Tag: vsifax

How do I determine which model fax modem is being used?

  • Log in as root
  • Check the VSIFAX status to determine your modem names:
vfxstat -a
  • Run the following command to check the logs for model numbers:
egrep "Multi|MT" $VSIFAX/spool/logs/modem1
  • Example output:
[root@firestorm log]# egrep "Multi|MT" $VSIFAX/spool/logs/modem1
14.34.53.401: :                 END,LOG,SYS,EVT,T30,QRY,MTP,TRM
14.34.55.009: : Modem manufacturer    : Multi-Tech Systems
14.34.55.011: : Modem model           : MT5634ZBA-USB
14.34.55.012: : Modem entry used      : Multi-Tech with 56k Lucent chipsets

How do I resolve fax quality issues?

By its very nature, fax is prone to relatively high failure rates. Sometimes faxes may fail entirely, but more often failures occur in the form of “garbled” faxes. Here are a few tips on avoiding these problems:

  • Make sure you’re running the latest supported version of VSIFAX (see Compatibility: Faxing)
  • Make sure you’re using supported modem(s) (see Compatibility: Faxing and Esker’s list of recommended fax hardware)
  • Contact your local and long-distance phone service providers to verify there are no line quality issues to the effected destinations
  • If you have a large number of customers using older fax equipment on the receiving end, it may help to disable advanced features by editing the vsisrv.ini file and adding the following lines to the [DEVICE] section:
Disable-class-20=on
Disable-class-21=on

If you continue to experience quality issues after performing all of the above troubleshooting steps, you may wish to contact Esker technical support.

How do I troubleshoot VSIFAX?

You must be logged into the server as root to run these commands.

First, check the fax server status:

vfxstat -a

If you see an error similar to the following, the server is not running:

vfxstat: Cannot login: Server on 127.0.0.1 not running

To start the fax server:

vfxsched start

To restart the fax server:

vfxsched restart

If the server is running, you will see output similar to the following:

[root@server ~]# vfxstat -a
server hostname     : server.localdomain
server state        : running
server startup time : 2010/03/01 15:38:19
server current time : 2010/03/01 15:38:22
server version      : 6.0.0
server buildno      : 437p20
server build info   : Linux el3.lfdevel.com 2.4.21-4.ELsmp #1 SMP Fri Oct 3 17:52:56 EDT 2003 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
server run info     : Linux:2.6.18-164.10.1.el5:#1 SMP Wed Dec 30 18:35:28 EST 2009:x86_64
server serial number: 960010320081535-060-5
server license mode : real
number of users     : 5
number of ports     : 4
Server load bias    : 5
Server diff bias    : 5

Default destination : fax1

Device        Jobs  Ready  Acc  Ena  Snd  Rcv  FIM   Inbox     Port
------------  ----  -----  ---  ---  ---  ---  ----  --------  ----------
FoDC             0      0  yes  no   yes  no   et    N/A
lb               0      0  yes  yes  yes  no   lb    N/A
lcr              0      0  no   no   no   no   hold  N/A
modem1           0      0  yes  no   yes  yes  cx    vsifax    /dev/ttyACM0
modem2           0      0  yes  yes  yes  yes  cx    vsifax    /dev/ttyS0
sm               0      0  yes  yes  yes  no   sm    N/A       

Class         Jobs  Ready  Acc  Snd  Members
------------  ----  -----  ---  ---  -------
fax1             0      0  yes  yes  modem1,modem2

Device       Comments              State
-----------  --------------------  -------------
FoDC         Fax on Demand         Not running [Disabled by administrator]
lb           LoopBack              Idle
lcr          LCR hold queue        Not running [Holding queue only]
modem1                       Not running [Disabled by administrator]
modem2                       Idle
sm           SendMail              Idle

This output indicates:

  • The fax server is running
  • The 6.0.0 version of fax software is installed
  • There are two modems installed:
    • modem1 is on physical port /dev/ttyACM0 (USB port)
    • modem2 is on physical port /dev/ttyS0 (serial port)
  • modem1 is disabled (Ena = no, “Disabled by administrator”)
  • modem2 is idle, waiting for a fax to be sent
  • There is a single fax class (fax1), which corresponds to the “fax1” printer in Eclipse
  • The fax1 class has two members in the modem pool (modem1, modem2)

To enable a modem:

vfxadmin enable modem1

If a modem keeps going down, check the modem log:

more $VSIFAX/spool/logs/modem1

Here is an example error message that indicates a problem with the phone line (no dialtone):

15.28.08.972: EVT: <--- "NO DIALTONE"

In this case, verify that calls can be placed from the fax line using a standard analog phone.
Here is an example error message that indicates a problem with permissions on the serial port:

modem3-5:14.55.07.779: FIM: Cannot open /dev/ttyACM2: Input/output error

In this case, open permissions on the serial port and enable the modem:

chmod a+rw /dev/ttyACM2
vfxadmin enable modem3

To see a list of all submitted/sent faxes, type the following command at the command line:

vfxolog|more

If you continue to have issues with VSIFAX not running correctly, please refer to Esker’s troubleshooting documentation and open a case with Esker directly or with Epicor Eclipse Systems support.