Write multiple sessions to a DVD+R without ejects (Linux)

For backup and logging, it's nice to be able to incrementally commit data to a write-once medium such as a DVD+R.

If you want to write multiple sessions of data to the DVD+R on Ubuntu, some software such as growisofs wants to eject the media after writing each session, and before writing a new session.

This poses a problem if the DVD writer you are using doesn't have a motorized tray: It can well "burp" and eject the media by itself, but cannot reinsert the media again on its own. Somebody needs to be there and push the disk in again.

However if one uses xorriso for burning, xorriso can burn several sessions to a disk, without the eject/reinsert cycle.

I have only tested with one data DVD so far, but it seems to work. Tested on a Samsung SE-208GB external portable USB drive.

Here is the commands I used:

xorriso -dev /dev/dvdrw -add file.txt

and then as next session:

xorriso -dev /dev/dvdrw -add file2.txt

...and so on. As you can see the command lines are identical with the exception of what file to write.

You've got to check where your burner is mapped under /dev of course first. Mine was at /dev/dvdrw.

xorriso has a truly massive set of command line options and combinations. Reminds me of the pavuk downloader in that respect.
 

Got the technique from here:

xorriso -outdev /dev/sr0 -blank as_needed -follow link \ -add file1file1file1_REDHAT.txt file2file2file2_REDHAT.txt \ file3file3file3_REDHAT.txt --
Further session (like growisofs -M):
xorriso -dev /dev/sr0 -follow link \ -add file4file4file4_REDHAT.txt file5file5file5_REDHAT.txt \ file6file6file6_REDHAT.txt --

Read more: Link - Re: Problem with growisofs -- cannot write multisession DVDs without ejecting and reloading tray

And good to know from that page:

The number of sessions on DVD-R is restricted to 99,
on DVD+R the limit is 153.
On DVD+RW, the number is only limited by the data
storage capacity of the medium.