Fax2Send for the Enterprise

Using Fax2Send in a Corporate Environment

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Introduction

Fax2Send was derived from our Unix server software, U-Fax, which is available for all major Unix distributions including AIX, HP/UX, Solaris, SCO and Unixware. U-Fax is designed to support high volume corporate fax requirements and is fully scalable. It was also designed for full integration with server based applications and is used by many large corporations. U-Fax was ported to Linux and named Fax2Send in June 1999. The client support has been extensively enhanced, an installation wizard added, and the queue management redesigned and improved. Fax2Send has also been redesigned to make conversion into other languages extremely easy.

Gateway for the Enterprise

Fax2Send acts as a fax gateway for the enterprise and can be hosted on a dedicated Linux server or share an existing server. Users can access the server locally using a direct connection or Local Area Network, over a Wide Area Network or the Internet. The Fax2Send server software is fully scalable to support from one to thousands of users and a range of licences are available.

An Example of Fax2Send in a corporate environment

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Sending faxes

Users can print to fax from a Linux/Unix server or from networked PC applications. They can also send faxes from their email client or using the browser client that is soon to be re-introduced.

Fax2Send has a full Command Line Interface (CLI) to enable integration with either Linux or Unix server applications. Form templates are supported to provide Pre-printed stationery support for faxing formatted documents, such as Purchase Orders or Quotations. Bulk faxing is supported, and with timed send can enable call costs to be reduced by taking advantage of low overnight rates. Faxes to the same number in the queue are also batched to be sent on one call.

Receiving faxes

Inbound faxes can be sent to a selected printer(s) or routed to in-trays which may be departmental or for individual members of staff. Faxes may be viewed using the X-Windows or PC clients or the Browser interface (available soon). Please see the clients page for information about these.

Sorting can be manual, using the CLI or CSI (Caller Line Identification or Call Subscriber information ) or DTMF routing. This latter option requires special modems as this is not in the modem standard but implemented differntly (iff supported) by each modem manufacturer.

We are investigating providing DDI (Direct dialing) in a future version.

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Platforms supported and porting

Fax2Send is available for Intel and x86 platforms and the Mips based Cobalt Qube2. We have extensive experience of porting to other processor based platforms and will consider such a requirement in the light of the value of the potential order. We may also require a logging to the required platform for porting and support as we are not able to maintain all available platforms in-house.

Localization

Modems

Fax2Send supports Class2 or 2.0 modems or ISDN terminal adaptors. A modem may be inboard, connected locally via a serial port or to networked terminal concentrators. Low cost routing enables fax transmissions to be sent over the private network to 'break out' at the local modem to reduce call costs to a minimum. Loglink enables fax transmissions to be costed to a depot or distributed location.

At this time Fax2Send does not support, nor would it be advantagous to do so, intelligent fax boards such as Brooktrout products. The Fax2Send server manages and schedules all transmissions and queues and maintains comprehensive logging for Statistical and fault analysis. It is possible, for example, to see on-screen, individual modem traffic data for fault diagnosis in the event of failed transmissions.

For more information on modems please see the modems page.

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Sizing

To size a Fax2Send server it is necessary have available a number of facts:

• The average number of faxes that will be sent, received, or both in a defined period
• The average number of pages per fax
• Any pertinent time criteria
  • The time a fax for transmission can wait in the queue
  • The acceptability of busy (or engaged) for inbound transmissions
  • Any critical transmission window (such as an overnight low cost tariff period)

A fax is an image, therefore the complexity of the image will govern the size and thus time taken to transmit an individual page. The more 'white space' the better. Fax2Send V2.1 compresses the images as a group 4 tiff.

In general we recommend that a single line can support xxx fax page transmissions a day. However due notice must be taken of the time issues outlined above which can materially effect this. Inbound fax transmissions can often peak in particular periods depending on your business profile.

An Enterprise license ships as standard with 2 lines. Additional lines can be easily added as this is controlled by the Registration and License keys which can be entered using the X-Windows client config tool. It is not necessary to reload the software, just stop and restart the server daemon also using the config tool to enter the new keys. Therefore it is better to take a pragmatic view with an element of 'suck it and see' for your individual situation. We are always happy to offer a recommendation for your individual circumstance.

There is no set limit to the number of lines a single Fax2Send server can support, although this may depend on the server hardware employed. In practice it is probably wise to consider adding an additional server for modem requirements over 100 lines.

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Tuning

There are other issues that can effect the performance of the Fax2Send server. We provide the facility to change the number of times a fax number can be retried and the time between retries. It is also important, especially when batch faxing, to ensure that the fax numbers are as accurate as possible. If the time retry parameter is set too short, the number of retires too high and the fax number data is poor, it is possible to completely tie up the server purely in servicing retries to wrong numbers. This is because, in this circumstance, the server will just cycle through the incorrect numbers at the top of the queue. A log is maintained for traffic anaysis which should be regularly examined to ensure the parameters are correctly set and incorrect numbers in standing data are remedied.

How to purchase

We recognise that corporate purchase frequently cannot be made using credit cards, therefore purchase using the secure ecommerce system may not be suitable. We provide Quotations and Pro-forma invoices by request. Payment can be by EFT (Electronic Funds transfer). Please contact Nik Gibson for more information.

Following receipt of an order we will email Registration and License keys for the chosen license. These will be valid for 30 days to enable your payment to be processed. The required software should be downloaded as normal. Permanent Registration and License keys will then be emailed to be entered using the X-Windows client config tool.

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Pricing

For a small number of lines the pricing is as shown in the table below. For larger requirements we will be happy to quote on an individual basis, please contact Nik Gibson with your requirement.

All client software is free of charge.

Support

We provide support to corporate clients either directly or via local partners (is available). We charge an annual fee which is payable in advance and is normally based on the cost of the server license although in large network implementations and additional fee may be payable. Support is by email with a 24 hour response based on the working hours of the supporting company. We are based in the UK and our support deparment is manned from 0900 to 1730 local time, Monday to Friday excluding Public holidays.

A formal support contract is issued following agreement, the terms and conditions of which are available by request. Please contact Nik Gibson for more information.

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