flexfax: Basic Linux information needed?

[Tommy Malloy <tjm1@thorn.net>]

I have recently setup hylafax on my Gnu/Linux box. I believe that I have
followed the instructions correctly, but hylafax is not working. I am
using the same modem to make my ppp internet connection, and have seen
messages about hylafax's inability to create a lock file on /dev/ttyS1. 
My first questions are pretty basic.  What information do I need to
gather in order to ask an intelligent question here, And What steps do I
need to take to obtain that information and to determine the cause of
Hylafax's  failure to work properly ?  Thank you