Session value in mode page 05h wether the disc is finalized or stays appendable. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.3.3.1.3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Obtaining CD multi-session info for extending ISO-9660 filesystems : Program mkisofs expects two numbers with its option -C which describe the situation on an appendable CD which already contains a ISO-9660 filesystem in the first track of the last session. The first number is the Logical Block Address of that track containing the existing ISO-9660 filesystem image. This number is needed for mkisofs option -M to connect to the existing image. The new image will refer to files in the previously existing image. mkisofs option -M needs read access to the CD or a blockwise copy of it on hard disk. Untested is Format 0001b which in table 478 promises quick access via Start Address of First Track in Last Session. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.26.3.3.1) libburn gets the number from its Table Of Content model which is obtained by 43h READ TOC/PMA/ATIP, Format 0010b. See below. The second number is an exact prediction of the Logical Block Address of the new track which will contain the newly generated ISO-9660 image. Even without option -M this second number is still needed to make the inner block address pointers of the image match the Logical Block Addresses on CD. This number is the address returned by 52h READ TRACK INFORMATION with Address/Number Type set to 01b and Logical Block Address/Track/Session Number set to FFh. The Next Writeable Address as of table 500 is the number to use. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.27 ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Obtaining a Table Of Content from CD : Table of content information is gained by 43h READ TOC/PMA/ATIP, Format 0010b. The number of sessions is given by Last Complete Session Number. The number of TOC Track descriptors is: (TOC Data Length - 2)/11 . >>> sift out the track entries >>> track starts, leadout starts (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.26.2.5 table 478, 6.26.3.4 ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overwriteable DVD Cookbook ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inspired by Andy Polyakov's http://fy.chalmers.se/~appro/linux/DVD+RW/tools , backed by reading mmc5r03c.pdf from http://www.t10.org/ftp/t10/drafts/mmc5/ and by experiments with drives NEC ND-4570A and LG GSA-4082B. For libburnia.pykix.org by Thomas Schmitt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Media type can be recognized by Current Profile from 46h GET CONFIGURATION. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.6.2.1) DVD-RAM 0012h DVD-RW Restricted Overwrite 0013h DVD-RW Sequential Recording 0014h (i.e. unformatted) DVD+RW 001Ah A short compilation of the write model: - Overwriting in general The recipes described here are depending on formatting state: - DVD-RAM, fully formatted DVD+RW or DVD-RW - Unformatted DVD+RW - Partly formatted DVD+RW - Unformatted DVD-RW - Partly formatted DVD-RW - Intermediate state DVD-RW ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overwriting in general : Depending on media type, some kind of formatting has to have happened before data can be written. Formatting may happen separately from writing or simultaneously. See the particular recipes below. No Write Parameters mode page 05h is to be sent. Speed can be influenced by B6h SET STREAMING , speed capabilities can be inquired by ACh GET PERFORMANCE. It is advised to set only speeds and sizes which are returned by ACh. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.39 SET STREAMING, 6.8 GET PERFORMANCE) Optimal performance is promised without any speed setting. But my experiments showed that SET STREAMING values persist after media change. In the formatted area of the media, coarse random access is possible. For DVD-RAM and DVD+RW write addresses and data size need to be aligned to 2 KiB. For DVD-RW alignment has to be 32 KiB. Within these limitations the write address is at the discretion of the sending program. Just use 2Ah WRITE to send data. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.44) When writing is done, it is mandatory to force the drive's buffer to media by 35h SYNCHRONIZE CACHE. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.41) The size of the formatted area can be inquired by 23h READ FORMAT CAPACITIES. The Number Of Blocks value in the Current/Maximum Capacity Descriptor gives this size in 2 KiB blocks. But this is true only if Descriptor Type is 10b ("Formatted Media"). (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.24.3.2.1, 6.24.3.2.3) Not yet formatted areas may be completely forbidden or they may be allowed for sequential writing (DVD-RW Intermediate state) or they may be allowed for random access only after the necessary waiting time for formatting to reach the desired address (DVD+RW with background formatting active). Already written areas can be overwritten without special precaution. Blanking a DVD-RW actually destroys its formatting. Most of the concepts usually expressed in Write Parameters mode page 05h do not apply to the recipes here: Test-Write, Buffer Underrun protection, Multi-session, Write Type, Block Type, Track Mode, ... There are hints for multi-session formats with DVD-RW but both of my drives do not offer "Add Session" Format Types 12h or 14h. