k3b DVD burning REALLY slow

hpark21 · April 21, 2010, 6:56am

DVD+R Using Growisofs - REALLY slow, 0.3-0.5x speed.
DVD+R Using wodim - error.
DVD-R using wodim - error - app claims permission issue.

I noticed this issue and thus the reason for moving to OpenSuse from Linux Mint.

The drive/media tests out fine on another machine with OpenSuse 11.0

On Linux Mint, using growisofs through K3b, It will burn REAL slow for first 100-150 MB or so, then the speed picks up to 8x that I specify and USUALLY burns correctly, but not always. I was unable to burn CD-ROM at ALL.

However, on Opensuse using the packman version 1.91 K3b and growisofs 7.1, currently, it wrote 388MB and still going strong at 0.4x.

It is an LG SATA drive.
My system is Quad core AMD Athlon X4 with 8GB of ram running OpenSuse 11.2

Device buffer seems to fluctuate a LOT as well.

hdparm output:

stranger@linux-oian:~> sudo /sbin/hdparm -I /dev/sr0

/dev/sr0:

ATAPI CD-ROM, with removable media
Model Number: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50
Serial Number: K009CN71312
Firmware Revision: TN02
Transport: Serial, ATA8-AST, SATA 1.0a, SATA II Extensions, SATA Rev 2.5, SATA Rev 2.6
Standards:
Likely used CD-ROM ATAPI-1
Configuration:
DRQ response: 50us.
Packet size: 12 bytes
cache/buffer size = unknown
Capabilities:
LBA, IORDY(can be disabled)
DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5
Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns
PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
Cycle time: no flow control=120ns IORDY flow control=120ns

hpark21 · April 21, 2010, 7:03am

Here is output from partial run - I cancelled it out.

Burned media

DVD+R

Devices

HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50 TN02 (/dev/sr0, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD+R DL) [DVD-ROM, DVD-R Sequential, DVD-R Dual Layer Sequential, DVD-R Dual Layer Jump, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW Restricted Overwrite, DVD-RW Sequential, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R Dual Layer, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW] [SAO, TAO, RAW, SAO/R96P, SAO/R96R, RAW/R16, RAW/R96P, RAW/R96R, Restricted Overwrite, Layer Jump] %7]

K3b::IsoImager

mkisofs print size result: 2149062 (4401278976 bytes)

System

K3b Version: 1.91.0
KDE Version: 4.3.5 (KDE 4.3.5) “release 0”
QT Version: 4.5.3
Kernel: 2.6.31.12-0.2-desktop

Used versions

mkisofs: 1.1.9
growisofs: 7.1

growisofs

Executing ‘builtin_dd if=/dev/fd/0 of=/dev/sr0 obs=32k seek=0’
/dev/sr0: “Current Write Speed” is 8.2x1352KBps.
0/4401278976 ( 0.0%) @0x, remaining ??:?? RBU 100.0% UBU 0.0%
=== last message repeated 5 times. ===
720896/4401278976 ( 0.0%) @0.2x, remaining 2339:58 RBU 100.0% UBU 3.1%
720896/4401278976 ( 0.0%) @0.0x, remaining 2746:55 RBU 100.0% UBU 100.0%
1474560/4401278976 ( 0.0%) @0.2x, remaining 1491:54 RBU 100.0% UBU 100.0%
3244032/4401278976 ( 0.1%) @0.4x, remaining 745:39 RBU 100.0% UBU 34.4%
5406720/4401278976 ( 0.1%) @0.5x, remaining 501:22 RBU 100.0% UBU 15.6%
6946816/4401278976 ( 0.2%) @0.3x, remaining 421:42 RBU 100.0% UBU 9.4%
8617984/4401278976 ( 0.2%) @0.4x, remaining 365:17 RBU 100.0% UBU 53.1%
10682368/4401278976 ( 0.2%) @0.4x, remaining 321:57 RBU 100.0% UBU 37.5%
12189696/4401278976 ( 0.3%) @0.3x, remaining 300:03 RBU 100.0% UBU 100.0%
13795328/4401278976 ( 0.3%) @0.3x, remaining 280:56 RBU 100.0% UBU 28.1%
15302656/4401278976 ( 0.3%) @0.3x, remaining 272:17 RBU 100.0% UBU 12.5%
17367040/4401278976 ( 0.4%) @0.4x, remaining 252:25 RBU 100.0% UBU 3.1%

[snip]

