Recently I needed to backup a couple of cds to a single dvd. The best solution was to extract iso images from cds and then write all of them as data files to a single dvd. I could then use the dvd as a backup. Whenever I needed a cd, I can insert the dvd and then mount the corresponding cd iso image.

How to extract iso image from cd/dvd in ubuntu?

In recent versions of Ubuntu (Hardy Heron etc.), cd or dvd is automatically mounted when you insert them in the drive. So first you need to unmount using the following command (you can also right click on the mounted volume to unmount it),

The above command is used in my system. In your system you may have to replace cdrom0 with dvd or scd0 or even cdrom1 (if you have multiple drives).

Now use the dd command to dump the dvd/cd image to an iso file,

This command will create an iso file named mydisk.iso. Again replace cdrom0 with whatever device name you have on your system for the drive used.

After you have copied all the cd iso files, you can create a new dvd project (using Brasero tool) and then add these iso files as data files. This create a dvd containing these cd iso images.

How to mount a cd iso image in Ubuntu?

Now the question is how to mount these cd iso images when you need the data inside? Well in Ubuntu, it is as easy as issuing a single command,

Here /home/jayson/mydisk is an existing folder under which the iso image will be mounted.

How to burn an iso image to a cd in Ubuntu?

You can use Brasero tool to burn the iso image to a cd rom. Another option is to use the following command line,