shared fax service won't send smtp notifications

[takman_777]

i have been scouring the 'net for a solution to this, and i did actually have
it working for a few minutes. i am trying to set up a small user community to
use microsoft shared fax service on SBS 2000. their e-mail is hosted off-site
with pop coming from one provider and smtp coming from another provider!
DON'T ask as i didn't set it up!!

the question i have is does the smtp service in IIS need to be started to
allow the fax service to actually use the smtp call? i did have this working,
but it only seems to work on out going faxes on a consistant basis.

we have considered a hardware solution as we think the actual issue could be
resolved with a proper modem. i have other questions as well and will provide
them as asked, or start another thread on each one.

thanks for your attention!

[Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]]

The real problem at this point is that SBS 2000 is very old technology. We
now have 2 versions of SBS (3 if you cound SBS 2003 R2 as a version)
released after SBS 2000. Most of SBS 2000's componenets have reached end
of mainstream support and very close to losing all support.

I doubt any of the regular contributors here still have a SBS 2000 system to
really look at. Are they using Exchange at all for mail (even locally?)
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Author, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1

------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

Post by takman_777
i have been scouring the 'net for a solution to this, and i did actually have
it working for a few minutes. i am trying to set up a small user community to
use microsoft shared fax service on SBS 2000. their e-mail is hosted off-site
with pop coming from one provider and smtp coming from another provider!
DON'T ask as i didn't set it up!!
the question i have is does the smtp service in IIS need to be started to
allow the fax service to actually use the smtp call? i did have this working,
but it only seems to work on out going faxes on a consistant basis.
we have considered a hardware solution as we think the actual issue could be
resolved with a proper modem. i have other questions as well and will provide
them as asked, or start another thread on each one.
thanks for your attention!
--
We, like all Windows products, need a gentle massage now and then.

[Michael Jenkin [SBS-MVP]]

Hello,

I have one client still using SBS 2000 and SBS faxing. The fax service
only understands how to communicate with SMTP so I beleive the IIS SMTP
service does need to be running.

I had this working with many SBS 2000 servers in the past but it is hard
to recall how. From memory, Exchange was installed and using the pop3
connector. The users were all using standard Exchange mailboxes and SMTP
outbound to the world.

I have had the fax send to a mail enabled group internally and then the
members of this group were local users and contacts. All members of the
group received the emails.

On another note, on SBS 2000, I only use real serial port modems. No PCI
HCF or external USB modems. I also used only v90, no v92's.

I hope that this helps.

Post by takman_777
i have been scouring the 'net for a solution to this, and i did actually have
it working for a few minutes. i am trying to set up a small user community to
use microsoft shared fax service on SBS 2000. their e-mail is hosted off-site
with pop coming from one provider and smtp coming from another provider!
DON'T ask as i didn't set it up!!
the question i have is does the smtp service in IIS need to be started to
allow the fax service to actually use the smtp call? i did have this working,
but it only seems to work on out going faxes on a consistant basis.
we have considered a hardware solution as we think the actual issue could be
resolved with a proper modem. i have other questions as well and will provide
them as asked, or start another thread on each one.
thanks for your attention!

[takman_777]

Gentlemen

thank you for your informative replies! i appreciate the confirmation on
both the hard and software ideas that i was wrestling with!

i am wondering if there is a way to setup exchange on this domain with out
having it run the actual mail system. At this point, moving them from the
external email options they have is quite set in stone and not an option to
change. has anyone seen this setup work?

thanks again for your input as i agree this is quite a task for 15 year old
technology!

have a great day and don't let the smoke out!
--
We, like all Windows products, need a gentle massage now and then.

Post by Michael Jenkin [SBS-MVP]
Hello,
I have one client still using SBS 2000 and SBS faxing. The fax service
only understands how to communicate with SMTP so I beleive the IIS SMTP
service does need to be running.
I had this working with many SBS 2000 servers in the past but it is hard
to recall how. From memory, Exchange was installed and using the pop3
connector. The users were all using standard Exchange mailboxes and SMTP
outbound to the world.
I have had the fax send to a mail enabled group internally and then the
members of this group were local users and contacts. All members of the
group received the emails.
On another note, on SBS 2000, I only use real serial port modems. No PCI
HCF or external USB modems. I also used only v90, no v92's.
I hope that this helps.

