Facsimile Software

I've got a Linux compatible fax modem -- serial port style. I want to set up faxing in Suse, to sit and wait to receive and to send on demand. I don't want to use fancy fax server software like hylafax (great for nation-wide government departments).

The official Suse documentation located at file:///usr/share/doc/manual/opensuse-manual_en/manual/index.html
(try it, it's great -- copy paste in your browser) -- The entire thing doesn't mention a fax.
There are some fax server software packages in Yast's standard RPMs. But I don't want a "server". I want a one-computer package that's simple, simple, simple, like me and windows.

I know about sendfax (the outward part of mgetty) and mgetty (the inward part of mgetty) but I can't find how to set them up. It's the old catch 22 thing. You can't set it up until you're an expert.

The big problem is noHOWTOs that say do these steps to get a receiving and sending fax software going: step 1, step 2, etc.

Any suggestions, links, whatever?

Thanks

Swerdna (a little bit frustrated)

You're right about the lack of HOWTO's. I tend to find the Gentoo HOWTO's are usually the most informative and clearly written documentation available. They enable me to get the general idea and then adjust to suit openSUSE. In this case

http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_FAX_Server

refers to a nice CUPS backend called fax4CUPS. Combined with efax or hylafax, this may offer the simplest solution. (A bit like printing fax from windows).

Hope this is a start...

You're right about the lack of HOWTO's. I tend to find the Gentoo HOWTO's are usually the most informative and clearly written documentation available. They enable me to get the general idea and then adjust to suit openSUSE. In this case

http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_FAX_Server

refers to a nice CUPS backend called fax4CUPS. Combined with efax or hylafax, this may offer the simplest solution. (A bit like printing fax from windows).

Hope this is a start...
[/b]

Thanks very much -- looks good

Swerdna

I noticed when I print (via KDE app), I can choose my printer, such that 'Send to Fax' is an option. It uses KDEprintfax utility (which can be configured to use efax, hylafax, or mgetty). Never tried it though.

UPDATE:

Just tried the KDE 'Send to Fax' printer option. This starts the kdeprintfax utility. I changed the fax system to 'efax' (after installing efax ). After entering a phone number, I clicked on 'Send Fax' and away it went.

*For test purposes, I initially used my mobile phone number (just to make sure it was dialing out ok).

Good enough for me. Now I would like to investigate simple method to receive faxes...

I think I've seen some ISPs that provide facilities for sending faxes via email or receiving faxes and forwarding to you as an attachment. Usually associated with a VoIP service, since VoIP connections can't be used for faxing. Might work out cheaper than paying the call costs.

UPDATE:

Just tried the KDE 'Send to Fax' printer option. This starts the kdeprintfax utility. I changed the fax system to 'efax' (after installing efax ). After entering a phone number, I clicked on 'Send Fax' and away it went.

*For test purposes, I initially used my mobile phone number (just to make sure it was dialing out ok).

Good enough for me. Now I would like to investigate simple method to receive faxes...
[/b]

I've been following you and looking forward to you solving the receive side of things. In the meantime, I can't find the kde print to fax in my Yast --> software management. What do I need to install for that?

Thanx
Swerdna

PS FYI Gnpme readers: http://www.cowlug.org/gfax/

You're right about the lack of HOWTO's. I tend to find the Gentoo HOWTO's are usually the most informative and clearly written documentation available. They enable me to get the general idea and then adjust to suit openSUSE. In this case
http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_FAX_Server[/b]

Perhaps, after someone comes up with one or more good solutions to this (for openSUSE), they could write an openSUSE wiki on this subject ?

My PC does not have a fax modem, but my wife's PC does. I'm not keen on purchasing the hardware just to test this, and access to my wife's PC is intermittent at best.

I did note one openSUSE wiki, but it does seem to be specific to a certain solution for SUSE-8.1, which at best is rather dated. (and out of date linux documentation, obscuring the solution for more current Linux distribution releases, is a pet peeve of mine ).
http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Setting_up_a_Fa...er_with_Hylafax

Since this is one of the areas where my wife likes the MS-Windows features, and since we typically have a friendly banter on the merits of each OS, from a strictly selfish perspective, it would be nice for me to be able to point her to an openSUSE wiki on how to do this on openSUSE.

Any wiki volunteers?


Edit: I did note from here: http://en.opensuse.org/HCL/Modems that various users have Hylafax working with openSUSE-10.x (including 10.3). ... Maybe the http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Setting_up_a_Fa...er_with_Hylafax
is not as out of date as I thought?

@swerdna: kdeprintfax is part of kdebase package. (I just checked via search tool). So you should have it

KDE Menu > Applications > Utilities > Printing > KdeprintFax

With efax, you can configure /etc/fax (with personal settings, default port etc).

Sending via CLI:

fax send ###### yourdoc.ps (where ###### is number to dial)

Any wiki volunteers?[/b]

@oldcpu: I must find the time to learn how to do this.

@swerdna: kdeprintfax is part of kdebase package. (I just checked via search tool). So you should have it

KDE Menu > Applications > Utilities > Printing > KdeprintFax

With efax, you can configure /etc/fax (with personal settings, default port etc).

Sending via CLI:

fax send ###### yourdoc.ps (where ###### is number to dial)
@oldcpu: I must find the time to learn how to do this.
[/b]

I've never noticed the menu entry -- don't go there normally -- dum bo.
Thanks
Swerdna