mkisofs

Create an ISO from a directory

$ mkisofs -o [filename.iso] [path/to/source_directory]

$ mkisofs -o [filename.iso] -V "[label_name]" [path/to/source_directory]

mkisofs [ options ] [ -o output_file ] pathlist

-o output_file
    Specify the output file name for the ISO image. If not specified, the image is written to standard output.

-r
    Generate Rock Ridge extensions to add POSIX file attributes.

-J
    Generate Joliet extensions for Microsoft Windows.

-hfs
    Create an ISO9660 image with HFS Macintosh extensions.

-V volume_id
    Specify the volume label for the ISO image.

-b boot_image
    Specify the boot image file to use for creating a bootable CD.

-c boot_catalog
    Specify the boot catalog file when using a boot image.

-iso-level level
    Set the ISO9660 level. Supported values are 1, 2, and 3.

-U
    Allow uppercase characters in filenames (not generally recommended).

-d
    Omit trailing period from file names.

-l
    Allow full 31 character filenames.

-D
    Do not use deep directory relocation, needed for some old systems.

mkisofs is a powerful command-line utility in Linux used to generate ISO9660, Joliet, and HFS hybrid CD-ROM images.

It takes a directory structure as input and produces a single ISO image file. This image can then be burned onto a CD-ROM or DVD, or mounted as a virtual drive. mkisofs supports various extensions to the ISO9660 standard, including Joliet for longer filenames and Unicode support, and HFS for compatibility with Apple Macintosh systems. It is particularly useful for archiving data, creating bootable CDs, and distributing software. The command offers fine-grained control over the resulting ISO image, allowing users to specify volume labels, file permissions, and other metadata. Options exist to optimize the image for specific operating systems and hardware platforms. Proper usage requires careful consideration of the available options to ensure compatibility and desired functionality. It's part of the cdrtools suite.

Filename length limitations are important to consider, especially when mixing ISO9660, Joliet, and HFS extensions.
Care should be taken when creating bootable images, as incorrect configuration can lead to unbootable CDs.

Creating bootable CDs often involves using a boot image file (e.g., a floppy disk image) and a boot catalog. The -b and -c options are used to specify these files, respectively. The exact steps for creating a bootable CD depend on the operating system being booted.

mkisofs allows creating hybrid images that combine ISO9660, Joliet, and HFS file systems.
This enables the same CD-ROM to be readable on different operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, and Macintosh. Careful planning is required to ensure that the file systems are compatible and that filenames are correctly handled.

mkisofs originated as part of the cdrtools suite (previously known as cdrecord).
It was initially developed by Joerg Schilling and has undergone numerous revisions and improvements over the years to support evolving CD-ROM and DVD standards. Its primary goal has always been to provide a reliable and versatile tool for creating ISO images across various platforms and file systems. Over time, it has been replaced by genisoimage and similar tools in various distributions. genisoimage has been unified into the cdrtools project and since 2014 a unified mkisofs program exists again.

genisoimage(1), cdrecord(1), xorriso(1)