Hello,
the kernel messages about 'sr0' (CD-ROM) drive are not totally normal: they indicate that the kernel is not able to read the CD-ROM disk, probably because it is corrupted (the CD-ROM disk, not the kernel!). So, instead of trying to boot from several USB keys, you should just remove the CD from the computer :)
Answers:
1.1. When the kernel encounters a new block device (USB key, CD/DVD, HDD, etc.), it tries to extract some relevant information from it: vendor, product, serial number, partition table, and so on.
1.2. The command comes from the kernel itself: it is its goal to recognize the hardware and "talk" with him at low level. This is not specific to the Linux kernel; this is actually the purpose of any kernel (also windows's one).
1.3. See 1.2.
1.4. No idea. Seriously, how do you want one to know the data or the filename by just providing block numbers ??? If you want to know, you should use a forensics tool, as the CD seems to be corrupted.
1.5. Because the error doesn't come from the USB, but from the CD/DVD.
...
4. On CD, logical block size is normally set to 2048 bits. (sectors and blocks are the same).
5. This is not "command", this is information. The first one says what it says: "Brightness must be controlled by generic video driver", isntead of by the acer_wmi driver. The second one means your Acer keyboard (input) has specific hotkeys (see /sys/devices/virtual/input/input6 for details).
Cheers,
martale
PS: this is not a Perl related project.