Get the facts before you install a fax server on your network. (Brief Article) (LAN Talk) (Column)

It's been several years since LAN-based fax services were introduced. Many organizations have benefited by implementing these systems, although others may tell you how inbound faxes tied up phone lines, chewed up disk space, and failed to live up to expectations.

Before installing a fax server on your network, there are steps you can take to help manage users' and management's expectations, identify costs, identify potential obstacles, and develop a plan for a smooth implementation.

First, define what you expect (or hope) the system will do. One excellent application is to use fax servers to distribute marketing materials or other canned data.

For …