Remote configuration and management via electronic mail

1. A network device, comprising:

a first network interface; and

control logic configured to:

receive an e-mail message;

authenticate the e-mail message based on a password included in the e-mail message, wherein the password is contained in a subject header of the e-mail message;

parse the e-mail message, if the e-mail message is properly authenticated, to retrieve configuration instructions that provide configuration settings within the e-mail message for the network device, wherein the e-mail message provides the configuration settings such that no additional configuration settings must be retrieved beyond the e-mail message; and

execute a configuration action according to the configuration instructions and the configuration settings contained in the e-mail message to configure the network device.

2. The network device of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more interfaces; and

wherein the control logic comprises an e-mail client and a configuration manager.

3. The network device of claim 2 , wherein:

the network device comprises a router; and

wherein the one or more interfaces comprises a wireless interface and a local area network interface.

4. The network device of claim 3 , further comprising:

a memory for storing configuration settings;

wherein the control logic is configured to modify the configuration settings stored in the memory according to the configuration instructions contained in the e-mail message.

5. The network device of claim 1 , wherein:

the control logic does not execute the configuration action if the e-mail message is not properly authenticated; and

the control logic is configured to perform the authentication of the e-mail message for only a predetermined number of e-mail messages within a predetermined period of time to prevent denial of service attacks.

6. The network device of claim 1 , wherein:

the control logic is further configured to retrieve an attachment contained in the e-mail message.

7. The network device of claim 6 , wherein:

the e-mail attachment comprises software or firmware; and

the control logic is further configured to install the software or firmware upon receipt of the e-mail message.

8. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to:

receive the e-mail message by accessing an e-mail account shared by a plurality of network devices.

9. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to:

generate an e-mail message confirming execution of the configuration action.

10. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to:

generate an e-mail message containing configuration information regarding the network device.

11. The network device of claim 10 , wherein the control logic is further configured to:

receive an e-mail message containing a request for configuration parameter information;

identify the configuration parameter information requested by the e-mail message; and

generate a response e-mail message providing the requested configuration parameter information.

12. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to:

receive e-mail messages transmitted to a plurality of e-mail addresses, each e-mail address being associated with a unique set of allowable configuration actions.

13. A method of configuring a network device, comprising:

receiving an e-mail message at the network device, wherein the network device comprises a router;

authenticating the e-mail message based on a password included in the e-mail message;

parsing the e-mail message, if the e-mail message is properly authenticated, to retrieve configuration instructions, wherein the e-mail message with the configuration instructions includes configuration settings within the e-mail message for the network device such that no additional configuration settings must be retrieved beyond the e-mail message; and

executing a configuration action, if the e-mail message is properly authenticated, according to the configuration instructions contained in the e-mail message to configure the network device with the configuration settings,

wherein the network device comprises a router.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

modifying configuration settings stored in a memory of the network device according to the configuration instructions contained in the e-mail message.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the password is contained in a subject header of the e-mail message, and wherein the authenticating of the e-mail message is performed for only a predetermined number of e-mail messages within a predetermined period of time to prevent denial of service attacks.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

retrieving an attachment contained in the e-mail message.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

installing software or firmware contained in the e-mail attachment.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein:

said receiving the e-mail message comprises accessing an e-mail account shared by a plurality of network devices.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating an e-mail message confirming execution of the configuration action.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating an e-mail message containing configuration information regarding the network device.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

receiving an e-mail message containing a request for configuration parameter information;

identifying the configuration parameter information requested by the e-mail message; and

generating a response e-mail message providing the requested configuration parameter information.

22. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving e-mail messages transmitted to a plurality of e-mail addresses, each e-mail address being associated with a unique set of allowable configuration actions.

23. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving configuration instructions entered into a management console;

generating the e-mail message containing the configuration instructions; and

transmitting the e-mail message to an e-mail address associated with the network device.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein:

said transmitting the e-mail message to the e-mail address associated with the network device comprises transmitting the e-mail message to a plurality of e-mail addresses associated with a plurality of network devices.

25. A network router, comprising:

means for connecting to a network;

means for receiving an e-mail message;

means for authenticating the e-mail message based on a password included in the e-mail message, wherein the authenticating means is configured to perform the authentication of the e-mail message for only a predetermined number of e-mail messages within a predetermined period of time;

means for parsing the e-mail message, if the e-mail message is properly authenticated by the authenticating means, to retrieve configuration instructions, wherein the e-mail message includes configuration settings within the e-mail message for the network router such that no additional configuration settings must be retrieved beyond the e-mail message; and

means for executing a configuration action, if the e-mail message is properly authenticated by the authenticating means, according to the configuration instructions contained in the e-mail message to configure the network router with the configuration settings.