How to Install HylaFax on SME

HylaFAX is a fax deamon for sending and receiving faxes from Linux. I have setup HylaFAX specifically to RECEIVE faxes and to have them delivered by email as attached Adobe PDF files. If you wants to be able to send faxes via HylaFAX you need to install a client package. With this setup  faxes are emailed to one user (or pseudonym) and subsequently forwarded to the appropriate user via email. To accomplish this, you have to add a fax user called `faxmaster´ or create a pseudonym called  ‘faxmaster’ to one of your existing users from within the server-manager. All administrative emails and received faxes will be mailed to ‘faxmaster’. 

 

The best modem tested so far by Chaloner Hale is the USR Couriere V.Everything 33k or 56k with latest flash.

This allows one person or a group of people to receive all faxes via email, decide who they should go to, and forward them on by email to their ultimate destination.

 

I have created a script that takes you through all the SME server specific portions.  Download and run the script from my web site.

[root@e-smith ]# wget http://sme.swerts-knudsen.dk/downloads/Hylafax/hf_install.sh

[root@e-smith ]# sh hf_install.sh

As a part of the installation script you need to configure HylaFAX. “faxsetup”, which is launched automatically is over before you know it. I accepted all defaults. Once setup ends, the script will prompt you to run “faxaddmodem” for all available devices. You can choose yes, or just type faxaddmodem at the root prompt.

Modem configuration using faxaddmodem:

“faxaddmodem” which is the configuration script for the modem, will ask which “Serial port that modem is connected to [ ]?”. For modems connected to COM1: use ttyS0, and for modems connected to COM2: use ttyS1.

In general, if you don't know the answer to a configuration question, just use the default setting that is provided. I accepted the defaults for all but the following fields when running “faxsetup”. If you just want to be able to send faxes via HylaFAX and ensure it doesn't pick up the phone then make sure to set the "Rings to wait before answering" to 0.

Serial port that modem is connected to [ ]? ttyS0
Area code [403]?
Phone number of fax modem [246.0300]?
Local identification string (for TSI/CIG) ["Swerts-Knudsen"]?
Protection mode for received facsimile [0644]? See below *
Protection mode for session logs [0644]? See below *
Protection mode for ttyS0 [0666]? See below *
Rings to wait before answering [2]?

* Cypheus recommends these settings but the defaults also seems to work

It will then present a recap of your input and ask if it is OK. Once you accept, it goes on to probe your modem. Once if finds your modem, it may or may not prompt you with a choice for modem class. My advice would be to use class 2.0 and avoid class 1. Once this program terminates, the worst is over.

Test of the HylaFAX Server

Be sure to have added either a pseudonym or user in server-manager for HylaFAX with the name of ‘faxmaster’. Have someone send you a fax, then check your email. If nothing comes in review the HylaFAX logs found in /var/spool/hylafax/log and files in /var/spool/hylafax/recvq.

Open you reader and you should find an email from your HylaFAX server. It will/should have an Adobe PDF file attached. As long as you have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, you should find a very clean fax starring you in the face after clicking on the attachment.

Microsoft Client Installation

You can install client software on the Windows workstations if you like. There are multiple options where some are free and others are GPL

• Windows HylaFax Client (WHFC) is GPL
• You can use Cypheus for this as well
• RelayFax client is what many prefer but this one requires additional configuration of the SME server. See www.hylafax.org/howto/clients/RelayFax.html.