Fax server integration is one of the advanced features supported with Cisco Unity Connection providing additional messaging capabilities. Fax server integration enables users to receive faxes in the mailbox and forward a received fax to other users or fax machines for printing. Users can manage faxes using phone, Messaging Inbox, or IMAP client. Unity Connection creates the fax by integrating with a Cisco Fax Server.
Cisco Fax Server is an electronic delivery system that allows you to send and receive fax messages including documents, voice messages, and graphics to users configured on different Cisco Unified Messaging solutions.
Unity Connection communicates with the Cisco Fax server using the SMTP protocol. Faxes can either be inbound (sent from Cisco Fax server to Unity Connection users) or outbound (sent from Unity Connection users to Cisco Fax server).
The Cisco Fax Server handles the following functions:
Routing inbound faxes to user mailboxes.
Managing inbound and outbound faxes.
Writing logs for inbound and outbound faxes.
Generating reports for monitoring Cisco Fax Server statistics.
Sending alerts to the administrator.
Providing cover pages.
Providing least-cost routing.
Configuring POP3 Service and Custom Messages for integration with the Unity Connection server.
 Note |
The Text-to-Speech feature cannot read faxes. |
For more information on fax servers supported with Unity Connection, see the “Cisco Fax Server Integration in Cisco Unity Connection 11.x” chapter of the Design Guide for Cisco Unity Connection, Release 11.x, available at
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/voice_ip_comm/connection/11x/design/guide/b_11xcucdg.html
Note |
Cisco no longer sells Cisco Fax Server. Refer to the end-of-sale/end-of-line notice at http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/unified-communications/unity/end_of_life_notice_c51-630608.html. |
The Cisco Fax server must be installed and configured before configuring the Unity Connection server. All features of Cisco Fax server must be managed directly in the Cisco Fax server and not in Cisco Unity Connection Administration.
Do the following steps to create a Cisco Fax server integration in Unity Connection:
Install Cisco Fax server 9.0 or later.
Configure the Cisco Fax Server: For configuring Cisco Fax Server, see the appropriate documentation at http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/voice_ip_comm/fax_server/90/faxdocs.html
Configure Unity Connection. See the Configuring Users for Cisco Fax Server Integration section.
Configure the Unity Connection user accounts. See the Configuring Users for Cisco Fax Server Integration section.
Test the Cisco Fax Server integration. See the Testing Cisco Fax Server Integration section.
Note |
You can change the Unity Connection configuration and the user configuration after the Cisco Fax Server integration is created. See the Changing User Configuration for Cisco Fax Server Integration and Changing Unity Connection Configuration for Cisco Fax Server Integration sections. |
Configuring Unity Connection for Cisco Fax Server Integration
| Step 1 |
In Cisco Unity Connection Administration, expand System Settings and select SMTP Configuration > Server. |
| Step 2 |
On the SMTP Server Configuration page, in the Edit menu, select Search IP Address Access List. |
| Step 3 |
On the Search IP Address Access List page, select Add New. |
| Step 4 |
On the New Access IP Address page, in the IP Address field, enter the IP address of the Cisco Fax Server and select Save. |
| Step 5 |
Check the Allow Unity Connection check box and select Save. |
| Step 1 |
In Unity Connection Administration, expand System Settings and select Fax Server. |
||
| Step 2 |
On the Edit Fax Server page, check the Enabled check box. |
||
| Step 3 |
In the Fax Server Name field, enter a descriptive name for the Cisco Fax Server. |
||
| Step 4 |
In the SMTP Address field, enter the fully qualified SMTP address of the SMTP server on the Cisco Fax Server.
|
||
| Step 5 |
In the IP Address field, enter the IP address of the Cisco Fax Server. |
||
| Step 6 |
If you use a smart host SMTP server to deliver faxes from the Cisco Fax Server to Unity Connection, check the Use Smart SMTP Host check box. Otherwise, uncheck this check box. |
||
| Step 7 |
Select Save. |
| Step 1 |
In Unity Connection Administration, expand System Settings, then select Advanced > Fax. |
| Step 2 |
In the Fax Configuration page, in the Faxable File Types field, enter the file extensions (separated by a comma) that Unity Connection keeps in messages that are delivered to the Cisco Fax Server. Unity Connection removes all files with other file extensions before delivering the message to the Cisco Fax Server. |
| Step 3 |
In the Subject Prefix for Notification of a Successful Fax field, enter the prefix that the Cisco Fax Server adds to the Subject field of fax reports. When Unity Connection detects this prefix, it generates a delivery receipt and places it in the user mailbox. |
| Step 4 |
In the Subject Prefix for Notification of a Failed Fax field, enter the prefix that the Cisco Fax Server adds to the Subject field of fax reports. When Unity Connection detects this prefix, it generates a non-delivery receipt and places it in the user mailbox. |
| Step 5 |
Select Save. |
Note |
The Cisco Fax Server must have a subscriber for each Unity Connection user that you are configuring. |
While on the phone, users can add or change the number for the fax machine that they send faxes to for printing.
