7.1 TPC.INT Introduction

TPC.INT is a global network of fax servers which allows users, free of charge, to send faxes from their computer, through the internet, to fax machines all over the world. This network is comprised largely of HylaFAX servers which accept fax jobs via SMTP. The network utilizes internet DNS services to route faxes to their intended destinations.

This network allows users to communicate with those who may not have immediate e-mail access, but do have a fax machine nearby. It provides faxing capability for those without fax machines. Through it, for example, you could receive communications from your business at a hotel's fax machine while you travel or vacation. Use of the TPC network can be useful in many situations such as these.

Owners and administrators of HylaFAX servers with internet connectivity usually provide these services for a combination of reasons. For one, the administrator of the HylaFAX server uses the bottom 1/3 of the coverpage to place an advertisement or banner. This advertising is likely to produce good will for the provider because the receipient will acknowledge the provider's service rendered. Also, since in many areas local calls can be placed free of any additional charges, the cost for this advertising is relatively low, essentially only the cost in time for maintenance (about two hours per week). Last but not least, the TPC.INT network is simply a "good thing to do" in a climate where telcos get rich from long-distance charges (which traditional faxing incurs) and in the presence of commercial fax establishments which charge yet more incredible fees per page of fax sent.

If TPC.INT services are not yet available in your area, your HylaFAX server has internet connectivity, and you have system administration skills, then your participation in the TPC.INT network project is encouraged. See: http://www.tpc.int for details.

7.2 Setup and Installation

• 1. Construct your exchange.txt and etc/dialrules files.
  See: http://www.tpc.int/servers/exchange_file.html for details on constructing your exchange.txt file.
  See dialrules(5F) for details on etc/dialrules customization, but in essence, you add a transformation like:

  ^[+]${Country}${AreaCode}563    = 563           ! local call

  near the end of the default etc/dialrules file where "563" is a locally-called prefix. This dialrules configuration is important, because TPC faxes are submitted with destination numbers in IDDD format.

• 2. Get, build, and install the "TPC glue".
  TPC source can be downloaded from:
  ftp://ftp-usa.tpc.int/pub/tpc/server/UNIX/
  Excessively detailed installation instructions are available at:
  http://www.tpc.int/servers/install_unix.html
  But essentially, after unpacking the TPC source, you:

  cd tpc_source_directory/server
  perl ./Configure (follow the defaults)
  make install
  cd ../exchange
  cp path_to_your/exchange.txt .
  make exchange
  make install

• 3. Configure your SMTP service to deliver TPC-mail to the TPC mailer which you just installed. This procedure can be tricky or perhaps difficult depending on your OS, installation, and configuration. However, for a typical M4 sendmail installation, you can:
  • Copy tpc_source_directory/mta/tpc.m4 to your_sendmail-cf_directory/mailer/tpc.m4
  • Edit your sendmail.mc file, adding the line:

    MAILER(tpc)

    below all of the other MAILER lines.
  • Backup your existing sendmail.cf file. DO THIS!!!
  • Create a new sendmail.cf file via:

    m4 path_to/sendmail.mc > path_to/sendmail.cf

  • Restart sendmail and make sure it starts.
    (i.e. /sbin/service sendmail restart)

• 4. Contact tpcadmin@info.tpc.int with your exchange.txt file, and patiently await a response. Testing your configuration and the appropriate updates to DNS servers can take a few days to perform.

• 5. Replace /var/tpc/advs/+1 with your advertisement in Postscript format. See http://www.tpc.int/servers/unix_glue_install.html for the nasty details.

7.3 Using TPC

The TPC network can be used by at least three ways: using an e-mail client, using your web browser, and using TPC clients. You do not need to have a HylaFAX server to use the TPC fax network.

• To send a fax via the TPC network using an e-mail client, simply send your e-mail to:

       remote-printer.recipient_name/room_number@fax_number.iddd.tpc.int

  where "recipient_name" is the name of the person to whom you are faxing,
  where "room_number" is optional, but can contain further details concerning the recipient,
  and where "fax_number" is the fax number in IDDD format:

       <country_code><area_code><prefix><number>

  for example:

       remote-printer.John_Doe/Room_415@18005551212.iddd.tpc.int

  You can attach ASCII text, Postscript, and TIFF documents to your e-mail. If the destination TPC cell supports it, you may also be able to attach PDF documents to your fax.

• To send a fax via your web browser, go to http://www.tpc.int/sendfax.html, fill out, and submit the form. You can encourage your ISP to provide a similar form on their website, or if your workplace has a website, then perhaps they could construct a customized TPC-mailer form there for company use.

• Submitting TPC faxes using a TPC client is probably the most convenient way to submit faxes, however, it does require some time in downloading, installing, and learning the client software. A list of some freely-available TPC clients can be seen at: http://www.tpc.int/clients/index.html.

For more information on TPC.INT, please see the TPC website and http://www.tpc.int/faq/index.html.

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