Difference between revisions of "FlexFAX Announcement"

From: Sam Leffler
Date: Thurs, Jun 13 1991 8:19 pm
Email: s...@flake.asd.sgi.com (Sam Leffler)
Groups: comp.dcom.fax

I'm giving away software that allows you to send and receive facsimile from an SGI machine. To make use of this software you need a fax modem and a 4D machine running IRIX 3.3.x. If you don't have an SGI machine, you might still be able to make some use of the source code.

The software is available for public ftp on sgi.com in the directory sgi/fax. The file sgi/fax/README is enclosed below.

Sam

FlexFAX, Version 0.9

About the System

This is a reasonably full-function facsimile service for SGI IRIS-4D systems running IRIX 3.3.x. One facsimile server process exists for each external fax modem hooked to a serial port. Client software spools outgoing facsimile which are handled by the server processes. Received facsimile are stored in a receive queue area and may be automatically delivered by mail and/or printed. Servers are heavily parameterized through per-server configuration files and through auxiliary shell scripts that perform system-related operations (e.g. processing received facsimile, converting PostScript to bitmap images for transmission).

The server requires a PostScript to bitmap facsimile conversion utility for useful operation (otherwise, only bitmaps may be transmitted.) A Display PostScript-based imager will be provided for IRIX 4.0-based systems. For other systems, a Ghoscript-based version should be used (requires some work).

An administration tool that ``hooks into the system administration facilities is provided. While not complete, it provides easy access to the most important administrative operations.

Note that you need a fax modem to use this software. Two types of modems are known to work:

Abaton InterFax 24/96
Class 2 modems, such as the Everex 24/96D

The first modem is common on Macintosh systems, while the second modem is actually a class of modems that conform to the "Class 2" host-modem interface standard. The software is known to work with the Everex modem, w/ firmware dated October 5, 1990 or later.

Packages

There are three compressed tar files here:

flexfax.server.tar.Z IRIX 3.3 binary distribution for a server machine
flexfax.client.tar.Z IRIX 3.3 binary distribution for a client machine
flexfax.src.tar.Z source code (w/o ps2fax stuff and needed libs)

The client distribution is a subset of the server distribution and is provided merely as a convenience. To install the client (server) do

mkdir fax
cd fax; zcat <somewhere>/flexfax.{client or server}.tar.Z | tar xovf -
make -f Makefile.{client or server}
cd ..; rm -rf fax

You may need to modify Makefile.server to deal w/ your not having the ps2fax program.

Use and Propriety

Silicon Graphics has seen fit to allow me to give this work away. It is free. There is no support or guarantee of any sort as to its operations, correctness, or whatever. If you do anything useful with all or parts of it, I'd like to know about it and, hopefully, be acknowledged.

Officially...

This software is provided without support and without any obligation on the part of Silicon Graphics, Inc. to assist in its use, correction, modification or enhancement. There is no guarantee that this software will be included in future software releases.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITH NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF DESIGN, MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE OR TRADE PRACTICE.

In no event will Silicon Graphics, Inc. be liable for any lost revenue or profits or other special, indirect and consequential damages, even if Silicon Graphics, Inc. has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Sam Leffler (s...@sgi.com)