External Modems and Setup Detection

In early versions of Small Business Server, one of the most frustrating and daunting issues had to deal with external modems and their setup detection (or lack thereof).

In order for the external modems Setup Detection to go off without a hitch, the Small Business Server unattended Setup program needs to be able to detect installed modems properly... 

in order to install server applications that depend on modems: Remote Access Service, Fax Server software, and Modem Sharing Service.

As a result, any external modems need to be plugged into power (preferably to a UPS) and the appropriate serial port prior to Setup Dection.

If all goes well, the external modems should all be auto detected correctly during the early stages of Small Business Server Setup. If Small Business Server Setup sees a modem, whether it be internal modems or external modems, on particular serial COM ports, but is unable to identify matches between the Unimodem ID in the modems' firmware and the Unimodem ID of a device driver, the external modem or internal modem will be labeled as "Undetected." Do not pass go... do not collect $200... your external modem has FAILED.

This designation is the same as a "Standard" modem often seen independent of Small Business Server, in other Windows operating systems. 

However, the Small Business Server developers changed the GUI label to "Undetected" to emphasize the potential hazards of ignoring this warning, originating from external modems and setup detection problems.

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