Disk image emulator

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A disk image emulator is computer software designed to mount a disk image, usually of a CD or DVD, from a local hard drive or USB flash drive. The mounting is usually done by creating a virtual drive on the system, that to the operating system looks like an ordinary disk drive, in other words disc reading hardware is substituted with disc images.

Some operating systems such as Linux[1] and Mac OS X[2] have this functionality built-in (see loop device), while others such as Microsoft Windows require additional software.

Contents

[edit] Uses

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  • Enables users to avoid constantly switching out discs
  • Helps prevent scratching, which can cause permanent damage to a disc
  • Speeds up access times as hard drives are faster than optical drives
  • Provides a backup copy of a disc, in case the original becomes damaged, lost, or stolen
  • Enables users to carry large disc libraries without the physical burden of the discs
  • Emulates multiple disks, which is useful for installing or using software that shipped on multiple disks
  • Can make a disc accessible to users on a network, which is very practical when it is impossible to distribute the discs to all of the users on a network
  • Allows programs that can normally only work with optical discs (like some DVD-Video applications) to access data on a hard drive
  • For often-used CD and DVD discs, where simply copying the disc to a hard drive won't work
  • A CD/DVD master used to burn physical discs
  • Make disc accessible to machines without disc drive
  • Save power by turning off disc drive, for instance on laptops
  • Makes the computer quieter, many removable disc drives are noisier than hard disks
  • Security; disk images can be encrypted, and decrypted only when accessed

[edit] Encryption

Some emulator software, such as FreeOTFE and Sentry 2020 are designed to emulate a hard drive, and encrypt the disk image stored. This provides an easy to use, and secure, means of encrypting files in bulk by simply storing files on the virtual drive which is created when the disk image is mounted.

This form of disk emulation is often referred to as "OTFE" (on-the-fly encryption)

[edit] Software distribution

After the spread of broadband CD and DVD disk images became a common medium for Linux distributions[1] . Online data and bootable recovery CD images are provided for customers of certain commercial software companies.[3]

The DMCA forbids using peer-to-peer file sharing to make unauthorized copies of proprietary software, and using disk image emulators to run such copies. (Illicit application of disk image emulators is balanced by legitimate and important uses such as hardware and software testing, Computer Forensics, OS distribution, etc.)

[edit] Disk image emulator software

Further information: List of Disk image emulators
  • Hard drive

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Linux ISO Images. LinuxHelp.net. Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
  2. ^ Although OS X's built-in DiskImageMounter software does not emulate a physical drive
  3. ^ Drive Backup 7.0. Paragon Software GmbH. Retrieved on 2007-03-23. “Recovery CD self-burning ISO image is available for download online to all registered customers of Paragon products.”
  4. ^ How to customize Windows PE by using the source files that are included with the Microsoft SMS 2003 Operating System Deployment (OSD) Feature Pack. Microsoft Knowledge Base. Microsoft (2006-10-30). Retrieved on 2007-03-23.