Network Microsoft Fax Server Configuration

Note: This can only be performed on Server based operating systems such as Server 2003,  Server 2008, Server 2012 and Server 2016. Presently, according to Microsoft's specifications, you cannot share a Fax on a workstation based operating system such as Windows 7, 8 or 10.

PageGate can reference a Microsoft Fax Server either on its local system or, if one has been configured on the same network, another server. These steps are for configuring a Network Microsoft Fax server.

Click here for steps on how to configure a Local Microsoft Fax Server.

Note: The Microsoft Fax Server must be installed on the remote system for this to function. Do not install the Microsoft Fax Server locally when using this method.

On the server with the fax hardware:

1)Log in to Windows as the account named Administrator.

Note: It is not recommended to log in as any other account, even if your account is an Administrator or is part of the Domain Administrators group. The User Accounts Control in Server 2008, Server 2012 and Server 2016 requires you to log in as the account named Administrator for you to have access to certain security functions, such as configuring a Microsoft Fax Server.

2)In Windows, go to Devices and Printers.

3)Right click on Fax, left click on Printer Properties.

4)Go under the Sharing Tab.

5)Click "Change Sharing Options"

6)Put a check in "Share this printer"

7)Give the Fax a share name.

8)If you want the formatting of the faxes to be controlled by the PageGate system, leave "Render print jobs on client computers" checked.

9)Go under the Security tab.

10) Click Add.

11) Add the user you are going to use for PageGate.

Note: If you do not already have a local system or domain user for PageGate to use, please create one and grand it administrative privileges, then add that account.

There's also a bit of standardization with the user account/username that PageGate uses on its own system that will need to be done since it will need to match the name of the Fax Service account. After configuring the domain or local user account for PageGate to use, we must next identify that account as a Fax Account. To do so, please go through these steps:

1)Open the Administrative Tools in Windows.

2)Run the Fax Service Manager

3)On the left hand side, click on Accounts.

4)Make sure that a Fax Service Account that precisely and exactly matches the primary logon for the PageGate Server. This is very important because this account must match the name of the account that the PageGate services use to run, including any domain information.

5)If you do not presently have an Account listed that matches the PageGate account, go to Action - New - Account.

6)Enter the username and domain information.

7)Click Create to add the account in to the Fax Service Manager.

Now that we've configured the Microsoft Fax Server, we'll need to configure the PageGate server to reference it.

1)Log in to Windows as the Service Account that the PageGate Services are using and that the Microsoft Fax Server is referencing. It is very important to log in as that specific user in Windows on the PageGate server.

2)In Windows, browse over the network to the Server hosting the shared Microsoft Fax Server.

3)In the list of folders and items listed under the server, you should see 'Fax'. Right click on this and left click on Connect.

4)If prompted for credentials, provide them. This should also install the necessary fax drivers required to use this interface locally.

5)Open the Microsoft Fax Service Manager.

6)Go to Accounts.

7)Create a Fax Account that matches the Windows Logon Name of the PageGate account, which should also be the user account you're logged in with.

8)Close the Microsoft Fax Service Manager.

9)Run Windows Fax and Scan

10) Go to Tools - Fax Accounts - Add.

11) Select "Connect to a Fax Server on my network"

12) Enter the UNC path to your existing Microsoft Fax Server (\\IPorMachineName) and click on Next.

Note: When referencing a Microsoft Fax server across the network, you MUST share the Fax in Devices and Printers on the host system. If the Fax in question has not been shared, the PageGate Server will be denied access to it.

13) Enter a name or title for this connection, click on Done then click on Close.

14) From within Windows Fax and Scan, send a test fax to verify that the connection to the remote Microsoft Fax Server is established and functions.

15) If you have PageGate running as a Windows Service, apply the Domain or Network Windows User Account and password configured for Faxing in the "Log On" section of the PageGate, PageGate Scheduler and PageGate  Connector X services in the Services list. If you are running PageGate as an Application, you MUST be logged in as the Fax Account User in Windows for this to function properly.

16) Go through the steps in Creating a FAXSrv Carrier.

The fax document is rendered by notepad.exe and the default settings are unique to the Windows User Account that PageGate is using. To modify the margins, format or output of headers and footers:

1)Log in to Windows as the Fax Account User.

2)Run Notepad in Windows.

3)Go to File - Page Setup.

4)Make any modifications you wish, then click on OK.