Re: cdrskin: how to get quick BD-RE format?

["Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net>]

Hi,

> >  blank=format_defectmgt_cert_off
> Ok, but this is not "automatic" as as_needed, right?

Well ... the manual says one can combine it with other blank= options.
Interesting challenge. So i try:

  $ cdrskin -vv dev=/dev/sr3 \
    blank=format_defectmgt_cert_off blank=as_needed
  ...
  cdrskin: status 1 burn_disc_blank "The drive holds a blank disc"
  Current: BD-RE
  cdrskin: NOTE : blank=as_needed : no need for action detected
  $

Looks ok for the case of an already formatted disk. (-vv causes the "NOTE"
message in case of inaction.)

Be so kind and test with an unformatted BD-RE whether it is quicker
than blank=as_needed alone.
Note that the sequence of blank= options matters here. First _cert_off,
then as_needed to override the unconditional aspect of _cert_off.


> So, first I should check with
>         cdrskin -minfo -v 
> if
>         disk status:              empty
> So as to format only when "empty".

In principle, yes.
I'd advise  --list_formats, though:

  $ cdrskin -v dev=/dev/sr3 --list_formats 2>/dev/null | \
    fgrep 'Format status'
  Format status: unformatted, up to 23866.0 MiB
  $

In contrast to
  Format status: formatted, with 23098.0 MiB


> Does this work for BD-R too?

Besides the fact that BD-R work unformatted too, "empty" should indeed
indicate a BD-R that is still formattable.

You will need option

  blank=format_if_needed

because blank=as_needed will be satisfied with seeing a blank BD-R (unlike
with BD-RE which cannot be used unformatted).

Option --list_formats yields:
Unused BD-R:
  Format status: unformatted, up to 23866.0 MiB
Unformatted used BD-R:
  Format status: written, with 9690.4 MiB
  BD Spare Area: 0 blocks consumed, 0 blocks available
Formatted used BD-R:
  Format status: written, with 13682.4 MiB
  BD Spare Area: 0 blocks consumed, 196608 blocks available


Have a nice day :)

Thomas