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Fax service installation and deployment guide

Preparation

  • Download the image here
  • Configure the virtual machine with the following parameters:
    • Volume size: 3GB
    • RAM: 256 MB
    • Name: fax
  vmcreate --size 3G --file fax-1.1_1.tgz --mem 256 --ip 192.168.69.28 fax
  • Boot the virtual machine
  xm create -c /etc/xen/auto/fax
  • Login as root using passwd.root and change the default password.

Machine configuration

There are two configuration options:
  • Centralised configuration: if the machine is going to be integrated in a ModularIT management structure
  • Local configuration: if the machine is not going to be integrated in a ModularIT management structure

Centralized configuration

In the Puppet server

  • Create the entry of the machine that is being installed using the name: ModularIT
  node "devel.fax" inherits "devel" {
        # First installation?
        $bootstrap = yes

        $modularit_name = "devel.fax" 
        $comment = "Development Fax" 
        include modularit 
  }

On the client (The machine that is being installed)

  • puppetd is restarted in debug mode to ensure that it updates correctly:
  /etc/init.d/puppet stop
  puppetd --debug --no-daemonize --runinterval 60 --fqdn NOMBRE_MODULARIT --server PUPPET_MODULARIT
  • The parameters NOMBRE_MODULARIT and PUPPET_MODULARIT will be provided by the service manager (register with the mailing list if you have questions regarding this)
  • Once the puppet completes several cycles without errors, it is then started as a service:
  /etc/init.d/puppet restart
  • PIFIA should be executed to ensure that the notifications to Nagios are functioning correctly
  /var/lib/pica/bin/scheduler Emergency
  /var/lib/pica/bin/scheduler Warning
  • Ensure that Nagios is not generating alerts that read OK. At this point critical AIDE alerts are normal

Local configuration

The following installation mode is needed when the machine is not integrated in a centralized ModularIT management structure

  • Go to the /opt directory
  • Download the ModularIT configuration tree
  links --source "http://git.modularit.org/?p=modularit.git;a=snapshot;h=HEAD;sf=tgz" | tar xvzf -
  • The following will create the directory: /opt/modularit
  • The puppet modules directory is created and linked to modularit
  mkdir /etc/puppet/modules
  ln -s /opt/modularit/Puppet/modularit /etc/puppet/modules/
  • Edit the file /opt/modularit/Puppet/offline/variables.pp and modify it so that the correct configuration is used. This file will be common to all ModularIT installations
  • Edit the file /opt/modularit/Puppet/offline/offline.pp to reflect the name and type of the ModularIT machine, in this case: fax. The file will be different for each machine (The name and type of machine are always different)
  • Once the configuration has been completed, execute puppet in off-line mode
  puppet --debug /opt/modularit/Puppet/offline/offline.pp
  • The process should finish without errors

Fax/Modem preparation

The Fax server is able to function with two types of Fax/Modem:
  • Fax/Modem for software using IAXModem and an Asterisk PBX (This is the default configuration)
  • Fax/Modem (hardware) connected to a serial port

IAXModem / Asterisk

If the ModularIT installation includes a Asterisk PBX, the deployment process automatically configures the software IAXmodem. To verify that the IAXmodem is functioning correctly:
  • Start the service and ensure that it is set to start when the machine initially boots
  service iaxmodem restart
  • Ensure that the IAXmodem is registered in the asterisk (In the Asterisk console)
  iax2 show peers

Fax/Modem serial port configuration

If a hardware modem/Fax connected via a serial port is used it must be exported to the Fax virtual machine. Note: By doing this all dom0 serial ports are disabled. Any other devices (e.g. UPS etc.) should be connected through other means (e.g. USB). Important: This procedure requires the restart of dom0, as a result all services will be temporarily lost. The implementation time should be chosen carefully. By default the Xen console uses port ttyS0, this must be changed to free the port. In the grub.conf enter the parameter xencons=off using the kernel. For example:

  title CentOS (2.6.18-8.1.15.el5xen)
          root (hd0,0)
          kernel /xen.gz-2.6.18-8.1.15.el5
          module /vmlinuz-2.6.18-8.1.15.el5xen ro root=/dev/sys/dom0 xencons=off
          module /initrd-2.6.18-8.1.15.el5xen.img
  • The the serial port modules should be prevented from loading. In the file /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist add:
  # Blacklist serial port modules (to use it from a domU)
  blacklist 8250
  blacklist 8250_pnp
  blacklist serial_core
  • Restart the dom0
  • To discover if there is serial port support: dmesg | grep serial no lines should be returned.
  • The serial port details are added to the virtual machine. The following lines are added to the virtual Fax machine configuration file:
  irq = [ 4 ]
  ioports = [ "3f8-3ff" ]
In the virtual Fax machine:
  • In /etc/hylafax/etc delete any file named config.*
  • Configure the modem with:
  faxaddmodem ttyS0
  • Complete all of the configuration questions and the program will detect the modem initialization parameters. In /etc/inittab comment the line ttyIAX and uncomment ttyS0
  # Run iaxmodem
  #m1:345:respawn:/usr/sbin/faxgetty ttyIAX
  m1:345:respawn:/usr/sbin/faxgetty ttyS0

Testing the Fax/Modem (IAXmodem / Serial)

  • Test the modem using faxstat. The modem should report that it is Running and idle if it is functioning correctly
  • Once the virtual machine has been started, the root must be able to use the minicom to interact with the modem. The commands atz and ati should return OK along with the modem identification
  • A test call can be made using atdtNUMERO

AvantFax configuration

AvantFax is a web interface for the configuration and management of faxes
  • Access AvantFax via: http://fax/admin/
  • The administrator details are: admin/modularit. Note: This is only to administer AvantFax using the above URL and is not to be used as a regular user account
  • Configure the mail address with the username: afadmin, this account is used for sending notifications
  • Go to Configurar Modems and change the mail address contact. This address will be used to send notifications from the Fax service. It is important to use the correct email address, otherwise incoming mail notifications from the fax will fail
  • Remove the modem that will not be usedBorramos el módem que no vayamos a usar...
  • In Administrator Preferences change the password and the avantfax data administrator
    • One or more avantfax users should be created...
    • So that users are able to see incoming faxes and which fax lines are being accessed

Windows client installation

  • Install PylaFax
  • Install the Fax printer:
    • The new printer is installed
    • Select a local printer
    • Select a new port
    • Select Redirected Port, if not, redmon needs to be registered by executing setup.exe in c:\pylafax\redmon17
    • Name the port: FAX
    • Select the printer driver: Apple LaserWriter 12/600
    • Use the printer name Fax
  • Navigate to the printer properties, select the port and go to the port configuration
    • Programme: pyla.pyw (Enter the complete path)

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