Linux / UNIX: Find Volume Information From CDs and ISO Images

Posted by Vivek Gite [Last updated: September 10, 2008]

Q. I can use dd command to create ISO images from a CD but how do I get volume information from CDs and ISO images from a shell prompt?

A. You can use the following commands:
[a] file - To determine file type.

[b] dd - Ultimate convert and copy command.

[c] cdrecord - To record audio or data Compact Disks or Digital Versatile Disks from a master.

[d] isoinfo - A utility to perform directory like listings of iso9660 images.

[e] cd-discid - To read CD and get CDDB discid information.

Task: Read the volume data from an unmounted CD

Use the following command:
file -s /dev/scd0
Sample output:

/dev/scd0: ISO 9660 CD-ROM filesystem data UDF filesystem data (unknown version, id 'NSR01') 'Ubuntu 7.04 i386               ' (bootable)

Task: Read the table of contents of an unmounted CD

Use cdrecord:
cdrecord -v dev=/dev/scd0 -toc
Sample output:

TOC Type: 1 = CD-ROM
scsidev: '/dev/scd0'
devname: '/dev/scd0'
scsibus: -2 target: -2 lun: -2
Linux sg driver version: 3.5.27
Wodim version: 1.1.6
SCSI buffer size: 64512
Device type    : Removable CD-ROM
Version        : 5
Response Format: 2
Capabilities   :
Vendor_info    : 'TSSTcorp'
Identification : 'CD/DVDW SH-S182D'
Revision       : 'SB04'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.
Current: 0x001A (DVD+RW)
Profile: 0x0015 (DVD-R/DL sequential recording)
Profile: 0x0016 (DVD-R/DL layer jump recording)
Profile: 0x002B (DVD+R/DL)
Profile: 0x001B (DVD+R)
Profile: 0x001A (DVD+RW) (current)
Profile: 0x0014 (DVD-RW sequential recording)
Profile: 0x0013 (DVD-RW restricted overwrite)
Profile: 0x0012 (DVD-RAM)
Profile: 0x0011 (DVD-R sequential recording)
Profile: 0x0010 (DVD-ROM)
Profile: 0x000A (CD-RW)
Profile: 0x0009 (CD-R)
Profile: 0x0008 (CD-ROM)
Profile: 0x0002 (Removable disk)
Using generic SCSI-3/mmc DVD-R(W) driver (mmc_mdvd).
Driver flags   : SWABAUDIO BURNFREE
Supported modes: PACKET SAO
Drive buf size : 917504 = 896 KB
Beginning DMA speed test. Set CDR_NODMATEST environment variable if device
communication breaks or freezes immediately after that.
Current Secsize: 2048
HINT: use dvd+rw-mediainfo from dvd+rw-tools for information extraction.
first: 1 last 1
track:   1 lba:         0 (        0) 00:02:00 adr: 1 control: 4 mode: -1
track:lout lba:   2295104 (  9180416) -1:59:74 adr: 1 control: 7 mode: -1

Task: Read the volume data from an ISO image

Type the following command:
isoinfo -d -i /path/to/file.iso isoinfo -d -i ubuntu-8.04-desktop-i386.iso
Sample output:

CD-ROM is in ISO 9660 format
System id: LINUX
Volume id: Ubuntu 8.04 i386
Volume set id:
Publisher id:
Data preparer id:
Application id: MKISOFS ISO 9660/HFS FILESYSTEM BUILDER & CDRECORD CD-R/DVD CREATOR (C) 1993 E.YOUNGDALE (C) 1997 J.PEARSON/J.SCHILLING
Copyright File id:
Abstract File id:
Bibliographic File id:
Volume set size is: 1
Volume set sequence number is: 1
Logical block size is: 2048
Volume size is: 357949
El Torito VD version 1 found, boot catalog is in sector 162
Joliet with UCS level 3 found
Rock Ridge signatures version 1 found
Eltorito validation header:
    Hid 1
    Arch 0 (x86)
    ID ''
    Key 55 AA
    Eltorito defaultboot header:
        Bootid 88 (bootable)
        Boot media 0 (No Emulation Boot)
        Load segment 0
        Sys type 0
        Nsect 4
        Bootoff 9B 155