KeepSpin is a simple userspace program that keeps the disc reader drive's spindle active.

How does KeepSpin work? It reads a random part of a block device. In this case /dev/sr0, requesting a read of a single byte periodically to reset any timers for timeouts in DVD reading drive firmware. However this program isn't limited by block devices only, it can do other types of block devices like /dev/sda1 and so on, alongside files.

How do i use KeepSpin? At it's core: ./keepspinV1.2.x86_64 [block device] [seconds for a periodic random read]

It's simple to use, However you'll need to know your DVD driver's timeout, For that there's the KeepSpin-calibrate program, which will make a random read and when the disc stops spinning you'll press enter. Afterwards the program will give you a timeout, and you'll use that.

To compile the programs you do your regular: gcc keepspin.c -o keepspin command on both .c files

If you don't have GCC, simply download the executables (the ones on /compiled-recent)