Here's the capabilities (output from cdrecord-DVDPro):

Device type : Removable CD-ROM
Vendor_info : 'HL-DT-ST'
Identifikation : 'DVDRAM GSA-4163B'
Revision : 'A104'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.

Drive capabilities, per MMC-3 page 2A:

Does read CD-R media
Does write CD-R media
Does read CD-RW media
Does write CD-RW media
Does read DVD-ROM media
Does read DVD-R media
Does write DVD-R media
Does read DVD-RAM media
Does write DVD-RAM media
Does support test writing

Does read Mode 2 Form 1 blocks
Does read Mode 2 Form 2 blocks
Does read digital audio blocks
Does restart non-streamed digital audio reads accurately
Does support Buffer-Underrun-Free recording
Does read multi-session CDs
Does read fixed-packet CD media using Method 2
Does not read CD bar code
Does not read R-W subcode information
Does read raw P-W subcode data from lead in
Does return CD media catalog number
Does return CD ISRC information
Does support C2 error pointers
Does not deliver composite A/V data

Does play audio CDs
Number of volume control levels: 256
Does support individual volume control setting for each channel
Does support independent mute setting for each channel
Does not support digital output on port 1
Does not support digital output on port 2

Loading mechanism type: tray
Does support ejection of CD via START/STOP command
Does not lock media on power up via prevent jumper
Does allow media to be locked in the drive via PREVENT/ALLOW command
Is not currently in a media-locked state
Does not support changing side of disk
Does not have load-empty-slot-in-changer feature
Does not support Individual Disk Present feature

Maximum read speed: 7056 kB/s (CD 40x, DVD 5x)
Current read speed: 7056 kB/s (CD 40x, DVD 5x)
Maximum write speed: 7056 kB/s (CD 40x, DVD 5x)
Current write speed: 7056 kB/s (CD 40x, DVD 5x)
Rotational control selected: CLV/PCAV
Buffer size in KB: 2048
Copy management revision supported: 1
Number of supported write speeds: 6
Write speed # 0: 7056 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 40x, DVD 5x)
Write speed # 1: 5645 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 32x, DVD 4x)
Write speed # 2: 4234 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 24x, DVD 3x)
Write speed # 3: 2822 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 16x, DVD 2x)
Write speed # 4: 1411 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 8x, DVD 1x)
Write speed # 5: 706 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 4x, DVD 0x)

Immediately recognized by YaST2. Works perfectly with K3b.

Works perfectly with all the distros I checked out. Tried it out with kernels 2.4 and now the latest 2.6 using k3b and nothing ever went wrong.