673742848/4401278976 (15.3%) @0.3x, remaining 125:51 RBU 100.0% UBU 6.2%
675217408/4401278976 (15.3%) @0.3x, remaining 125:49 RBU 100.0% UBU 100.0%
676659200/4401278976 (15.4%) @0.3x, remaining 125:46 RBU 100.0% UBU 9.4%
678199296/4401278976 (15.4%) @0.3x, remaining 125:48 RBU 100.0% UBU 3.1%
/dev/sr0: flushing cache

growisofs command:

/usr/bin/growisofs -Z /dev/sr0=/dev/fd/0 -use-the-force-luke=notray -use-the-force-luke=tty -use-the-force-luke=4gms -use-the-force-luke=tracksize:2149062 -dvd-compat -speed=8 -use-the-force-luke=bufsize:32m

mkisofs

2149062
I: -input-charset not specified, using utf-8 (detected in locale settings)
0.02% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 00:36:23 2010
0.05% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 00:36:23 2010
0.07% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 00:36:23 2010
0.09% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 00:36:23 2010
0.12% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 00:36:23 2010
0.14% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 00:36:23 2010
0.16% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 00:36:23 2010
0.19% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 00:36:23 2010
0.21% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 00:36:23 2010
0.23% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 00:36:23 2010

[snip]

16.10% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 02:57:59 2010
16.12% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 02:57:59 2010
16.15% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 02:57:59 2010
16.17% done, estimate finish Wed Apr 21 02:58:00 2010

mkisofs calculate size command:

/usr/bin/genisoimage -gui -graft-points -print-size -quiet -volid Heroes.S03E01 -volset -appid K3B THE CD KREATOR (C) 1998-2010 SEBASTIAN TRUEG AND MICHAL MALEK -publisher -preparer -sysid LINUX -volset-size 1 -volset-seqno 1 -sort /tmp/kde-stranger/k3bZ11370.tmp -rational-rock -hide-list /tmp/kde-stranger/k3bg11370.tmp -joliet -joliet-long -hide-joliet-list /tmp/kde-stranger/k3bz11370.tmp -no-cache-inodes -full-iso9660-filenames -iso-level 3 -path-list /tmp/kde-stranger/k3by11370.tmp

mkisofs command:

/usr/bin/genisoimage -gui -graft-points -volid Heroes.S03E01 -volset -appid K3B THE CD KREATOR (C) 1998-2010 SEBASTIAN TRUEG AND MICHAL MALEK -publisher -preparer -sysid LINUX -volset-size 1 -volset-seqno 1 -sort /tmp/kde-stranger/k3bb11370.tmp -rational-rock -hide-list /tmp/kde-stranger/k3bm11370.tmp -joliet -joliet-long -hide-joliet-list /tmp/kde-stranger/k3bF11370.tmp -no-cache-inodes -full-iso9660-filenames -iso-level 3 -path-list /tmp/kde-stranger/k3bY11370.tmp

hellgast · April 21, 2010, 1:41pm

Same problem here:

sudo /sbin/hdparm -I /dev/sr0:

/dev/sr0:

ATAPI CD-ROM, with removable media
        Model Number:       HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GSA-H50L
        Serial Number:
        Firmware Revision:  1.03
Standards:
        Likely used CD-ROM ATAPI-1
Configuration:
        DRQ response: 50us.
        Packet size: 12 bytes
        cache/buffer size  = unknown
Capabilities:
        LBA, IORDY(can be disabled)
        DMA: sdma0 sdma1 sdma2 mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 *udma4
             Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns
        PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
             Cycle time: no flow control=120ns  IORDY flow control=120ns
HW reset results:
        CBLID- above Vih
        Device num = 0

hpark21 · April 21, 2010, 3:02pm

Well, since I am getting REALLY good at Nuke and Pave…

I think I will just try to install Windows XP tonight and see whether I can eliminate the issue with my drive+m-board compatibility, etc.

If that works, then there HAS to be a solution for Linux…

hpark21 · April 22, 2010, 3:26am

Ugh… This is pretty bad.

In Windows XP, the drive works great. No issues burning DVD+R, DVD-R, burned at 8x and 12x no issues.

So, there has to be something with recent version of linux kernel since I had problem with:
Linux Mint 8.0
Fedora Core 11
OpenSuse 11.2

So far, only one without issue was when I installed the drive in old OpenSuse 11.0 installation and I have not really tried different things… I think I still have old 11.0 installation DVD… Maybe I can install that version on this system and see whether it would work fine.

hpark21 · April 23, 2010, 1:33am

Guys, help me out here. I just need to fix this issue with DVD burner.

