Using the `mkisofs` Command (with examples)

Use Case 1: Create an ISO from a directory

Code:

mkisofs -o filename.iso path/to/source_directory

Motivation:

Creating an ISO file is useful when you want to distribute a large amount of data or create a backup in a single file. By using the mkisofs command, you can easily convert a directory and its contents into an ISO file.

Explanation:

• mkisofs: This is the command used to create ISO files.
• -o filename.iso: This argument specifies the output file name and its format. In this case, we use the option -o followed by the desired output filename (filename.iso).
• path/to/source_directory: This is the path to the source directory that you want to convert into an ISO file.

Example Output:

After running the command mkisofs -o example.iso /path/to/directory, an ISO file named example.iso will be created from the contents of the /path/to/directory directory.

Use Case 2: Set the disc label when creating an ISO

Code:

mkisofs -o filename.iso -V "label_name" path/to/source_directory

Motivation:

When creating an ISO file, it is usually helpful to set a disc label. This label can provide additional information about the ISO content or act as an identifier for the disc. By specifying the label name during the ISO creation process, it becomes easier to identify the ISO’s purpose or contents in the future.

Explanation:

• -V "label_name": This argument sets the label for the ISO file. The option -V is followed by the desired label name enclosed in double quotes.
• Other arguments remain the same as in the previous use case.

Example Output:

Running the command mkisofs -o example.iso -V "My Backup" /path/to/data will create an ISO file named example.iso. The disc label will be set to “My Backup”.