All-in-One
Encyclopedia
All-in-One also known as #-in-1, CD-ROM
s or DVD-ROMs contain more than one application on the disc. Typically, this would simply be different editions of the same version. AIOs are normally created by warez
groups in order to save time to download and upload software, while giving a large collection of editions at the same time. However, software companies may release AIOs themselves to high-paying customers.
file system
. This hack allows them to store a file only once as data, but reference it with many filenames and paths; this is also known as hardlinks
. The reason this works so effectively is that multiple editions of software commonly only change between a small group of files, so the AIO might be only a few kilobytes or megabytes larger than one copy of a certain edition of the software, but will not be as large as copying them individually. Some modified versions of the program mkisofs are able to automatically find multiple copies of files using the -duplicates-once option.
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
s or DVD-ROMs contain more than one application on the disc. Typically, this would simply be different editions of the same version. AIOs are normally created by warez
Warez
Warez refers primarily to copyrighted works distributed without fees or royalties, and may be traded, in general violation of copyright law. The term generally refers to unauthorized releases by organized groups, as opposed to file sharing between friends or large groups of people with similar...
groups in order to save time to download and upload software, while giving a large collection of editions at the same time. However, software companies may release AIOs themselves to high-paying customers.
How they work
Most All-in-Ones exploit a hack to the ISO 9660ISO 9660
ISO 9660, also referred to as CDFS by some hardware and software providers, is a file system standard published by the International Organization for Standardization for optical disc media....
file system
File system
A file system is a means to organize data expected to be retained after a program terminates by providing procedures to store, retrieve and update data, as well as manage the available space on the device which contain it. A file system organizes data in an efficient manner and is tuned to the...
. This hack allows them to store a file only once as data, but reference it with many filenames and paths; this is also known as hardlinks
Hard link
In computing, a hard link is a directory entry that associates a name with a file on a file system. . The term is used in file systems which allow multiple hard links to be created for the same file. This has the effect of creating multiple names for the same file, causing an aliasing effect: e.g...
. The reason this works so effectively is that multiple editions of software commonly only change between a small group of files, so the AIO might be only a few kilobytes or megabytes larger than one copy of a certain edition of the software, but will not be as large as copying them individually. Some modified versions of the program mkisofs are able to automatically find multiple copies of files using the -duplicates-once option.