MultiTech FaxFinder Integration
Date:                   March 19, 2008
Subject:               Configuration guide for integrating AltiWare with a MultiTech FaxFinder server
Distribution:        All Dealers
Doc Type:           Application note
Release:             5.0A
Scope:                5.0A Update 4 - 5.2
Application:        AltiWare
Hardware:           MultiTech FaxFinder Server
Keywords:           MultiTech, Fax, FaxFinder, Fax Server
Obsolete:            No


Introduction

Multi-Tech FaxFinder Fax Server is an economical fax server solution for the SMB market. This document provides a step-by-step guide to set up AltiServ to work with FaxFinder Server. The focus of this document is to provide setup and configuration instructions to support a fax call from AltiServ to FaxFinder and check if FaxFinder answers and processes fax mail to the user’s mailbox properly. Please refer to the FaxFinder manual for more details.

 

Requirements

AltiServ:

Software OE/ACM 5.0A with Update 4 or above. Update 4 supports “Free Format” call forwarding which has the capability to transmit additional DTMF tones to FaxFinder as the fax destination ID.

Hardware – Triton or Quantum analog station port for Multi-Tech FF100 (one port) and FF200 (two ports)

FaxFinder:

Software – FaxFinder Version 1.03 (tested version) or above

Hardware – Model FF100 (tested model) and FF200

 

 

A. Setting up hardware 

 


Please follow the steps documented in the Multi-Tech FaxFinder manual to connect the following:

1.       Power adaptor.

2.       AltiServ station port(s) to FaxFinder using RJ11 cable.

3.       A cross-over Ethernet cable from FaxFinder to a PC with IP address 192.168.2.2 for initial setup; or connect FaxFinder to an Ethernet switch to communicate with a PC with IP address 192.168.2.2.

4.       Write down the station port extension number (this document uses 200 as an example).

5.       If using FF200 with two fax ports, you may need to set up a hunt group so that AltiServ can route a fax call properly.


 

 

B. Configuring Faxfinder 


Please follow steps documented in the Multi-Tech FaxFinder manual to configure the following:

1.       Provide FaxFinder a dedicated local LAN IP and configure related network addresses. Please follow steps in the FaxFinder manual to log into the configuration browser. You can connect FaxFinder, with default IP of 192.168.2.1, to your LAN and use a PC with IP set to 192.168.2.2 to bring up the configuration web page. The configuration web page can be opened by typing http://192.168.2.1 in your browser.

 

 

 

 

2.       Configure SMTP so that FaxFinder can send fax mail to mail server:

 

 

 

3.       Configure Time Zone and Date/Time Format:

 


 

4.       Configure the modem to receive a fax call

Three important fields need your attention:

Answer On – change to 1 ring to speed up answer time. Default is 2 rings.

Max DTMF Digits – Depending on your DID/DNIS number length, you need to set up this field correctly. This test example uses 3 digits. The default is 4 digits.

Dial Prefix – Enter trunk access or route access code here. It is required for outbound fax dialing.

 

5.       Add users in Phone Book.

FaxFinder will use Ext# to associate with Email Address for the user. Note that the Ext# is actually a fax DID/DNIS number from the AltiServ point of view. It is the DTMF stream AltiServ will generate and transmit to FaxFinder through the station port.

 

6.       Check the status and make sure there is no error in system settings and that the POTS modem is in “waiting for ring” state.


C. Configuring Altiserv 


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1.       Configure the extension port to connect to FaxFinder. In this test case, extension 200 is connected to FF100 unit. The following configurations are recommended.

-         Disable Intercom.

-         Disable Mailbox (This is a very important step. If there is a voice mail in this extension, the system will play a stutter dial tone. FaxFinder will think there is no dial tone and the outbound fax call may fail.)

-         Disable Busy Call Handling so that an incoming fax call will not go to voicemail when FaxFinder is busy.

-         Disable No Answer Call Handling so that an incoming fax call cannot go to voicemail when FaxFinder is not in service. If you would like to have an alert when FF100 is not answering a call, you can configure No Answer Call Handling to forward to the administrator’s extension. Admin will check FF100 status when a fax call is received.

-         Set Caller ID Signal Format to NONE (Extension Configuration -> General Tab -> Line Properties).

 

2.       Create a virtual extension for every FAX number. Enter the proper DID/DNIS number in the DID number field.

 

 

3.       Configure a virtual extension to forward a fax call to FF100 unit.

-         Enable Forward All Calls.

-         Select “Free Format”.

-         Enter fax port Extension number followed by two commas, then the fax DID/DNIS number for this user.

-         Each comma means one second of delay after FF100 “Off-hook”. In lab testing, one comma works fine. However, two commas are recommended to make sure FF100 will not get DTMF too quickly.

 

 

4.       Repeat step 3 for all virtual extensions mapped to fax DID/DNIS numbers.

 

5.       If you are using a two-port FF200 unit, create a hunt group and add both extensions connecting to FF200 fax ports to the hunt group member list. You need to disable busy call handling, no answer call handling, as well voicemail box for this hunt group. Also, you need to replace the fax port extension number in step 3 to the hunt group number in the Free Format forwarding field.

 

 

 

D. Testing 

 

 


1.       After completing all configurations, pick up an AltiServ extension and dial a fax virtual extension number, in this example, 112. You should hear modem tone after call connects.

2.       Fax a test page from fax machine to a fax DID/DNIS number and check if FaxFinder answers and processes fax mail to the user’s email box properly.

 

Tips:

If you forget the IP address or password of FaxFinder, use an AltiServ extension to dial the extension port connecting to FaxFinder. After FaxFinder answers, press the following digits to reset IP or password:

 

Pressing 1*** resets IP

 

Pressing 2*** resets password