Post by takman_777
i have been scouring the 'net for a solution to this, and i did actually have
it working for a few minutes. i am trying to set up a small user community to
use microsoft shared fax service on SBS 2000. their e-mail is hosted off-site
with pop coming from one provider and smtp coming from another provider!
DON'T ask as i didn't set it up!!
the question i have is does the smtp service in IIS need to be started to
allow the fax service to actually use the smtp call? i did have this working,
but it only seems to work on out going faxes on a consistant basis.
we have considered a hardware solution as we think the actual issue could be
resolved with a proper modem. i have other questions as well and will provide
them as asked, or start another thread on each one.
thanks for your attention!

--
Michael J. Jenkin MVP - SBS, MCP, Small Business Specialist, Senior
Systems Engineer
Visit http://www.mickyj.com

[Michael Jenkin [SBS-MVP]]

Are you collecting email as pop3 at the outlook/email client ?

there is no reason why Exchange can't be running, but just not used by
the end users. Their clients could be doing their own things.

You could also setup exchange to send to SMTP with the correct sending
addresses and then use the pop3 connector in SBS exchange to download
the email into mailboxes, then setup the clients to retrieve the email
from within Exchange. This means they get to share calendars, contacts
and more.
It also means you get to use single instance storage and a whole host of
other benifits (like email being internal).

I have seen the setup work (That you are referring to), I just can't
recommend it.

Thanks

Post by takman_777
Gentlemen
thank you for your informative replies! i appreciate the confirmation on
both the hard and software ideas that i was wrestling with!
i am wondering if there is a way to setup exchange on this domain with out
having it run the actual mail system. At this point, moving them from the
external email options they have is quite set in stone and not an option to
change. has anyone seen this setup work?
thanks again for your input as i agree this is quite a task for 15 year old
technology!
have a great day and don't let the smoke out!

[takman_777]

as i have stated, both pop and smtp service is provided of site by local
providers. this situation is NOT about to change which is why i need to know
that this option is possible. i am suspecting it is a configuration issue to
route the email externally and use the exchange server to manage the fax
notification systems.

thanks
--
We, like all Windows products, need a gentle massage now and then.

Post by Michael Jenkin [SBS-MVP]
Are you collecting email as pop3 at the outlook/email client ?
there is no reason why Exchange can't be running, but just not used by
the end users. Their clients could be doing their own things.
You could also setup exchange to send to SMTP with the correct sending
addresses and then use the pop3 connector in SBS exchange to download
the email into mailboxes, then setup the clients to retrieve the email
from within Exchange. This means they get to share calendars, contacts
and more.
It also means you get to use single instance storage and a whole host of
other benifits (like email being internal).
I have seen the setup work (That you are referring to), I just can't
recommend it.
Thanks

Post by takman_777
Gentlemen
thank you for your informative replies! i appreciate the confirmation on
both the hard and software ideas that i was wrestling with!
i am wondering if there is a way to setup exchange on this domain with out
having it run the actual mail system. At this point, moving them from the
external email options they have is quite set in stone and not an option to
change. has anyone seen this setup work?
thanks again for your input as i agree this is quite a task for 15 year old
technology!
have a great day and don't let the smoke out!

--
Michael J. Jenkin MVP - SBS, MCP, Small Business Specialist, Senior
Systems Engineer
Visit http://www.mickyj.com

[Michael Jenkin [SBS-MVP]]

Hello,

Whilst I understand it is all looked after offsite, you can have
exchange handle outbound SMTP from this server for just the Fax service.

It all depends on how the clients are sending/receiving email in their
email clients.

