ShoreTel Analog Line and Terminal Server

[Tenny321]

Does anyone know of a way to get a Modem connection to dial out (not for internet) on a terminal server through ShoreTel and windows 2003?

I know i can buy equipment but i was wondering if there is a way without buying equipment.

[dsirek]

You'll need to enable an analog port on your voice switch configuration, then connect the switch to an analog punch panel, and connect an analog port to the punch panel to plug your terminal server's modem into. I've done this with a mailing machine that needs to dial up to an 800 number to "refill". If you need more detail, Private Message me your email addy and I can email you a powerpoint of how we did it with our Shoretel System.

[Tenny321]

My terminal server does not have modems on them. I know how to setup an analog ports but was wondering if there was a way to connect them through the network to the terminal server some how.

[Palitto Consulting]

No there is not at this time, to my knowledge. The only API ShoreTel provides for calling is via custom software on route points. If you just need to generate DMTF or a specific prerecorded wave file, that may be do-able through route points, but much else is not going to be worth the expense of development.

[Tenny321]

Does anyone know of a good device that would connect to VMware ESX virtual Machine that will give modems to a server? I know there are some out there but not sure if vmware 3.5 compatible.

[Tenny321]

No one had done this?

[Palitto Consulting]

Modems simply connect through a COM port. I would recommend a simple external modem connected to a COM port, or perhaps a USB modem.

[Tenny321]

It is a VIrtual machine that is running on a BLade so i have no COm or USB ports. Plus i need multiple ports.

[Palitto Consulting]

Then I see your options a s follows:

1. Use a network attached COM or USB port. Such devices require a small hardware box or a driver on another computer.
2. A SIP-based modem driver. I have never seen one of these, let alone gotten one to work. I also doubt that it will be easy getting this to work with ShoreTel.
3. Pay a programmer to develop a custom driver that interfaces with ShoreTel.

[eazeaz]

Modems

Several years ago we installed an appliance that did network based modem sharing.

It had 8 modems in it (pcmcia). A Driver was installed on each pc. It created modems that "appeared" to be local. It would grab any available modem on the appliance and dial out when the pc wanted modem access.

Are you talking about something like that? I havent seen modems in a long time though......

I dont know of any way to do that without special hardware/software....

[Palitto Consulting]

Yes, that's one option. You could also use one of those virtual USB or COM port packages such as this and get a physical modem to go with it. Virtual Serial Port Software - Advanced Virtual Com Port - TCP-IP Network Serial Port or USB over Ethernet - share USB device over Ethernet : USB to Ethernet Connector

I'm sure you can still find modems somewhere, since I have a 56k sitting next to me right now. I have also installed USB modems for our customers. You would definitely need a physical modem and an analog port to hook it to for these solutions...

[Tenny321]

Yeah i know of the serial ports device but i did not want to have all those connections of the modems in the data center. So i was hoping for the modems in the device.