Morten wrote: > > Hi. > > I need to install DVD writers in a CentOS box as part of a backup setup. > I want as little fuss as possible both with HW recognition and > functionality. Can any of you recommend a vendor/product ? Hardware mostly works. However, there are some problems with the software. See this bug report for details: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=136665 Mostly, DVD-R media will work fine, DVD+R is the problematic one. Also, some people experienced kernel panics when attempting to burn any type of DVDs (while the same hardware burns CD-ROMs just fine). Long story short, buy somewhere locally where you can walk in and bring it for full refund if you run into trouble (don't lock yourself with small store that has restocking fees, or does only exchanges and carries maybe two or three different models). Returning stuff by mail is usually too much fuss and usually you need to pay shipping (so, as I said, choose some big local store with good return policy). > Performance of the drive is not an issue. I get confused looking at all > the "+/-RW +R double layer yada yada" when skimming the hardware lists.. Get the one that supports media you intend to use. Most today's models support both "+" and "-" standards (the older ones supported only one of them). Newer usually have dual layer support too. If you need DVD-RAM functionality, make sure the box explicitly says so (for example, newer models of LG writers will do all currently existing formats, including DVD-RAM). Most writers can't write to DVD-RAM, and not all readers can read them (which is shame, DVD-RAM is the ultimate rewritable media). Said that, at work I have one Sony DRX-710UL burner that simply doesn't work with 2.6 kernels. First I had trouble with DVD+R media only, than after couple of kernel updates I started getting kernel panics with any type of DVD media. Well, at least it seems they are working on the kernel code ;-) At home I have LG GSA-5163D. However, I never attempted connecting it to Linux box (my home Linux box has USB1.1 ports only). It works perfectly under Windows (but than, all of them do), and does all current DVD formats (+, -, R, RW, DVD-RAM and dual layer). Very fast, very reliable. The only media I haven't tested it with is dual layer (too expensive). It wrote to R, RW, and RAM media nicely. Both mentioned models can be connected by either USB or firewire to the PC. Note that by default CentOS kernel does not have support for firewire, so that shouldn't be deciding factor (unless the writer has only firewire, in which case skip it, not going to work with default kernel). I tested my LG (on Windows box) with both USB and Firewire. Worked fine with both.