DVDTAPE(1)							     Yggdrasil								DVDTAPE(1)

NAME

       dvdtape - Write a DLT tape for manufacturing a Digital Versatile Disc.

SYNOPSIS

       dvdtape --inputfile=file [options]...

DESCRIPTION

       dvdtape	should	be used to write directly to a Digital Linear Tape to send to a DVD factory for manufacturing.	It writes all of the extra
       data that the factory needs in just the format that is expected.  This includes ANSI tape  headers,  DDP  information,  DDPMS  information,
       "lead in", and the DVD data itself.

       --combined-length=length
	      When  producing the first layer of a two layer opposite spiral track DVD, the dvdtape needs to know the combined length of both lay-
	      ers to record the length of the second layer in the leadin area of the first layer (opposite track DVD's only have one  leadin  area
	      for  both  tracks).   This  parameter  provides  a  way  to specify that value.  If this value is not specified and is needed, it is
	      inferred from the image contents, based on the assumption that the data being written is a "fat" ISO-9660 file system.

       --controlfile=file
	      The file from which the DVD leadin data should be read.  The DVD leadin data is normally 32,768 bytes of data that contains informa-
	      tion  about the physical layout of the DVD-ROM, such as the number of layers, number of sides, and so on.  This information does not
	      appear as data sectors to programs reading the DVD-ROM, but is used internally by the DVD-ROM drive.  If this parameter is not spec-
	      ified,  dvdtape  will  attempt to create its own leadin data by a possibly incorrect algorithm written from experiments on a propri-
	      etary program that creates leadin data.  Note also that leadin deliberately omitted for the second layer of an  oppositely  oriented
	      dvd track.

       --diameter=8cm or --diameter=12cm
	      The physical diameter of the disc being made.  12 centimeters is the default.

       --inputfile=file
	      The  file from which the DVD contents should be read.  This file usually contains an ISO-9660 or UDF file system.  This parameter is
	      mandatory.  It has no default value.

       --layer=0 or --layer=1
	      The layer number being written.  The 4.7 gigabyte first layer is layer 0.  The optional 3.7 gigabyte second layer is layer 1.   Note
	      that  you  must  create a separate physical tape for each layer.	(DLT tapes have enough space to hold both layers, but the standard
	      specifies two tapes.)  The default is layer=0.

       --layers=1 or --layers=2
	      The total number of layers that the finished disc will comprise.	The tape itself only contains information about one layer, but the
	      total  number  of layers is stored in the header information on each tape.  The default behavior is to guess the number of layers by
	      assuming that the image is a "fat" ISO-9660 file system, determining the file system size, and setting layers=1 if  the  image  will
	      fit on one layer, and layers=2 otherwise.

       --length=NNNNNNNN
	      The number of bytes to write for this layer of the DVD file system.  This data will be padded with nulls to make its size a multiple
	      of 32768 (the required block size for the image section of the tape).  If length is not  specified,  the	default  is  to  read  the
	      length, based on the assumption that the data is a "fat" ISO-9660 file system.

       --master-id=string
	      Set  the	master	ID to the specified string, which can be up to 48 characters in length.  This string is a field in the tape header
	      information, which sometimes displayed on the operator's console when the disc is being made.  It is useful for identifying tapes at
	      the factor, and apparently has no other purpose.

       --offset=NNNNNNNN
	      Skip  this  many	bytes  before starting to read the DVD image.  This is usually used for continuing a file system image on a second
	      layer.  The default offset is 0 if layer=0 and 4699979776 (the size of layer 0) if layer=1.

       --outputfile=tape_device
	      Write the output to tape_device.	You can write the output to a plain file, but the size of the tape blocks are 128  bytes  in  some
	      sections	and  32768  bytes in others, so you cannot write a proper tape later by simplying copying that file to a tape device.  The
	      default is /dev/st0.

       --owner=string
	      Fill in the "owner" field in the tape.  This option appears to be useful only if you want some specific information to appear before
	      the operator who is running the disc manufacturing equipment.  The default is an empty string.

       --readout-speed=2 or --readout-speed=5 or --readout-speed=10
	      The leadin data contains a parameter that specifies a minimum required readout speed for the DVD-ROM.  It can be 2.52, 5.04 or 10.08
	      megabits per second, which you can select by setting this argument to 2, 5, or 10, respectively.	The default is 2.52  megabits  per
	      second.  As far as this author can tell, there does not appear to be a way in the leadin format to specify no minimum readout speed.
	      This argument is only used when dvdtape generates its own leadin data.

       --side=0 or --side=1
	      The side number being written.  The first side is side 0.  Note that you must create a separate physical tape for each  side.   (DLT
	      tapes have enough space to hold both sides, but the standard is two tapes.)  The default value is 0.

       --sides=1 or --sides=2
	      The  total  number of sides that the finished disc will comprise.  The tape itself only contains information about one side, but the
	      total number of sides is stored in the header information on each tape.  The default value is 1.

       --track-path=directionfR
	      The direction of translation of the second layer in the DVD.  This argument should have no effect for a single layer  DVD,  although
	      it  does	fill in the corresponding field in the DVD header information.	For the standard parallel layer arrangement, direction can
	      be specified by the synonyms "opposite", "out" or "outward".  For opposite track arrangment, direction can be  "parallel",  "in"	or
	      "inward".  The default is parallel if there is only one layer and opposite if there are two layers.  The legality of opposite orien-
	      tation and only one layer is unclear.

       --usertext=string
	      Fill in the "user text" field in the tape.  This option appears to be useful only if you want some specific  information	to  appear
	      before the operator who is running the disc manufacturing equipment.  The default value is an empty string.

EXAMPLES

       dvdtape --inputfile=mydvd.iso-image
	      Writes layer 0 to the tape on /dev/st0.

       dvdtape --inputfile=mydvd.iso-image --side=1
	      Writes layer 1 to the tape on /dev/st0.  You only need to do this for an image that is too large to fit on one layer.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright 1999, 2000 Yggdrasil Computing, Inc.  dvdtape may be copied under the terms and conditions of version 2 of the GNU General Public
       License, as published by the Free Software Foundation (Cambridge, MA, USA).

AUTHOR

       Written by Adam J. Richter (adam@yggdrasil.com)

Yggdrasil DVD Tools						   February 2000							DVDTAPE(1)