How to Enable Adaptive Answer in Windows Server 2003

By default, Adaptive Answering is disabled for the Shared Fax service in Windows Server 2003. This article describes how to enable adaptive answering for Windows Server 2003.

Adaptive answering provides a modem with the ability to identify if an incoming call is a fax call or a data call. You can use this feature to use a single modem to receive both incoming faxes and incoming Remote Access Services (RAS) calls.

To enable adaptive answer in Windows Server 2003:

1.	Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, point to Fax, and then click Fax Service Manager. NOTE: If this is the first time you have opened the fax console, a configuration wizard automatically starts. Follow the instructions on the screen to provide your fax and modem information.
2.	In the Fax Service Manager MMC, click the plus sign (+) next to Devices and Providers.
3.	Click the plus sign (+) next to Devices.
4.	Right-click the modem device for which you want to enable adaptive answer, and then click Properties.
5.	Click the Microsoft Modem FSP tab.
6.	Click to select the Enable adaptive answering if supported by the modem check box.
7.	Click OK.

Adaptive answer is a feature that is available on some modems that provides the ability to use a single phone line for both fax and data communications. Adaptive answer is responsible for determining if a call is a data or fax call, and then hands the call off to the appropriate service. If the modem and device driver do not support this functionality, clicking the Enable adaptive answering if supported by the modem check box has no effect.