virtual cd/dvd drive/xine dvd rip playback

[Brian West]

Hello everyone I have been using fedora since 2003 so i'm not totally 
new at linux.  How can i create a virtual cd/dvd drive to use for 
watching dvds and installing software etc?  also is there a way to play 
a ripped dvd that's on my hard-drive using xine. by ripped i'm refering 
to the video_ts directory?  I'm able to use vlc but not xine.  Thanks in 
advance for your time

Brian West