How do I solve problems with writing to a CD if I use the ide-scsi module on a IBM eServer xseries 450 (Model: 8688-5RX) running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3?

Updated -

The use of ide-scsi on the IBM eServer xseries 450 (Model: 8688-5RX) has been known to cause problems with writing CD's. Problems may also exist when using it for reading as well. The ide-scsi module is automatically loaded by the installer. Follow the steps below after installation to disable ide-scsi and use the drive as a normal IDE/ATAPI device.

  1. Modify /etc/elilo.conf and remove all instances of hda=ide-scsi (depending on system configuration, it may be an ide device other than hda).

  2. Save this file and reboot the system.

  3. Verify that /dev/cdrom points to the IDE cdrom device from step 1, NOT /dev/scd0. (This should automatically happen as a result of step 2)

The CD/DVD drive should now function normally as a reader.

CD-Writing instructions:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 supports writing of CD's through the ATAPI interface. To use cdrecord with an ATAPI device, modify the command line arguments slightly.

Finding the location of your CD writer on the ATAPI bus:

cdrecord -dev=ATAPI --scanbus

The command line output should looks something like the following:

scsidev: 'ATAPI'
devname: 'ATAPI'
scsibus: -2 target: -2 lun: -2
Warning: Using ATA Packet interface.<
Warning: The related libscg interface code is in pre alpha.
Warning: There may be fatal problems.
Using libscg version 'schily-0.7'
scsibus0:
0,0,0 0) 'HL-DT-ST' 'RW/DVD GCC-4160N'  Removable CD-ROM
0,1,0 1) *
0,2,0 2) *
0,3,0 3) *
0,4,0 4) *
0,5,0 5) *
0,6,0 6) *
0,7,0 7) *

Once the location of the CD writer on the ATAPI bus has been foundin this case 0,0,0it can be written to.

To use cdrecord to write a .iso file to a blank CD-R/CD-RW use a command like the following:

cdrecord -dev=ATAPI:0,0,0 /path/to/cdimage.iso

The ATAPI: in the dev= statement tells cdrecord to use ATAPI bus rather than its default of SCSI.

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