An audio gateway gains access to the network by receipt of network communication parameters from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server via the network interface; and communicates with an audio server to obtain operational attributes for communication with the audio gateway compatible source via the network interface. The audio server receives announcements from the audio gateway to identify the audio gateway as one of a plurality of possible audio gateway types, authenticates the audio gateway, permits user configuration of the audio gateway via an associated configuration screen to permit entry of operational attributes for communication supplied by a user. The audio server sends the operational attributes to the audio gateway type to configure operation of the audio gateway and maintains a database of audio gateways and the audio gateway's respective operational attributes. This abstract is not to be considered limiting.