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.5.4.2.7 , 6.5.4.2.9) Caution: Drive and media compatibility seems still to be quite an adventure. If you experience problems, especially problems with readability, then try different drives and media brands. Failure does not necessarily mean that the software did anything wrong. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DVD-RAM, fully formatted DVD+RW or DVD-RW : Full format is the natural state of DVD-RAM. DVD+RW reaches this state if Background Formatting is allowed to finish without being stopped by 5Bh CLOSE TRACK SESSION. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.5 FORMAT UNIT, 6.5.4.2.14 Format Type = 26h) The formatting state of a DVD+RW may be inquired by 51h READ DISC INFORMATION requesting Data Type 000b "Standard Disc Information". In the reply, BG Format 3 indicates fully formatted media. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.22.3.1.13) DVD-RW reaches this state either by Format Type 00h (or 10h) with maximum size given as Number Of Blocks, or by writing sequentially until the disc is completely full into an intermediate session opened by format 15h resp. 13h. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.5 FORMAT UNIT, 6.5.4.2.1, 6.5.4.2.10, 6.5.4.2.8) A fully formatted DVD-RW can be recognized by 23h READ FORMAT CAPACITIES. The Descriptor Type of the Current/Maximum Capacity Descriptor is 10b ("Formatted Media") and 0 blocks are offered with Format Types 13h or 11h. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.24.3.2.1, 6.24.3.3) See also discussion of unformatted or partially formatted DVD-RW below. In fully formatted state there is no need for any formatting before writing nor for any finalizing other than forcing the drive's buffer to media by 35h SYNCHRONIZE CACHE (which is mandatory for writing, anyway). (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.41) (It seems to do no harm to send to DVD+RW or DVD-RW a 5Bh CLOSE TRACK SESSION with Close Function 010b despite there is no session open in this scenario.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unformatted DVD+RW This is the state of previously unused DVD+RW media. The formatting state of a DVD+RW may be inquired by 51h READ DISC INFORMATION requiring Data Type 000b "Standard Disc Information". In the reply, BG Format 0 indicates unformatted media (or unsuitable media). (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.22.3.1.13) Formatting has to be started by command 04h FORMAT UNIT, Format Type 26h. Different from other format types, 26h allows to send a fantasy size of 0xffffffff blocks and does not require the caller to know the exact maximum size offered with that format. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.5 FORMAT UNIT, 6.5.4.2.14 Format Type = 26h) As its name suggests, one has not to wait for background formatting to end but may very soon start writing as on formatted media. Random access to yet unformatted areas can last long, though. If backup formatting has been started at the beginning of the session, then it may get stopped after the final cache sync by 5Bh CLOSE TRACK SESSION with Close Function 010b. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.3.3.6) Formatting of DVD+RW is called "de-icing" because unformatted areas offer no hold for random access addressing and are thus slippery like ice. One can also see a color change from shiny unformatted to more dull formatted media. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Partly formatted DVD+RW : This state is achieved by stopping background formatting before the media was completely formmatted. The formatting state of a DVD+RW is obtained by 51h READ DISC INFORMATION requiring Data Type 000b "Standard Disc Information". In the reply, BG Format 1 indicates partly formatted media. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.22.3.1.13) If the data of the session surely fit into the formatted area, then it would be unnecessary to restart background formatting. But in order to make the DVD+RW surely accept its maximum number of bytes, formatting may be restarted by command 04h FORMAT UNIT, Format Type 26h, with the Restart bit set and Number of Blocks set to 0xffffffff. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.5 FORMAT UNIT, 6.5.4.2.14 Format Type = 26h) From then on, the same rules apply as for previously unformatted DVD+RW. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unformatted DVD-RW (media profile is 0014h) : This state is present with previously unused media. It is also present with media blanked by programs cdrecord, wodim or dvd+rw-format and with media which were sequentially written from blank state. Profile transition from formatted 0013h to unformatted 0014h is done by A1h BLANK. