xcdroast "failed to scan the SCSI-bus"

I'm trying to enable the CD-RW device on my system. I get this when
executing "xcdroast" on RH7.1:

"Failed to scan the SCSI-bus. Either no permission to access the generic
scsi devices or no SCSI support enabled in the kernel. For ATAPI devices
you have to install the SCSI-emulation first. Please see the
CD-Writing-HOWTO ..."

I have the /dev/sg1,2... devices with permissions set per
"CD-Writing-HOWTO" (cwr------- root root ... /dev/sg1). So, I need a
clue. How do I know SCSI support or the SCSI-emulation is present? Is a
modern CD unit an ATAPI device?