I just installed Red Hat Linux version 2.6.9-5.EL,I am trying to install oracle database on it.

On inserting the cd and trying to mount I got the following :

[root@unknown-00-a1-b0-a3-57-0f media]# mount cdrom
/dev/hdd: Input/output error
mount: block device /dev/hdd is write-protected, mounting read-only
/dev/hdd: Input/output error
mount: /dev/hdd: can't read superblock

I tried the same CDs on other OSs and it is not corupted .Also, I tried different CD on I always got the same error

Can anyone help?

First it is Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 (or RHEL4) with kernel 2.6.9-5.EL..........not a big issue but one should know the difference.

Second the kernel is way out dated, as soon as possible update the the current released versio of the kernel and other packages, RHEL4update5 is now available.

The first part of the error (mounting read-only) is normal and expected, nothing to worry about here. The second part ( can't read superblock) is not normal, it sound like maybe an IRQ or DMA issue with the hardware device (the cdrom or /dev/hdd). It can also be an issue with the /etc/fstab entry for the device, please check for both. First the easy one the /etc/fstab file, a sample line entry is below for the device;

The second (IRQ or DMA issues) involves reviewing the /var/log/messages file for possible errors. After attempting to mount the CD take a look at the tail end of the file as root;

cat /var/log/messages

The media should automatically mount the media when inserted, since it does not seem to be doing this also check if autofs is installed; rpm -qa autofs