Samba:Mounting ISO

gdeeble · 11-15-2010, 03:35 PM

Hey, Just curious question after reading. I thought it would be easier if I load my cd's on to my server to run them over the server rather than via the drive because I have multiple computers and it's easier to type/run a command and have it mount the share on the computer than pull it out of 1 and add put it in another, especially when the computer it's in is in another room. I was wondering how to do that. My understanding would be the following code, but could someone confirm that?

Code:

[Share Name]
 comment = CD Name
 volume = CD Title
 path = Path/To/Mounted/ISO
 root preexec = mount -o loop iso.file /Path/To/Mount/Point
 root postexec = umount /Path/To/Mount/Point
 read only = yes
 guest ok = yes

I figured this would be the easier way to code it, but then go to thinking, what happens if 1 I'm using the share and mount it on PC-B, will that interrupt use of it on PC-A? What happens if PC-A unmounted the drive while PC-B is using it? The main reason this thought came about is because me and buddy play a game from time to time over the LAN when he comes by, and he is like me, we have the game on both our desktops and laptops to play and since it uses the disc it's only 1 machine per person(so not to break any laws). But this would save him and I from having to use the discs and can play the LAN game at the same time with out any issues. Also with mounting it, how does that work? Does it mount and use the memory or does it just use a program to read it as needed? Never did understand that part. Thanks for the help. -Gary

keirvt · 11-15-2010, 05:43 PM

I would suggest mounting the samba share without the loopback, that is just as a normal share. Then separately either in /etc/fstab, or a mount script mount the iso image using the loop option , within the share directory.

gdeeble · 11-15-2010, 10:46 PM

I'm kind of confused. So my method will or won't work and what is the pros and cons of each way? I'm still new to the scene and learning as I go. I mean I don't want the ISO always mounted if I don't have unless it doesn't cause any bottle necks. I mean if it can be dynamic without headaches, that'd be great. As for the loop back, I'm lost, because with searching it says thats what I should do to mount the ISO to a mount point of my choice. Thanks -Gary

keirvt · 11-16-2010, 02:42 PM

Your way might work, I don't know.

There are two advantages in my mind of having an ordinary Samba share and then mounting the iso as a separate operation.

Firstly you can mount and unmount multiple isos within the share and thereby see any of your "CDs" within the share on other machines as they come and go and you don't have to keep restarting samba each time you want another mount.

Also you partition the problem. you first create the Samba share, verify that you can see files and folders, then do the loopback mount and confirm that the CD file system appears inthe share.

gdeeble · 11-17-2010, 04:35 PM

So with the root preexec and postexec, samba will restart? I mean I don't mind having to add shares as I add CD's but my thing is I am limited to 2 gigs of ram and don't want to hog it up. But I was playing with Starcraft to see if it would work as it requires a Disc to play and still couldn't get it to look at the map drive as the CD. So my next thing is check about making it emulate the cd-rom using the desktop.ini file and see if that works. If no go then the next would be have the iso in a folder and mount it on the pc.

keirvt · 11-18-2010, 02:40 PM

If you want to mount an iso from your Windows machine rather than on the linux machine this tool might help. There are no setup instructions and its basic but should do the job

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...olpanel_21.exe

gdeeble · 11-18-2010, 11:17 PM

Is that the ISO mounter? It doesn't work in Windows 7 for some reason, as I followed the instructions with it. Thanks for the suggestion though. I'm still going to play with it and see if I can't find something to mount a UNC path as "Virtual CD-Rom".