When FMS is configured as an email server, email from the desktop systems is first passed to an email server that handles all of your desktop email (regardless of whether it is to be delivered by fax or email). The email server recognises fax email by the distinctive domain name used to address this email and passes the fax email message to FMS. FMS (which may be running on the same system as the email server or on another system) accepts the email message and delivers the message by fax.
In this situation, email messages that are to be delivered by fax are addressed as follows:
Jane_Doe/Company_Name/FAX=1-604-926-8182@fax.company.com
where everything to the left of the fax number is optional and fax.company.com is the unique domain name assigned to FMS.
There are two variations of the FMS as Email Server approach:
In order to use method 2A the following conditions must exist:
1. the faxhost must not be running any email server;
2. there must not be any need for the faxhost to receive any non-fax email messages.
In order to use method 2B the following condition must exist:
1. the faxhost operating system must support IP aliasing;
2. the primary email server on the faxhost must be able to be configured to only handle email to the primary IP address;
See also: "SMTP" on page 78.
The following section lists every configuration item you need to determine along with a detailed explanation. Preceding the explanation is a table that you can use to record the values that you will use during the configuration.
Some of these parameters require a detailed knowledge of your network configuration. If you are not familiar with the configuration of your network, please consult with your system administration or system reseller. Specifying incorrect values for the network parameters can cause other parts of your network to malfunction.
If you unable to obtain assistance or determine how to perform this network configuration, do not despair. Faximum Software can perform the necessary network configuration as well as install and configure the software remotely. Please see "Faximum Installation Service" on page 181.
The following information is needed prior to the configuration of the software. It is advised that you collect the information and complete this form before proceeding with the installation itself. The tables (one for SCO OpenServer 5 and SCO UnixWare 7, and one for Linux) summarise the information required while the following sections describe the items in detail.
TABLE 2. Configuration Information Worksheet
(SCO OpenServer/UnixWare)
Parameter |
Default Value |
Fill in Your Value |
Installation Directory |
/opt |
|
Configuration Directory |
/var |
|
Spool Directory |
/var/spool |
|
FMS IP Address |
||
FMS Host Name |
||
Fax Modem Serial Port |
TABLE 3. Configuration Information Worksheet (Linux)
Parameter |
Default Value |
Fill in Your Value |
FMS IP Address |
||
FMS Host Name |
||
Fax Modem Serial Port |
On SCO OpenServer and SCO UnixWare the Faximum Messaging Server is normally installed in the /opt directory (in /opt/faximum/fms). Of course, you can change the installation directory from /opt to whatever you prefer. You need to make sure that there is at least 6Mb of disk space available in the directory you use (see ).
On Linux the software will be installed in /usr/faximum.
You can change this directory after installation if you wish (see ).
The configuration directory is used to store the variable information related to the configuration of the Faximum Messaging Server. Storing this information in a directory separate from the software itself makes it much easier to update the software without affecting the configuration information. The directory used by default is /var.
On SCO OpenServer 5 and UnixWare 7 (only) you can select the configuration directory during installation. If a directory is selected it must be different from the one selected to install the Faximum Messaging Server itself. This directory needs less than 100Kb of space.
On Linux the configuration files will be installed in /var/faximum.
You can change this directory after installation if you wish (see ).
The FMS spool directory is used to store fax requests that are waiting to be sent as well as received faxes and other transient temporary files. Since each page of a sent or received fax can consume between 20Kb and 100Kb (and even more) it is important that this directory be on a filesystem that has plenty of space to accommodate your expected volume of fax traffic. By default the directory used is /var/spool (and the spool directory is /var/spool/faximum).
On SCO OpenServer 5 and UnixWare 7 (only) you can select the FMS spool directory during installation.
On Linux the FMS spool directory will be /var/spool/faximum.
You can change this directory after installation if you wish (see ).
The Faximum Messaging Server is designed to operate with its own dedicated IP address and domain name. You need to select an IP address that is part of your network, that is different from the IP address currently assigned to the machine you are going to install the FMS software, and currently unused.
Think of the procedure you follow for adding a new computer to your network. You need to select a valid unused IP address for it along with a name for the new computer. This is exactly what you need to do to prepare for the installation of the Faximum Messaging Server.
If, for some reason, this is not an option, then please contact Faximum Technical Support. It is possible in certain cases for the Faximum Messaging Server to share the IP address of the host system but this requires a much more complex and involved installation and configuration.
FMS Fully Qualified Domain Name
Once you have assigned the Faximum Messaging Server a unique IP address you need to update your host name database (be it DNS, NIS, or just by editing your /etc/hosts file) to assign a unique host name (and fully qualified domain name)6 to the Faximum Messaging Server and associate it with the IP number you have assigned the FMS. This name must be different from the host name already assigned to the computer you are going to use to run FMS.
While you may select any unused name, a recommended practise is to take your existing company domain name (e.g. company.com) and add fax (e.g. fax.company.com)
Since the method used by different networks to add a new network host name varies from site to site, you will have to consult your network administrator, reseller, or documentation to determine the necessary steps.
FMS communicates with the fax modem(s) it uses to send and receive the faxes through an asynchronous serial port. During the installation you will need to tell FMS the name of the serial port that your modem is connected to. On SCO OpenServer and SCO UnixWare, tty ports usually have names of the form /dev/tty1A.
Note! In order for the Faximum Messaging Server to be able to access the fax modem it is necessary to disable the serial port for logins. You must run the SCO Admin command (scoadmin) and disable the port prior to trying to send or receive a fax. Failure to do this will cause the FMS software to malfunction.
If you have purchased a license for multiple lines we would recommend first configuring and testing a single line and then adding additional lines later.
If you are planning to use FMS with a Dialogic GammaLink board instead of a serial port then put in any port name when asked for the fax modem serial port during installation. Then refer to APPENDIX D "Dialogic GammaFax Support" on page 115 for details on completing the FMS configuration.
6 If you give FMS the host name fax and if your company's domain name is company.com, then FMS's fully qualified domain name is fax.company.com
© 2000 Faximum Software Inc.