Re: RESOLUTION --- Re: How to reference xxxdvd1.iso in sources.list

[Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net>]

On 05/15/2021 07:18 AM, Thomas Schmitt wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Richard Owlett wrote:
> > I don't grok loop devices. [...]
> > Also the article I read evidently took advantage of "mount" being able to
> > loop mount without the loop option being explicitly referenced.
>
> Yes. mount is smart enough to see that your "device" is a data file and
> that it has to use a loop device.
> A little test as superuser with already existing directory /mnt/iso:
>
>    # mount debian-10.6.0-amd64-netinst.iso /mnt/iso
>    mount: /dev/loop0 is write-protected, mounting read-only
>    # ls /mnt/iso
>    EFI
>    ...
>    win32-loader.ini
>
> So it used the existing /dev/loop0. If no idle loop device is available
> then it will create a new one.
>
> See in man mount the section
>    THE LOOP DEVICE
>
>
> > I wish to have the ISO's of all install DVDs on a dedicated
> > partition of my hard drive as a local repository.
>
> You could mount them all, e.g. by a script which knows all their names
> and the desired mount points. Each mount point would need its own line
> in sources.list.

That raises a couple of questions.

IIRC there was a limit on the number of loop devices created {8?}.
Is there any default limit now?

Also, I notice the phrase "auto-destruction of loop devices".
That raises a red flag. Might I lose one (or more) of my loop devices 
without some intentional explicit action by me?????

[snip discussion of extracting pool directories and possible uses of 
xorriso for possible later discussion]

Thanks.