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.2) For becoming overwriteable such media need to be treated by command 04h FORMAT UNIT. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.5) The Format Type has to be chosen from the list replied by 23h READ FORMAT CAPACITIES. Suitable are Format Types 00h, 10h, 15h. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.24) Format Types 00h and 10h provide a writeable area of a size given by Number of Blocks. Type 00h seems to be the most traditional and complete one. It needs no closing of a session at the end of writing. The Number Of Blocks may be at most the value reported by 23h READ FORMAT CAPACITIES in the entry for the desired format type. Full format is achieved by sending exactly the reported value. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.5.4.2.1 Format Type = 00h, 6.5.4.2.5 Format Type = 10h) Format Type 15h provides a writeable area of given size too, but this area can be expanded by sequential writing and afterwards marked as overwriteable by closing the session. It is even allowed to format with size 0 and to leave the size claim entirely to a sequential write process beginning at LBA 0. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.5.4.2.10 Format Type = 15h) When writing is done and cache is synced, one should send 5Bh CLOSE TRACK SESSION with Close Function 010b in order to bring the session out of Intermediate state. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.3.3.2.3) If not written up to the last 32 KiB block, the DVD-RW is only partly formatted after that. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Partly formatted DVD-RW (media profile is 0013h) : This state is achieved by formatting a DVD-RW with a number of blocks which is less than offered for the Format Type by the drive's reply to 23h READ FORMAT CAPACITIES. If the media was most recently formatted by Format Types 015h or 013h then it must have got written some bytes and afterwards treated by 5Bh CLOSE TRACK SESSION, 010b in order to be partly formatted. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.3.3.2.3 CLOSE TRACK SESSION 010b, 6.24 READ FORMAT CAPACITIES) Elsewise the media is in Intermediate state. See below. A partly formatted DVD-RW can be recognized by 23h READ FORMAT CAPACITIES. The Descriptor Type of the Current/Maximum Capacity Descriptor is 10b ("Formatted Media") and the Number Of Blocks with formats 00h, 10h or 15h is larger than the currently formatted size, resp. more than 0 blocks are offered with Format Types 13h or 11h. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.24.3.2.1, 6.24.3.3) If the data of the session surely fit into the formatted area, then it would be unnecessary to do any further formatting. But in order to make the DVD-RW surely accept its maximum number of bytes, partial formatting may be expanded by command 04h FORMAT UNIT, Format Type 13h, which is supposed to be offered by the drive in this state. This brings the session again into Intermediate state and thus allows expansion by sequential writing. As with Format Type 15h it is ok to set Number Of Blocks to 0, so that no fixed size formatting work is done and writing can begin soon after. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.5.4.2.8 Format Type = 13h) When writing is done and cache is synced, one should send 5Bh CLOSE TRACK SESSION with Close Function 010b in order to bring the session out of Intermediate state. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.3.3.2.3) If not written up to the last 32 KiB block, the DVD-RW is only partly formatted after that. Format Type 13h has been tested only with expanding sessions formatted by 15h. Nevertheless it is offered with sessions from 00h and 10h, too. According to the specs, Format Type 11h would expand a session by a fixed size. This has not been tested yet because it is less appealing than 13h. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.5.4.2.6 Format Type = 11h) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Intermediate state DVD-RW (media profile is 0013h) : This state is achieved by formatting a DVD-RW with Format Type 15h or 13h without subsequentially writing data and sending 5Bh CLOSE TRACK SESSION with Close Function 010b. Such media behave very unpleasing with my DVD-ROM drive under Linux 2.4 ide-cd. One should therefore better avoid to release media in this state. This state can be recognized by 23h READ FORMAT CAPACITIES. The Descriptor Type of the Current/Maximum Capacity Descriptor is 11b ("Unknown Capacity") and no formats 13h or 11h are offered. (mmc5r03c.pdf, 6.24.3.2.1, 6.24.3.3) One may treat such media as if Format Type 15h or 13h had been freshly applied. I.e. sequential writing from LBA 0. After cache sync bring the session out of Intermediate state by 5Bh CLOSE TRACK SESSION with Close Function 010b. (mmc5r03c.pdf 6.3.3.2.3) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------