Bug#2100: Efax: errors in /usr/bin/fax

[Dirk.Eddelbuettel@qed.econ.queensu.ca]

  b c writes:
  Brian> (4) The /var/spool/fax is of the "dialout" group.  Should this be
  Brian> the "fax" group instead?  Also, how about setting the permission of
  Brian> this directory and those under it to "drwxr-s---" so only people in
  Brian> that group can send/view faxes.  The 's' would also make sure that
  Brian> all files created under it have the groupid of "fax".

There is no group "fax", and I do not intend to create one. "dialout" seems
quite appropriate to me.

Let's not forgot that efax was written as sample & simple fax system. Let me
quote from the README file:

    efax is a relatively small ANSI C/POSIX program that provides the
    data transport function for fax applications.  A simple shell
    script (``fax'') is included in the distribution to let you
    create, send, receive, view and print faxes.

    efax is smaller and easier to install than FlexFax, NetFax, or
    mgetty+sendfax.  It uses your system's own getty to handle
    incoming data calls. As one user put it, ``EFAX is a nice simple
    program for single user systems.''

For super-duper multi-user coffee-brewing singing & dancing fax support, you
probably want to go with flexfax/hylafax or some other fax program.

I packaged efax as it does what I need on my (mostly) single-user system. More
complex systems are welcome.

--
Dirk Eddelb"uttel                              http://qed.econ.queensu.ca/~edd