In order to write DVD/DVD-RW from shell prompt you need to install a package called dvd+rw-tools.

DVD is another good option for backup, archiving, data exchange etc. You can install dvd+rw-tools with following commands. Also note that this package works under *BSD, HP-UX, Solaris and other UNIX like operating systems.

Debian installation:
# apt-get install ‘dvd+rw-tools’

Fedora Core Linux installation:
# yum install ‘dvd+rw-tools’

RedHat Enterprise Linux installation:
# up2date ‘dvd+rw-tools’

First create the ISO image
# mkisofs -r -o /tmp/data.iso /home/data

Now use the growisofs command to write the ISO onto the DVD:
# growisofs -Z /dev/dvd=/tmp/var-www-disk1.iso

To append more data for same DVD:
# growisofs -M /dev/dvd /tmp/file.1

To format (erase) a DVD:
# dvd+rw-format -force /dev/dvd
OR
# dvd+rw-format -force=full /dev/dvd

The dvd+rw-format command formats dvd disk in the specified dvd drive.

To display information about dvd drive and disk using dvd+rw-mediainfo command:
# dvd+rw-mediainfo /dev/dvd