NetCFax Networked Fax System

1
NetCFax Networked Fax System

• This presentation has been designed to show you
  how to configure the Fax Server to run as a
  Windows Service as easily as possible

We hope it will help you to have your fax system
run as you want it to run
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The NetCFax server

• The server is of course at the very heart of the
  NetCFax system, and controls all of the sending
  receiving of faxes, and of course, provides the
  fax information to all of the fax clients on
  demand across any TCP based network (including
  across the Internet itself if required), using
  the highly efficient industry standard TCP
  protocol (Winsock).

• Therefore the choice of the machine and operating
  system that is chosen for the Fax Server to be
  installed on is a pretty important decision.
• The NetCFax server certainly does not have to be
  installed on a Windows server system
  necessarily, as it will run very well on a
  standard Windows system such as Windows 98, ME,
  2000 Pro, XP home and Pro (with SP1 /or SP2),
  but it can also be installed on Windows Server
  2000 and 2003, Small Business Servers and even
  Domain controllers if required.
• However, if you are running it on a Windows NT
  based system (in other words not Windows 98 or
  ME), it is often very useful to have the fax
  server installed and run as Window Service, so
  that it is always started, and therefore
  available for use, whenever Windows is started or
  restarted, without someone needing to log into
  the machine to start it.

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The Choices you need to makeThis is where you
start to make the correct decisions for all
aspects of the configuration of the NetCFax
Server Windows Service

• The problem with Window Services is that only a
  very few people actually truly understand the
  many possible ramifications involved when
  deciding on the best configuration for any
  Windows service.
• We do of course recognize that many other systems
  simply install their program as a Windows Service
  for you without asking, and basically you never
  need or want to see it again, but NetCFax is a
  rather different and very much more complex
  system that absolutely needs your input before
  the most sensible configuration for the Service
  can be decided on.
• We are therefore going to try to list for you
  each of the factors that will almost certainly
  effect the choices you make when installing the
  NetCFax Server as a Windows Service.
• We hope that those of you that perhaps have a
  wider knowledge of the potentially complex area
  of configuring and installing Windows Services
  will understand why we may just labor a point
  in some cases to ensure that those people who do
  need this information are totally clear on the
  ramifications involved.
• A final comment DONT PANIC it really isnt
  too difficult.
• We have tried to make this as simple as possible
  for you.

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- The Basic Windows Services options

• Choice 1 The Windows account that the Service
  is to run under.
• The typical default account that is most Services
  run under is what is known as the LOCAL SYSTEM
  ACCOUNT
• The other option that is available is to run it
  under any one of the registered Windows access
  accounts. This is usually known as running under
  a specified account.
• Why ever does it matter we hear you asking, as
  all you really want is for the Fax Server to
  always be running ?
• THE SURPRISING ANSWER IS THAT - This is actually
  a very important choice in many ways due entirely
  to the way that Windows Services are supported.

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The background information on the two account
types

• LOCAL SYSTEM ACCOUNT
• This is the most friendly environment for many
  Windows Services, as the use of this account also
  allows you to have the Service to interact (be
  visible and accessible) with the Desktop when
  (and if) you log into that machine.
• Interaction does of course allow you to access
  the applications configuration options, and check
  log files etc.
• Sadly, Some of the Windows Server systems, such
  as W2000 and W2003 Server, do NOT actually
  support this useful feature, so choosing this
  option may well not give the expected result or
  the expected and documented benefits !
• Another pretty critical reason for NOT using this
  account is that for some very odd reason, this
  account is totally unable to access or send print
  output to any networked printer. It is only
  capable of using locally attached printers.
  (Strange but true)

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The background information on the two account
types

• SPECIFIED ACCOUNT
• This does NOT allow you to have the Service to
  interact (be visible and accessible) with the
  Desktop when (and if) you log into that machine.
• This means that you cannot access the
  applications configuration options, or check log
  files etc. (Read about how we have covered this
  for you later on).
• However, Services running under these accounts
  ARE ABLE to access and send printed output to
  both any networked printers and to locally
  attached printers.
• Like most servers, the NetCFax Server DOES INSIST
  that the account chosen MUST HAVE FULL WINDOWS
  ADMINISTRATOR RIGHTS, to allow it to perform
  updates to the Windows Registry and other areas
  that all other types of Windows login accounts DO
  NOT HAVE ACCESS TO.

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Taking the decision
You now have the basic background information to
let you take the most basic but certainly the
most important decision. The first thing to do
is to check if you have the Fax Server configured
to auto print Outgoing or Received faxes. If you
have (most people do) then you need to check what
printer you have specified. If it is a networked
printer, then the decision is already made, you
CAN ONLY use a SPECIFIED LOGIN ACCOUNT. If you
happen to have configured Departmental printers,
then you need to take exactly the same decision
if any configured department uses a network
printer. If you are not worried about printing
and networked printers, then the choice is still
available to you, but please check the previous
pages for the points raised about interactive
services and Windows Server systems !.
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How to install the Windows Service
Finally you are ready to configure and install
the NetCFax Server as a Windows Service To let
you do this, we provide a special NetCFax Service
Controller program that makes this task pretty
simple. If you took the default install options,
you will have already seen the shortcut for this
on the desktop, and it can also be accessed on
the NetCFax Server sub menu on the Window Start
menu entry. Just start the Service Controller and
a standard property sheet style window with 3
tabs and a menu bar will be displayed, as shown
at the right.
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How to install the Windows Service
Select the center tab, and check the various
Service configuration options you have decided to
use. If you select a specified login account and
still leave the Interact with desktop option,
the Controller will warn you that you cannot do
so and disable that option for you
automatically. When you are ready to install the
Service, just click the button labeled Install
the Service. You will see a CMD (DOS) window
appear briefly, and then, all things being OK, a
confirmation will be shown letting you know that
the Service has been installed successfully. If
the fax server is not already running, the
Start button will be enabled, and when you
click this, the new Service will be started. -
THATS ALL THERE IS TO IT you are now running
your NetCFax Server Service. WARNING If you
select a specified account and enter an invalid
Windows username or password the Service will not
be installed, so always check these very
carefully.
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Controlling or changing the settings of the
Service

• It is almost certain that you will want to change
  your mind on the settings at some point, and this
  is equally simple to do with the NetCFax Service
  Controller.
• Open The Service Controller, and as shown on the
  last screen, select the center tab.
• First, you need to click stop to stop the
  service (if it is running), then remove to
  remove it entirely. Now choose the new settings,
  and finally click the Install as Service
  button again and start it when you are ready.
• You will see that all the buttons on the
  Controller are grayed automatically when an
  option is not available, making it obvious what
  you should be doing next.
• You can start and stop the Fax Server as either a
  desktop application or a Windows Service using
  the menu options provided as well.
• WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION HAS HELPED YOU CHOOSE
  THE BEST SETUP FOR YOUR NETCFAX SERVER SERVICE ?