I have 8GB of ram that I can not use on WinXP and I do not have Vista 64 or Win 7 64bit.

I will try out 11.0 over the weekend and report back and if THAT works, maybe someone can guide me what MIGHT be causing the issue. Another thing, I noticed Packman repository for 11.0 still existing, is it still being updated? I know that OpenSUSE no longer have official repository updates for 11.0, but how about those external ones?

brunomcl · April 23, 2010, 4:51am

Well, I don’t know what the problem is but here are a few wild ideas:

I notice your k3b version is 1.9 for KDE4. You could try packman’s version 1.0.5, which will bring in it’s own backend versions, I think.
Try burning in opensuse 11.1/KDE3.5 (in a Vbox or VMPlayer VM if you don’t want to clear the partitions for it).
What’s the CPU usage during burning? Any suspicious process?

Opensuse 11.2 has issues with my laptop DVD, see here: KDE4.3+ won’t mount CD/DVD: Workarounds - openSUSE Forums
I believe you may be right in suspecting the kernel (i.e., probably the sata kernel module).

Never a dull moment…

brunomcl · April 23, 2010, 4:54am

About 11.0 repo, it’s still enabled (until sometime mid-year, I think) and can be used. Security updates are still being done, AFAIK.

user · April 23, 2010, 8:25am

note–i can’t guarantee that this will help you, or not…but:

since all that k3b is is a shell script frontend to cdrecord, wodim,
cdrdao, and growisofs (and maybe other command line CD/DVD burner
tools) you might get relief from this:

http://cdrecord.berlios.de/private/linux-dist.html
has some interesting comments about various Linux distros and
cdrtools. About halfway down he claims that many distros (including
SuSe) provide broken cdrtools, and that one should get the source from
his website and build it oneself. FWIW.

note: again i admit i’m not sure of the level of fact relayed by the
author of that web page…but, if you have time to try his code, and
if it works…please let us know…

hpark21 · April 29, 2010, 3:24am

Ok, just finished installing 11.0
Upgraded the kernel to 2.6.25.20
Installed ATI driver
Using K3B 1.0.4
Growisofs 7.1

It is burning just fine - devicebuffer is hardly moving out of 100% burning solidly at 8x

So, it is something to do with newer version of os. I do not know whether it is due to K3b, Growisofs, or kernel version but it is definitely something recent that broke it.

Sigh. Well, I guess I can continue using 11.0 or maybe try to ugprade to 11.1 and see whether it is ok…

hpark21 · June 4, 2010, 6:22am

Sorry to resurrect such an old article, but just in case someone is still having issues.

I have not tried 11.1.

However, I happened to change the burner on my machine from LG to Optiarc (Sony,Liteon) and then, installed 11.2.

Burning is fine now on 11.2.

It is very odd… Must have been some kind of SATA driver issue or something as LG drive works just fine in Windows so it is not the hardware issue.

So, if anyone is having issues, my suggestion would be to try out another brand of DVD burner (I got my Sony for $18 or so… So these are not exactly expensive. Of course, it does not make sense to replace perfectly working drive - as I was able to finally upgrade my son’s CD burner to DVD burner, so it was not a lost investment bur your situation may be different)

Good luck.

mjtobler · June 21, 2010, 1:39pm

Here’s what I suggest:

Get rid of the BUGGY / BROKEN “cdrtools fork”, known as “cdrkit”
Install the “cdrtools” (i.e. ‘cdrecord’) package.

a) Run: Yast-> Software Management -> View -> RPM Groups
b) Navigate: Productivity -> Multimedia -> CD -> Record
c) x Delete: cdrkit-cdrtools-compat, wodim, wodim-devel (if installed)
…the Resolver will ask you a number of questions about installed
…packages that will break and will be deleted (such as k3b/etc) …
…for each Warning window popup, select the last choice:
…“break xxx by ignoring some of its dependencies” - for example:
…“break k3b by ignoring some of its dependencies”
d) select Accept button

(if you need to re-run Software Management, do so now)

If you do not have “openSUSE Factory” in your Repository list, then:

Configuration -> Repositories -> Add button …
“Specify URL” -> Next button -> Ok

(Back at Software Management main window)
d) Navigate: View -> Productivity -> Multimedia -> CD -> Record
e) Right click and select “Taboo - never install” for each of:
…cdrkit-cdrtools-compat, wodim, wodim-devel
f) Right click on “cdrtools” and select “Install”

Cdrtools - why do Linux distributions create bad forks?