Using optical devices

You can display the primary menu for optical support by entering GO OPTICAL on the IBM i command line. System administrators and programmers can access most optical commands through this menu. It is also convenient to enter many of the optical commands directly on the command line.

These commands offer the following functions:

• Display optical volumes in a directly attached or LAN-attached optical media library device (MLD), CD device, DVD device, or virtual optical device.
• Display files and directories that are contained in any directory in any optical volume.
• Display the file attributes of any optical file.
• Import or export media in a directly attached optical media library, CD-ROM device, DVD device, or virtual optical device.
• Make backup copies of volumes, directories, or files that are contained in directly attached optical devices or virtual optical devices.
• Initialize a volume that is contained in a DVD-RAM drive, a directly attached optical media library, or a virtual optical device.
• Work with devices that represent optical media libraries, optical systems, CD drives, DVD drives, and virtual optical drives.
• Add, remove, or change the status of any LAN-attached optical system.
• Duplicate one optical volume to another.
• Copy files and directories from one optical volume to another.
• Check a volume for damaged directories and files.

When you enter GO CMDOPT on the command line, a complete list of optical commands appears. Many of these commands are accessible through the previous GO OPTICAL menu.

The following topics provide information about configuring your CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or DVD-RAM device as well as tips for loading and unloading media.