loki@NAZGUL.PHYSICS.MCGILL.CA (Loki Jorgenson Rm421) (04/12/91)
Sorry for the long delay; I was awaiting information before completing this summary. Thanks to the following for contributing suggestions/sources: emv@ox.com Ed Vielmetti edelson@sgi.com John Edelson Manager, Developers Relations, SGI cnix!klaus@relay.EU.net klaus schallhorn maz@sst.ll.mit.edu Marc Zissman The known pieces of Public Domain software include: NetFAX @ alpha-bits.ai.mit.edu:/pub/systems faxpak @ alpha-bits.ai.mit.edu:/pub/systems Unknown PD software includes one piece which is due "sometime soon" (quote/unquote from the author); it is targetted for the the SGI 4D series. I have no immediate details. Commercial sources include: For SGI: Keith A. Wagner Voice 402 554-1122 Perfect Byte, Inc. FAX 402 554-1938 7121 Cass Street email keith@pbi.com Omaha, NE 68132 For SUN3/4: IsoFax The Bristol Group Ltd. Voice 603 437-3700 P.O. Box 910 FAX 603 437-3220 Londonderry, New Hampshire 03053 In my limited opinion (I haven't actually implemented anything of this time), the PD package NetFax appears to provide the most for the least. My first attempt at an implementation of a FAX program will be with it. This is an excerpt describing NetFAX: We are using a package developed by Henry Minsky (hqm@ai.mit.edu) at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab. This package requires a Group 3 Class 2 fax modem. Henry suggests using the Everex Everfax 24/96D modem ($450). This modem connects to our SS1+ on one of the serial ports. Users create PostScript files which the system converts to Group 3 fax and places in a spool directory for subsequent transmission by the fax daemon. The fax daemon also manages the arrival and storage of incoming faxes. Free software (pbmplus, ghostscript, libtiff) is available and required to do the conversions between g3 fax, tiff, PostScript, etc. We are using the package on a SS1+ running SunOS 4.1 and both MIT-X and OpenWindows 2.0. The package still has a few minor bugs, but sure beats paying $2-3K for commercially available software. Our biggest problem was purchasing the fax modem. It has just been released, and many of the people at Everex (415-498-1111) didn't even know it existed. You definitely need the 24/96D (the suffix D is critical). Marc Zissman (maz@sst.ll.mit.edu) __ __ Loki Jorgenson / / \ \ node: loki@Physics.McGill.CA Grad, Systems Manager / ////// \\\\\\ \ BITNET: PY29@MCGILLA Physics, McGill University \ \\\\\\ ////// / fax: (514) 398-8434 Montreal Quebec CANADA \_\ /_/ phone: (514) 398-7027