sorry I haven't tried ripping dvd's myself but I'm sure there something. However:
cp /dev/hdc > ~/mycd.iso
copies the image of the medium in /dev/hdc to the file mycd.iso in your home directory, most likely works with dvd's as well.
Do you want dvd images (iso), the dvd files(ifo & vob) or to convert the dvd to another format (mgp)?
as for the database, that should be easy. I'd use mysql and apache and use html to browse the database. Can easily add tools to add remove items etc.