Share optical drive over network. Not contents of drive, THE drive.

Skilowi · 2025-08-22 20:37:46

Hello.
I wanted to share optical drive from other computer (two arch servers) to mine (arch client).

Solutions I found on internet arent sufficient for me. I dont want to share just block device (which is CD) but entire drive, so it is ejectable with `eject` and k3b can detect it, or at least is burnable with `cdrecord`.
Is there even such solution?

twelveeighty · 2025-08-23 01:33:17

You'll need a block-level protocol to be able to do that low-level access. Look into Fibre Channel, iSCSI or FCoE. But I doubt you can do that at a "hobby level" cost, those are typically pretty expensive solutions.

solskog · 2025-08-23 01:42:48

install nfs-utils and share via network to clients.

so it is ejectable with `eject` and k3b can detect it, or at least is burnable with `cdrecord`.

ssh into host machine from clients.

Last edited by solskog (2025-08-23 01:54:49)

Skilowi · 2025-08-23 08:08:41

solskog wrote:

install nfs-utils and share via network to clients.
so it is ejectable with `eject` and k3b can detect it, or at least is burnable with `cdrecord`.
ssh into host machine from clients.

This is solution I was thinking about. Setting up http server with ISO files, ssh into second computer, there wgetting files and burning them on CD.
But having that drive seen as local is much more elegant solution :-)

Skilowi · 2025-08-23 08:11:34

twelveeighty wrote:

You'll need a block-level protocol to be able to do that low-level access. Look into Fibre Channel, iSCSI or FCoE. But I doubt you can do that at a "hobby level" cost, those are typically pretty expensive solutions.

I will look into these, if will be too hard for me to setup I will simply turn towards solution from reply above, maybe I might automatize it.

GerBra · 2025-08-23 08:59:53

Also take a look at nbd (NetworkBlockDevice)
https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/nbd/

I used this in the early years when CD/DVD and burners were still expensive. As far as I remember, a remote burner is also used as a burner on the client.

One link for a possible configuration:
https://superuser.com/questions/316745/ … he-network

Skilowi · 2025-08-23 09:16:48

GerBra wrote:

Also take a look at nbd (NetworkBlockDevice)
https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/nbd/
I used this in the early years when CD/DVD and burners were still expensive. As far as I remember, a remote burner is also used as a burner on the client.
One link for a possible configuration:
https://superuser.com/questions/316745/ … he-network

I have tried nbd already

You can only connect to it when theres a disk in drive, if its missing it will error out with message that server configuration is wrong. <- this wasted me like a hour of my life. Properly reading into systemctl status let me know why its not working.
eject wont run with nbd
k3b wont detect your drive
cdrecord wont burn into that cd

It is only readable.

Last edited by Skilowi (2025-08-23 09:18:13)

solskog · 2025-08-23 09:17:47

# Server setup
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/ISCSI/LIO
# Client setup
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Open-iSCSI

But you still need ssh into server for reject and burn CD/DVDs.

Last edited by solskog (2025-08-23 09:24:28)

Arch Linux

#1 2025-08-22 20:37:46

Share optical drive over network. Not contents of drive, THE drive.

#2 2025-08-23 01:33:17

Re: Share optical drive over network. Not contents of drive, THE drive.

#3 2025-08-23 01:42:48

Re: Share optical drive over network. Not contents of drive, THE drive.

#4 2025-08-23 08:08:41

Re: Share optical drive over network. Not contents of drive, THE drive.

#5 2025-08-23 08:11:34

Re: Share optical drive over network. Not contents of drive, THE drive.

#6 2025-08-23 08:59:53

Re: Share optical drive over network. Not contents of drive, THE drive.

#7 2025-08-23 09:16:48

Re: Share optical drive over network. Not contents of drive, THE drive.

#8 2025-08-23 09:17:47

Re: Share optical drive over network. Not contents of drive, THE drive.

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