| Step 1 |
In Unity Connection Administration, expand Users and select Users. |
||
| Step 2 |
On the Search Users page, select the alias of a user.
|
||
| Step 3 |
On the Edit User Basics page, in the Outgoing Fax Number field, enter the number for the fax machine that users send faxes to for printing. |
||
| Step 4 |
In the Outgoing Fax Server field, select the name of the Cisco Fax Server. |
||
| Step 5 |
Select Save. |
||
| Step 6 |
Repeat Step 2 through Step 5 for all remaining users.
|
| Step 1 |
Send a fax to the fax extension of a user who has been configured for the Cisco Fax Server integration. |
| Step 2 |
Sign in to the Unity Connection mailbox of the user to whom you sent the fax. |
| Step 3 |
If the user account is configured for speech access, say Play Messages. If the user account is not configured for speech access, press 1, and then follow the prompts to list messages. |
| Step 4 |
When you hear the system announce the fax that you just sent, either say Fax, or press the applicable keys on the phone keypad to print the fax. |
| Step 1 |
In Unity Connection Administration, expand System Settings and select Fax Server. |
| Step 2 |
On the Edit Fax Server Configuration page, check the Enabled check box to enable the integration with the Cisco Fax Server. Otherwise, uncheck this check box. |
| Step 3 |
In the Fax Server Name, enter a descriptive name for the Cisco Fax Server. |
| Step 4 |
In the SMTP Address field, enter the fully qualified SMTP address of the SMTP server on the Cisco Fax Server. |
| Step 5 |
In the IP Address field, enter the IP address of the Cisco Fax Server. |
| Step 6 |
If you use a smart host SMTP server to deliver faxes from the Cisco Fax Server to Cisco Unity Connection, check the Use Smart SMTP Host check box. Otherwise, uncheck this check box. |
| Step 7 |
Select Save. |
| Step 1 |
In Unity Connection Administration, expand System Settings and select Advanced > Fax. |
| Step 2 |
In the Fax Configuration page, in the Faxable File Types field, enter the file extensions (separated by a comma) that Unity Connection keeps in messages that are delivered to the Cisco Fax Server. Unity Connection removes all files with other file extensions before delivering the message to the Cisco Fax Server. |
| Step 3 |
In the Subject Prefix for Notification of a Successful Fax field, enter the prefix that the Cisco Fax Server adds to the Subject field of fax reports. When Unity Connection detects this prefix, it generates a delivery receipt and places it in the user mailbox. |
| Step 4 |
In the Subject Prefix for Notification of a Failed Fax field, enter the prefix that the Cisco Fax Server adds to the Subject field of fax reports. When Unity Connection detects this prefix, it generates a non-delivery receipt and places it in the user mailbox. |
| Step 5 |
Select Save. |
Note |
While on the phone, users can add or change the number for the fax machine that they send faxes to for printing. |
| Step 1 |
In Cisco Unity Connection Administration, expand Users and select Users. |
||
| Step 2 |
On the Search Users page, select the alias of a user.
|
||
| Step 3 |
On the Edit User Basics page, in the Outgoing Fax Number field, enter the number for the fax machine that users send faxes to for printing. |
||
| Step 4 |
In the Outgoing Fax Server field, select the name of the Cisco Fax Server. |
||
| Step 5 |
Select Save. |
||
| Step 6 |
Repeat Step 2 through Step 5 for all remaining users.
|
Unity Connection can use a single number to receive both voice calls and fax calls. In this configuration, incoming calls are directed to a Cisco gateway that can detect a CNG (fax) tone. When a CNG tone is detected, the gateway forwards the fax call to the Cisco Fax Server. When no CNG tone is detected, the gateway forwards the voice call to Unity Connection.
Requirements
For more information on requirements to configure single number to access both voice calls and faxes, see the Configuring Users for Cisco Fax Server Integration section.
You require the TCL script file app_fax_detect.2.1.2.3.tcl or later.
Configuring a Single Number to Receive Both Voice Calls and Faxes
Download the TCL script file app_fax_detect.2.1.2.3.tcl or later. See the “Configuring Fax Detection” chapter of the applicable Cisco IOS Fax and Modem Services over IP Application Guide at http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/psa/default.html?mode=prod
Configure the Cisco IOS gateway for fax detection. See the “Configuring T.38 Fax Relay” chapter of the applicable Cisco IOS Fax and Modem Services over IP Application Guide at http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/psa/default.html?http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/psa/default.html?mode=prod
Feedback