Fax and Windows Networking?!?!

[GilletteCat]

I am looking for ideas on network fax setup.
Situation:
Server - Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Exchange Server 2000
Clents - Win XP Pro

Since XP come with MSFax now, I thought I can specify some other faxing device than the local modem on the client. Well, I was wrong :|
You click on set up faxing and it's fully automatic process from start to finish. I don't know what happens if the pc doesn't have a modem, but mine did.
Faxing Services are running on the Exchange server, but, most likely, not configured the way they are supposed to. Most likely, because the server does not have a modem attached to it. I do have a spare external US Robotics and a serial cable, so, hooking a modem up to the server is not an issue.
What do I do next? Is there any specific way to configure the Exchange for faxing? That would most likely invole some more configuration on the Outlook side, I suppose. Neither is a problem. Back in Win 95 times, I could have easily accomplished it by going to Mail in the Control Panel of the client and add Fax service and point it to the local Exchange Server with faxing services on a shared modem. Now, there is no fax to add to the client's profile in the Mail config.
Another hypothesis I had: even though it would not be tightly integrated into the Outlook - Exchange structure, if I could set up a modem connected to the server as a network printer, list it in the AD and let anyone on the network connect to it and add as a network printer. Seams doable to me, but I'm not totally clear on the workability of this solution (it's just a hunch, didn't really try it before).
Also, the Fax Services that are running on the server, is there a controll panel of some sort to configure it or something like that?
Basically, I'm looking for recommendations and any solutions that are infect working outthere, short of implementing a third party solutions.
Thanks in advance.

 

[lilnnjaboy]

I know that the Faxing Services provided by Microsoft are not very good. If this is for your company I would suggest you get an external modem. For my company, we can do it over the network since our whole phone system is VoIP. We use this program called RightFAX which works pretty well.

I don't know exactly how it works, since I don't have access to that server yet. If this is just for home, one of the programs that I use to use was WinFax Pro. and you can use that over the network.

I never seen anyone use the Exchange Fax Client successfully.

 

[GilletteCat]

I know that the Faxing Services provided by Microsoft are not very good.

I never seen anyone use the Exchange Fax Client successfully.

We all know that there are many valid and not so much reasons to flame MS. But, the case of the matter is, if they built it, it has to work in some fashion, well or not so well. Introducing a third party soft, like WinFax Pro, would mean installation of the proprietary client software on every pc in the company. Also, WinFax, like many others, would have its own interface, although similar to Outlook Express in the case of WinFax, but still. I can just see it: "WTF!?!? I am looking for my faxes and instead all I have are the e-mails!!! You told me that they would be in the same mail folders that I'm already used to: Inbox, Sent, Outbox etc... WTF ARE THEY?!?!". "No.... I said that the look-n-feel is going to be the same, but you have to start a different program to view and send your faxes. Not the Outlook...." And the bull$hit goes on....
Don't get me wrong, like I said before, all solution and ideas are welcome and greatly appreciated!
I am trying to figure out a way to implement a Microsoft solution, if it's possible
It was possible before, like I also said. I could and did do it years ago with WinNT4.0 + Exchange5.0 on the server side and Win95 on the client. They have included Faxing services with Win2000 Servers for some reason, right? They ship WinXPPro with MSFax, which I do not believe is made to be used only with the modem inside that same PC and an available analog line, simply because WinXPPro is a corporate choice for a client os, and those computers do not come with modems and the cubicles do not have analog phone lines!!!
So, what gives??? Should we sell back the os's and get win95 for clients and WinNT40+Exchange5.0 for the server???
...
I have faith in you guys!!!

 

[Garion]

To be honest, I haven't ever tried v ery hard on the MS fax solution, but I've heard nothing but horrid things about it. For desktop faxing, I've used boxes from Castelle. Their FaxPress product line is excellent - It works well, is easy to install, and is relatively cheap.

- G