growisofs

growisofs [OPTIONS] <device> [mkisofs/genisoimage_options ...]

Primary modes:
growisofs -Z <device> [mkisofs/genisoimage_options ...]
growisofs -M <device> [mkisofs/genisoimage_options ...]
growisofs -F <device>
growisofs -R <device> [mkisofs/genisoimage_options ...]

-Z <device>
    Starts a new ISO9660 session and writes to the specified optical device.

-M <device>
    Appends data to an existing ISO9660 session on the specified optical device.

-F <device>
    Formats a rewritable disc (e.g., DVD-RW, BD-RE) in the specified device.

-R <device>
    Re-opens a session on a device for appending, typically after an ungraceful shutdown.

-speed=<speed>
    Sets the burning speed for the operation (e.g., 4x, max).

-dry-run
    Simulates the burning process without actually writing data to the disc.

-dvd-compat
    Pads the track to a multiple of 16 sectors for DVD-RAM compatibility.

-use-the-force-luke
    Forces operations, bypassing some safety checks and warnings.

-version
    Displays the program version information and exits.

growisofs is a powerful utility for Linux and Unix-like systems, primarily used for recording ISO9660 filesystems directly to recordable optical media like DVD±R/RW, BD-R/RE, and CD-R/RW. It acts as a front-end to mkisofs (or genisoimage) for creating the filesystem image on-the-fly and simultaneously writes it to the disc, often employing dvd+rw-tools' underlying burning capabilities. Its key strength lies in its ability to perform incremental writes, allowing users to add data to an existing session on a disc, making it ideal for multi-session backups or building up a disc's content over time. It can handle various source file systems and supports different disc types and burning modes, integrating image generation and burning into a single command for streamlined optical disc content management.

growisofs relies on mkisofs (or genisoimage) to be installed and available in the system's PATH. Incorrect permissions for accessing the optical drive device (e.g., /dev/sr0) are a common issue. Using -M carefully is advised, as it appends to the last session, which might not be the intended free space if the disc's history is complex. Understanding specific disc types (DVD-R vs. DVD+R, R vs. RW) is crucial for optimal results.

Creating a new data disc:
growisofs -Z /dev/sr0 -R -J /path/to/data/

Appending data to an existing disc:
growisofs -M /dev/sr0 -R -J /path/to/more/data/

Formatting a rewritable disc:
growisofs -F /dev/sr0

growisofs supports a wide range of optical disc formats including DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-RAM, BD-R/RE, and CD-R/RW. While the command often handles specific format nuances internally, users benefit from understanding the characteristics of each disc type for optimal usage, especially regarding single-session (R) versus rewritable (RW) media.

growisofs is a key component of the dvd+rw-tools suite, primarily developed by Andy Polyakov. It emerged as a sophisticated tool for writing to DVD+RW media, leveraging its unique ability to 'grow' the filesystem incrementally. Its innovation lay in integrating on-the-fly ISO image generation with direct disc burning, significantly streamlining the process compared to traditional methods that involved piping mkisofs output to separate burning utilities. Over time, its support expanded to encompass a wide array of DVD and BD formats, solidifying its position as a go-to command for multi-session and incremental optical media burning.

mkisofs(8), genisoimage(8), wodim(1), cdrecord(1), isoinfo(1), dvd+rw-tools(7)