Messaging system configurator

摘要

Apparatus, methods, and machine-readable articles of manufacture facilitate configuration of a networked messaging system. In some embodiments, nodes of the system are automatically interrogated to obtain current configuration information of each of the nodes, and a configuration file with the nodes' current configuration information is generated and stored in a format that is readily editable. Exemplary formats include spreadsheet, comma separated variables, and other text formats. An administrator is allowed to access and edit the configuration file, resulting in an updated configuration file with updated configuration information. Editing may include adding and removing servers, creating and removing digital networking mailboxes or links on the nodes, and other configuration changes. After the file is edited and the administrator or another authorized person issues a command to configure the system, messages are automatically sent to the nodes to configure the system in accordance with the updated configuration information.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method of configuring a networked messaging system, the method comprising steps of:
obtaining, from each node of a plurality of nodes of the networked messaging system, at least a portion of current configuration information of said each node; generating an editable configuration file comprising the portions of the current configuration information obtained from the plurality of nodes; presenting the editable configuration file to at least one administrator to allow the at least one administrator to provide one or more edits to the editable configuration file; storing the editable configuration file after the step of generating and before the step of presenting; receiving from the at least one administrator the one or more edits to the editable configuration file, in response to the step of presenting; changing the editable configuration file in accordance with the one or more edits to make an updated configuration file comprising updated configuration information; configuring the networked messaging system in accordance with the updated configuration information in the updated configuration file; and sending from a home server of the networked messaging system to a correspondent server of the networked messaging system an inquiry whether a new mailbox of a particular type with a particular mailbox identifier is consistent with mailbox numbering rules of the correspondent server; wherein: at least one file selected from the group consisting of the editable configuration file and the updated configuration file comprises first mailbox data defining and numbering one or more mailboxes of one or more human users of the networked messaging system, each mailbox of the one or more mailboxes being configured to store messages for a human user associated with said each mailbox; the step of generating is performed after the step for obtaining, the step of presenting is performed after the step of generating, the step of receiving is performed after the step of presenting, the step of changing is performed after the step of receiving, and the step for configuring is performed after the step of changing; mailbox numbering rules are not consistent across all nodes of the networked messaging system; and the steps of obtaining, generating, presenting, receiving, changing, and configuring are performed by at least one computer.