
How to use the CDRecord Bootable CD Toolkit
20 Apr 06 SHL

== Prerequisites ==

  The .cmd scripts require 4OS2.

  mkiosfs2 is used to build the ISO.

  cdrecord2 is used to burn the CD.

  bootAble is used to manage the ISO build.

  memdisk is required.

== Configuring the scripts ==

  The included scripts and configuration files are cut down version of what I
  use to build a variety of bootable and non-bootable CDs.

  They contain hardcoded paths that may need to be adjusted for your setup.

  The build system makes heavy use of the mkisofs2 --path-list feature. The
  pathlist.in file defines the bulk in the extra content that will go on the
  CD. The pathlist.out file excludes unwanted items.

  I recommend you edit the paths that you know will not work. Then just to
  run the scripts and fix the errors as they are reported. 4os2 is very good
  and detecting and reporting errors.

== The files ==

  The init.cmd scripts initialize for building and burning. The init.cmd
  scripts are layered to make use of common code. These scripts set
  environment variables, define aliases. load the history list and optionally
  start the ISOFS daemon.

  The prep.cmd scripts prepare content for mkisofs2 and bootAble. The
  prep.cmd scripts are layered to make use of common code.

  The stat.cmd script lists various useful settings.

  The m.cmd scripts invokes bootAble with logging.

  The shut.cmd scripts clean up after the burn session is finished. The
  shut.cmd scripts are layered to make use of common code. If requested, work
  files are deleted and the ISOFS daemon is shut down.

== Getting started ==

  Log to the BootCD directory

  Run init.cmd to set up to overall environment.

  Run prep.cmd to stage the CD content that is not already available to
  bootAble or mkisofs2.

== Building the ISO ==

  Run the m.cmd script to run bootAble and build the ISO.  If you have
  problems, check the log. The scripts passes options to bootAble, so you can
  bump the verbosity level if things don't want to work the first time.

  If you can to inspected the results, use the mnt alias to mount the ISO as
  drive Z:. Don't forget to umnt the ISO when you are don inspecting it.

== Burning the CD ==

  To burn the CD, use the burns alias.  That's all there is to it.

== Aliases ==

  The init.cmd scripts define a number of aliases. These provide simple
  access to the sometimes complex cdrecord2 and mkisofs2 commands.

  The ones you will use most often are

    mnt         mount the ISO
    unmt        unmount the ISO
    burns       burn a single session CD
    iso2        build an ISO with mkisofs2
    isob2       build a bootable ISO with mkisofs2

  Scan the init.cmd scripts to see what else you might find useful.

== Cleaning Up ==

  When you are done with the burn session, run the shut.cmd script. This will
  reverse most of the set up done by init.cmd and prep.cmd scripts.

  Have fun

  Steven
