Setting up an ATAPI CDR/CDRW on a SuSE installation involves just a few steps. Some people have had difficulties which are not difficult to overcome. If you follow these instructions, you should be able to set your system up quickly. Assumptions: 1. You are using the pre-compiled kernel from SuSE. 2. Your CDR is an ATAPI device. That is, it connects to one of your IDE ports. 3. You know which IDE device your CDR is. Let's assume it is /dev/hdc, that is, the master of the secondary IDE port. In the following steps, use the method (i) to get the drive tested. Afterwards, when you got it all working follow the method (ii). 1. Inform the kernel that you want to drive the hdc device using the IDE-SCSI emulation. Use one of the following methods: i. Use "hdc=ide-scsi" (without the quotes) as a boot parameter when booting your machine. ii. Add/modify the "append" option in /etc/lilo.conf: append="hdc=ide-scsi" Execute '/sbin/lilo'. Reboot. 2. Load the "ide-scsi" module. Use one of the following methods: i. As root, in the command prompt, execute: # modprobe ide-scsi ii. Append the "ide-scsi" to the variable "INITRD_MODULES" in /etc/rc.config. Then as root, execute "mk_initrd", followed by "/sbin/lilo". Reboot your system. 3. Observe the output in the log when the ide-scsi module is loaded. i. Look at the contents of /var/log/messages after ide-scsi is loaded (I'd suggest you install the package "xlogmaster" to view the contents of /var/log/messages). It should look similar to this: kernel: Vendor: SAMSUNG Model: CD-R/RW SW-208B Rev: BS01 kernel: Type: CD-ROM ANSI SCSI revision: 02 kernel: Detected scsi CD-ROM sr0 at scsi1,channel 0, id 0, lun 0 kernel: sr0: scsi3-mmc drive: 8x/32x writercd/rw xa/form2 cdda tray Notice the line "Detected scsi CD-ROM sr0", the value "sr0" indicates the device name of the CDR to be used when under IDE-SCSI emulation. The name "hdc" is NOT to be used. If you so desire, make a link of sr0 to cdrom or cdr or cdrecorder, etc. Example: # ln -s /dev/sr0 /dev/cdrom ii. Observe the console output as you boot and note the new scsi emulation device name given to your ATAPI device. Create the links as described in (i) if you want. At this point you should have your ATAPI CDR emulated as a SCSI device on /dev/sr0. Remember, the CDR is NOT accessible under hdc anymore. Test it by mounting a CD: # mount /dev/sr0 /mnt # ls /mnt Unmount the CD. 4. Set up your CD burner software by pointing /dev/sr0 as your CDR. Personally, I prefer to use "xcdroast" to burn CDs, it autodetects the CDR. Test by burning a CD. I think that's all. Post your comments if this instructions fail or if I missed something. Rafael