Re: [TCLUG:7113] network fax machine

[^chewie <chewie@nerp.net>]

On Fri, 23 Jul 1999, Ben Luey wrote:

> We would still need a fax to machine to receive faxes and allow
> users to send physical papers, right? 

Nope.  Hylafax does OCR for receiving and sends the fax to your user's
mailbox.  (I think you have to send up an MTU as well: sendmail,
smail, qmail.)  In addition, Hylafax will translate the "printed"
document and send it on it's way.

> Also, how would this work if the fax-modem in the linux box is
> also used for dial on demand. Will ppp and the fax stuff just wait
> until the modem is free if it is in use? Or should I get a second
> modem and put it in the linux box (is this hard?) 

I'd use two modems (use an old, cheap 28.8 or 14.4 data/fax modem).
Otherwise, you've got to play with runtime levels to change the mode
of the modem from dial-on-demand to send-receive faxes (which binds
the modem to mgetty).  I am assuming that your dial-on-demand phone
line is not the same as your fax line, so you shouldn't have problems
w/busy signals.

> If we get a second modem, and put it on the fax line, will a user
> using the physical fax mess up a tranmission from the linux box
> and visa versa?

How do you mean mess up the transmission?  I don't have all the
answers, as I haven't tried this myself.  I don't see why it would
screw anything up.  This may be an involved setup, so for simplicity
sake, purchasing a printer/fax machine may be a great idea for you.
If your CFO wants price comparisons, tell him the difference between
the time it takes you to implement the Linux solution v.s. the price
for the fax machine/scanner./printer...

^chewie

http://nerp.net/~chewie  <<--- Check it out!  I'm selling my truck!