def initialize(self, configfile=None):
        """
        Initialize the module
        """

        method = "initialize"

        A = None
        metadata = {method: configfile}

        send_array(self.socket, A, metadata)
        A, metadata = recv_array(
            self.socket, poll=self.poll, poll_timeout=self.poll_timeout,
            flags=self.zmq_flags)