Create Bootable ISO on Mac

Creating a bootable ISO on a Mac is a straightforward process that involves using third-party software. While Windows doesn't have a built-in way to create ISO files, modern versions of the operating system can natively mount ISO files without additional software.

ISO files are useful for creating backup copies of discs or providing a disc to virtual machine programs. They can also be used to save old game or software discs on a modern computer that doesn't have a disc drive.

To create an ISO file from your own physical disc, you'll need a third-party program like InfraRecorder, ImgBurn, and CDBurnerXP. Ninite is a safe place to grab tools of all sorts. However, be careful when selecting software as many tools are packed with junkware.

On the Mac, you can use Homebrew or MacPorts to get a progress bar by installing the 'pv' command and using that instead of 'cat'. If you prefer not to install additional software, you can use the built-in `sh` command to write the ISO file directly to your disk. To do this, plug in your USB stick and open Terminal.

Once you're in Terminal, type `ls /dev/rdisk*` to list all the available disks on your Mac. Take note of the corresponding `/dev/diskN` where 'N' is the index of your disk. This will print out the list of currently mapped devices/partitions.

For example, if you want to write the ISO file to a USB stick, type `ls /dev/rdisk*` and look for the device name that corresponds to your USB stick (e.g., `/dev/rdisk0`). Then, use the following command to write the ISO file:

```

sudo sh -c 'cat /path/to/downloaded.iso > /dev/rdiskN'

```

Replace `/path/to/downloaded.iso` with the actual path of your downloaded ISO file and `/dev/rdiskN` with the device name you noted earlier.

The process of burning can take anywhere from 1 to 30 minutes, depending on your drive and the size of the ISO file. Once the setup is finished, you can reform your USB stick as a normal drive again. However, be warned that all data on the drive will be destroyed during this process.

With these steps, you should now have a bootable openSUSE installation media on your Mac.

Create bootable iso on mac