---
name: "cdown"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "cdtool"
version: "2.1.8-release-8"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cdown"
---

# cdown(1)

query cddb database for info on a disc

## NAME

cdown - query cddb database for info on a disc

## SYNOPSIS

```
cdown
cdown     [-[0..9]|-d device] [-H H] [-P P] [-V|-?|-h]
```

## DESCRIPTION

The *cdown* command is a command to query the CD-ROM for track information,  use this to fetch information on this CD-ROM from the CDDB databases (freedb.freedb.org), and then output the information in  a form suitable for [cdir(1)](/cdir/1.md).

*cdown* prints the information it downloads on stdout, in a format suitable for appending to .cdtooldb.  Should there be an uncertainty as to which CD-ROM information it should download, it prints a list of alternatives to stderr and prompts for  the user to select one.

A network connection is required for this to operate properly.

## OPTIONS

- **-d device**

  specify the cdrom device

- **-H host**

  get database using HOST (def=freedb.freedb.org)

- **-P port**

  get database using PORT (def=888)

- **-l**

  list available cddb hosts

- **-\[1..9\]**

  specify /dev/cdromN (def=/dev/cdrom)

- **-r**

  output raw answer of the CDDB server

- **-v**

  verbose output

- **-D**

  enable runtime debugging

- **-V**

  print version, exit

- **-\[?\|h\]**

  print help, exit

## FILES

**~/.cdtooldb** - default database file.

## ENVIRONMENT

**CDTOOLDBPATH** - colon delimited path of database files to search.  It is not necessary to  specify  **~/.cdtooldb**, as this is automatically added to the end of the search path.

**CDTOOLDEV** - device file for cd-rom, overrides compile-time defaults. **CDDBHOST** - host to query, overrides compile-time default

## SEE ALSO

[cdir(1)](/cdir/1.md)

## AUTHORS

```
Main code:
Bryon Ellacott <rodent@homer.humbug.org.au>
Enhancements:
Wade Hampton <whampton@staffnet.com>
```