If they are configured to pop3 and smtp send direct to internet based
servers and do not touch exchange at all, still setup the Exchange SMTP
outbound connector so the fax service can use it. In this case, playing
with Exchange will not affect the clients expeariance.

You can make an SMTP connector point to a smarthost and use your
external mail services for that, or point it to DNS.

If this sounds like a valid and acceptable solution then we both have
somethign to aim for and work with.

Thanks

Post by takman_777
as i have stated, both pop and smtp service is provided of site by local
providers. this situation is NOT about to change which is why i need to know
that this option is possible. i am suspecting it is a configuration issue to
route the email externally and use the exchange server to manage the fax
notification systems.
thanks

[takman_777]

Well, i was able to get the fax service working without Exchange running. So
far, the smtp notification of outgoing messages seems to work fine, but i
can't send faxes to one particular machine. i suspect it is the machine
trying to receive the fax as it will send to my machine with no problems!

any ideas on this? it seems hardware related. i install a serial USR 56k fax
modem yesterday which cleaned up the send receive issues...

thanks
--
We, like all Windows products, need a gentle massage now and then.

Post by Michael Jenkin [SBS-MVP]
Hello,
Whilst I understand it is all looked after offsite, you can have
exchange handle outbound SMTP from this server for just the Fax service.
It all depends on how the clients are sending/receiving email in their
email clients.
If they are configured to pop3 and smtp send direct to internet based
servers and do not touch exchange at all, still setup the Exchange SMTP
outbound connector so the fax service can use it. In this case, playing
with Exchange will not affect the clients expeariance.
You can make an SMTP connector point to a smarthost and use your
external mail services for that, or point it to DNS.
If this sounds like a valid and acceptable solution then we both have
somethign to aim for and work with.
Thanks

Post by takman_777
as i have stated, both pop and smtp service is provided of site by local
providers. this situation is NOT about to change which is why i need to know
that this option is possible. i am suspecting it is a configuration issue to
route the email externally and use the exchange server to manage the fax
notification systems.
thanks

--
Michael J. Jenkin MVP - SBS, MCP, Small Business Specialist, Senior
Systems Engineer
Visit http://www.mickyj.com

[Michael Jenkin [SBS-MVP]]

Well done !

I agree ... hardware.

I have also heard the USR serial 56k is a goon unit for faxing.

all you can do is try another modem.

Post by takman_777
Well, i was able to get the fax service working without Exchange running. So
far, the smtp notification of outgoing messages seems to work fine, but i
can't send faxes to one particular machine. i suspect it is the machine
trying to receive the fax as it will send to my machine with no problems!
any ideas on this? it seems hardware related. i install a serial USR 56k fax
modem yesterday which cleaned up the send receive issues...
thanks

[takman_777]

well, the issue seems to be directly related to a few factors beyond my
control.

the modem was the problem for sure as it could not connect with the G3 modem
on the other end of several lines. the email issue would have been easy to
resolve had i been able to take over the mail, but that was not an option and
i am not about to increase overhead on an aging system to send a few email by
dropping and exchange server into the mix.

the solution i have come up with is hardware based and will work with the
inplace pbx phone system and perform all the functions required of it. had we
needed to upgrade the server, we would have explored the internal system
greater.

thanks for all the help and the great ideas offered. this has quickly become
a valued resource in my management program.

cheers!
--
We, like all Windows products, need a gentle massage now and then.

Post by Michael Jenkin [SBS-MVP]
Well done !
I agree ... hardware.
I have also heard the USR serial 56k is a goon unit for faxing.
all you can do is try another modem.

Post by takman_777
Well, i was able to get the fax service working without Exchange running. So
far, the smtp notification of outgoing messages seems to work fine, but i
can't send faxes to one particular machine. i suspect it is the machine
trying to receive the fax as it will send to my machine with no problems!
any ideas on this? it seems hardware related. i install a serial USR 56k fax
modem yesterday which cleaned up the send receive issues...
thanks

--
Michael J. Jenkin MVP - SBS, MCP, Small Business Specialist, Senior
Systems Engineer
Visit http://www.mickyj.com