| 摘要 |
<p num="1"><br/><br/><br/>An email system comprises a plurality of email servers connected by a data <br/>communications network. The email system avoids single points of failure by <br/>employing multiple email servers which self configure, without requiring <br/>dedicated servers, through self addressing and discovery and announcement <br/>protocols. An email server can act as a primary email server by executing an <br/>administration tool allowing an administrator to modify the configuration data <br/>set which the email servers utilize, and the primary email server will then <br/>announce the resulting change in the version level of the configuration data <br/>set to other email servers. Each email server will then determine and request <br/>any needed updates to its respective configuration data set from the primary <br/>email server or another email server. The resulting email system is: robust, <br/>avoiding single points of failure; scalable, as additional email processing <br/>capacity can be achieved by adding additional email servers; and is simple to <br/>administer as changes to the configuration data set can be made at any email <br/>server with a copy of the appropriate administration tool and such changes <br/>automatically propagate through the email system.<br/></p> |
