Fax2Send Server Overview

Contents

Overview

Getting Started

* Minimum Requirements

* Download Server and Clients

Product Overview

Product in Brief

Checklist

Server Licenses and Prices

Integration Tools

Introduction

Fax2Send is a feature rich product designed for all users from the multi-national to the home user. The Installation Wizard allows non-technical users to configure and install the product while the configuration files can be manually edited for those that like to 'get under the hood'. Fax2Send Server is available for all Linux distributions that run on an Intel or compatible platform and a full range of clients are supported. Fax2Send is a mature product which will need little recourse to support. If you need any help or support this is provided free of charge which demonstrates our confidence in the product.

We hope you enjoy using our products - The Fax2Send Team

Getting Started

Minimum Requirements

• A Linux Server (2.2 kernel or later)
• 1Mb on /var
• 10Mb on /usr
• A telephone line which may be shared
• A Class 2 or 2.0 fax modem

Download server and clients

• Choose either the Linux or the appropriate Unix download - SERVER DOWNLOADS
• Choose the MS Windows CLient or Unix Client software - CLIENT DOWNLOADS

Remember you may use our products free of charge for 30 days

Product Overview

A Fax2Send server acts as a fax gateway for inbound and outbound fax traffic to/from any Linux, Solaris, Unix server or PC client on the network. A full API (Application Program Interface) allows integration with existing server applications and Form Templates may be held for formatted documents (e.g Purchase orders). Postscript, PCL, BMP, TIFF and PCX format files are automatically recognised. Fax2Send supports faxshots and timed transmissions and automatically batches outbound faxes to the same number. Fax2Send offers support for multiple lines for volume faxing and modems may be directly connected or located anywhere on the network. Least cost routing enables reduction of transmission costs on Wide Area Networks. Extensive logging is provided to enable management reports and statistical analysis to be provided. Inbound routing can be manual, using the number stored in the originating fax equipment, the number provided by the telecomms carrier or DTMF routing. ISDN modems are also supported. DID (Direct Inward Dialling will be added later this year).

Fax2Send supports all email and browser clients and client software is also available for Solaris, Linux or Unix clients with a full 'explorer style' PC application for Windows clients. The windows client offers faxing from the desktop using client based coversheets, 'drag & drop' attachments, annotations and onward routing of a fax by email. It also enables inbound and outbound faxes to be viewed onscreen. Print to fax from any application is also supported. An OCX (Active X component is also available).
Fax2Send is scalable client/server fax software for Linux suitable for all companies from the SME to the multi-national enterprise.

A Fax2Send server acts as a fax gateway for inbound and outbound fax traffic to/from any Linux, Solaris, Unix server or PC client on the network. A full API (Application Program Interface) allows integration with existing server applications and Form Templates may be held for formatted documents (e.g Purchase orders). Postscript, PCL, BMP, TIFF and PCX format files are automatically recognised.

Product in Brief

The Fax2Send server supports:

• Modem sharing with other applications
• Faxshots and timed transmissions
• Batching of outbound faxes to the same number to reduce call costs
• Multiple lines for volume faxing
• Modems In-board (PCI cards), Directly connected or Network modems
• Least cost routing
• Extensive logging to enable production of management reports and statistical analysis
  
• Inbound routing
  • manual - by the Fax2Send administrator
  • CSI - using the number stored in the originating fax equipment
  • CLI - the number provided by the telecomms carrier. This needs specialist modem equipment
  • DID - using DTMF routing. This needs a compatible PABX and specialist modem equipment

Fax2Send Client Support

• PC and any email client
• Server client software is available for Solaris, Linux or Unix clients
• Full Windows 'explorer style' application

The Windows client offers:

• Faxing from the desktop using client based coversheets
• Drag & drop' attachments
• Annotations
• Onward routing of a fax by email
• Inbound and outbound faxes to be viewed onscreen
• Print to fax from any application
• An OCX (Active X component) to enable integration with PC Applications

Server Feature Checklist

All Fax2Send Servers Edition Licenses:

• Send and receive faxes. Inbound faxes can be delivered to the desktop
• Have a full Comand Line Interface (CLI) which can be used to send faxes from the command line and run and control server tools
• Can be setup and controlled using the X-Windows Config Tool
• Support print to fax from any Linux or PC application
• Can fax from the Linux desktop using the X-Windows interface (See X-Windows client)
• Can route email to Fax (See email client)
• Can send faxes as email (See PC client)
• Are a fax gateway for an organization no matter how large or small
• Send ASCII, PCL, Postscript 1, TIFF, PCX & BMP files automatically
• Provide outbound fax management
• Log all fax transmissions with extensive additional logging to enable stats and management reports to be provided
• Support Faxshots, Distribution Lists, Pre-printed Stationery Templates and International Character Sets
• Batching of outbound transmissions to the same number

In addition Fax2Send Enterprise Edition offers:

• The ability to add additional fax lines for full scalability
• Support for distibuted modems anywhere on the network
• A low cost routing table
• An optional full support service

Fax2Send Integration Tools

Beacon's fax products have always been particularly strong in integration with server based applications. In the Unix server market this still remains the main use of our fax products today. The API is therefore well developed and very robust and the Fax2Send server can efficiently handle high volume, mass faxing requirements. The API is available for Linux as well as all major Unix distributions to enable integration with applications running on any Linux or Unix server on the network.

Responding to requests from developers, we provided an OCX to also enable developers to the use the power of the Fax2Send server from within PC client applications.

Fax2Send Shell API

• set the time and quality of the transmission;
• Specify a header sheet template and merge data;
• Alias the name of the request in the queue and Tag the request for later use in shell call back scripts. For example to send the file /tmp/myfax.txt to phone number 1234567890 with the alias name "Order 123"................... fax2 "-nOrder 123" -p1234567890 /tmp/myfax.txt
• The Retry command allows you to change the phone number. For example fax2retry 123 -p1234567890 where 123 is the request ID returned by the fax2 command.
• The Cancel command is simply used in the following way: fax2cancel 123

Fax2Send OCX:

The OCX provides a simply way for developers of PC applications to call the Fax2Send server from within their programs. There are properties to set the name of the sender; the time of transmission and the name of the job.To send a fax call the following method is used:

• Login
• StartJob (Send file to the Fax2Send printer)
• EndJob

Localize Fax2Send products for your language

• Translation tools are available to enable Fax2Send Server to be made available in any language with an available font set. These are installed as part of the server installation
• It is now possible to translate the PC Client

See HERE for more information