I'm looking for a way to create a virtual drive that is fully
compatible to a common dvd/cd-writer. The idea is to offer the
user the ability to take advantage of the Finders and other
applications built in burn ability without the presence of a
physically connected dvd/cd-writer.
This doesn't make any sense. The "burn ability" that you're
talking about boils down to two things:
1) putting files into a disk image
2) writing the disk image to recordable media
If you don't actually want to write to recordable media, then the
first step can be achieved by creating a disk image and mounting it
as a normal volume.
I totally agree, under normal circumstances disk-images are already
perfect. See below for an explanation why I want a fully compatible
virtual cd/dvd-drive...
Basicly disk images are exactly what I need with the exception
that usual disk images can not be used as burn device. Because I'm
not very familiar with OS X driver development, I'm not sure what
would be the best way to do that.
I don't think you either need to, or should, be writing a driver here.
I don't see a better solution right now.
One idea is to modify the I/O Kit registry of an existing disk
image to match the required filter criteria to make the image
available as burn device. Is that possible at all?
No.
Thanks. That's what I've thought. All my efforts in that direction
lead either to unmountable or invalid disk-images or other really
strange system behavior...(HINT: Do not try this on a productivity
system without a proper backup ;)
The second idea is to create a custom driver (KEXT) for a virtual
drive (ATA/SCSI/Firewire or USB) to emulate a real DVD/CD-Writer
device. If so, on what level do I need to emulate the device?
I don't believe you need to do this at all.
Or maybe there is an easier way to make a virtual drive available
as burn device?
Again, what makes you think that you need a "burn" device at all?
I guess I need. One of our clients has a network with around 20 boxed
Mac-Minis terminals, the users don't have physically access to the
Mac-Mini's drive bay - meaning they can't insert a cd-media into the
drive (and they should not be able to). On the other hand they should
be able to take full advantage of any application and its features as
usual, e.g. burning a virtual cd from iPhoto, iTunes, etc. That way
every user can create a virtual cd/dvd library without the need to
burn it onto a real cd/dvd before and import it as disk-image later.
Or try starting the Apple DVD-Player without the presence of a
physically connected DVD-drive - you simply can't without tricks or
installing 3rd party software like VLC or similar.
A virtual cd/dvd-drive with burning abilities would allow to use any
application the way they are designed to be
used - without the local presence of any cd/dvd-drive.
Beside that, I have some software that forces me to insert the cd/dvd
every time I use it and do not accept a disk-image copy. Something I
really don't like. I want to install it once and put the package into
my software shelf.
In my opinion a fully compatible virtual cd/dvd-drive would take the
disk-image idea to the next level.
= Mike
p.s. to anyone paying attention, yes, I'm aware that recent
incarnations of the DiskRecording framework no longer require the
intermediate disk image step; the list above is a conceptual
simplification...
