rfc821 (3 of 8)
ron at brl-adm.UUCP
ron at brl-adm.UUCP
Mon May 19 14:00:13 AEST 1986
RFC 821 August 1982
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
3.7. DOMAINS
Domains are a recently introduced concept in the ARPA Internet
mail system. The use of domains changes the address space from a
flat global space of simple character string host names to a
hierarchically structured rooted tree of global addresses. The
host name is replaced by a domain and host designator which is a
sequence of domain element strings separated by periods with the
understanding that the domain elements are ordered from the most
specific to the most general.
For example, "USC-ISIF.ARPA", "Fred.Cambridge.UK", and
"PC7.LCS.MIT.ARPA" might be host-and-domain identifiers.
Whenever domain names are used in SMTP only the official names are
used, the use of nicknames or aliases is not allowed.
Postel [Page 17]
August 1982 RFC 821
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
3.8. CHANGING ROLES
The TURN command may be used to reverse the roles of the two
programs communicating over the transmission channel.
If program-A is currently the sender-SMTP and it sends the TURN
command and receives an ok reply (250) then program-A becomes the
receiver-SMTP.
If program-B is currently the receiver-SMTP and it receives the
TURN command and sends an ok reply (250) then program-B becomes
the sender-SMTP.
To refuse to change roles the receiver sends the 502 reply.
Please note that this command is optional. It would not normally
be used in situations where the transmission channel is TCP.
However, when the cost of establishing the transmission channel is
high, this command may be quite useful. For example, this command
may be useful in supporting be mail exchange using the public
switched telephone system as a transmission channel, especially if
some hosts poll other hosts for mail exchanges.
[Page 18] Postel
RFC 821 August 1982
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
4. THE SMTP SPECIFICATIONS
4.1. SMTP COMMANDS
4.1.1. COMMAND SEMANTICS
The SMTP commands define the mail transfer or the mail system
function requested by the user. SMTP commands are character
strings terminated by <CRLF>. The command codes themselves are
alphabetic characters terminated by <SP> if parameters follow
and <CRLF> otherwise. The syntax of mailboxes must conform to
receiver site conventions. The SMTP commands are discussed
below. The SMTP replies are discussed in the Section 4.2.
A mail transaction involves several data objects which are
communicated as arguments to different commands. The
reverse-path is the argument of the MAIL command, the
forward-path is the argument of the RCPT command, and the mail
data is the argument of the DATA command. These arguments or
data objects must be transmitted and held pending the
confirmation communicated by the end of mail data indication
which finalizes the transaction. The model for this is that
distinct buffers are provided to hold the types of data
objects, that is, there is a reverse-path buffer, a
forward-path buffer, and a mail data buffer. Specific commands
cause information to be appended to a specific buffer, or cause
one or more buffers to be cleared.
HELLO (HELO)
This command is used to identify the sender-SMTP to the
receiver-SMTP. The argument field contains the host name of
the sender-SMTP.
The receiver-SMTP identifies itself to the sender-SMTP in
the connection greeting reply, and in the response to this
command.
This command and an OK reply to it confirm that both the
sender-SMTP and the receiver-SMTP are in the initial state,
that is, there is no transaction in progress and all state
tables and buffers are cleared.
Postel [Page 19]
August 1982 RFC 821
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
MAIL (MAIL)
This command is used to initiate a mail transaction in which
the mail data is delivered to one or more mailboxes. The
argument field contains a reverse-path.
The reverse-path consists of an optional list of hosts and
the sender mailbox. When the list of hosts is present, it
is a "reverse" source route and indicates that the mail was
relayed through each host on the list (the first host in the
list was the most recent relay). This list is used as a
source route to return non-delivery notices to the sender.
As each relay host adds itself to the beginning of the list,
it must use its name as known in the IPCE to which it is
relaying the mail rather than the IPCE from which the mail
came (if they are different). In some types of error
reporting messages (for example, undeliverable mail
notifications) the reverse-path may be null (see Example 7).
This command clears the reverse-path buffer, the
forward-path buffer, and the mail data buffer; and inserts
the reverse-path information from this command into the
reverse-path buffer.
RECIPIENT (RCPT)
This command is used to identify an individual recipient of
the mail data; multiple recipients are specified by multiple
use of this command.
The forward-path consists of an optional list of hosts and a
required destination mailbox. When the list of hosts is
present, it is a source route and indicates that the mail
must be relayed to the next host on the list. If the
receiver-SMTP does not implement the relay function it may
user the same reply it would for an unknown local user
(550).
When mail is relayed, the relay host must remove itself from
the beginning forward-path and put itself at the beginning
of the reverse-path. When mail reaches its ultimate
destination (the forward-path contains only a destination
mailbox), the receiver-SMTP inserts it into the destination
mailbox in accordance with its host mail conventions.
[Page 20] Postel
RFC 821 August 1982
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
For example, mail received at relay host A with arguments
FROM:<USERX at HOSTY.ARPA>
TO:<@HOSTA.ARPA, at HOSTB.ARPA:USERC at HOSTD.ARPA>
will be relayed on to host B with arguments
FROM:<@HOSTA.ARPA:USERX at HOSTY.ARPA>
TO:<@HOSTB.ARPA:USERC at HOSTD.ARPA>.
This command causes its forward-path argument to be appended
to the forward-path buffer.
DATA (DATA)
The receiver treats the lines following the command as mail
data from the sender. This command causes the mail data
from this command to be appended to the mail data buffer.
The mail data may contain any of the 128 ASCII character
codes.
The mail data is terminated by a line containing only a
period, that is the character sequence "<CRLF>.<CRLF>" (see
Section 4.5.2 on Transparency). This is the end of mail
data indication.
The end of mail data indication requires that the receiver
must now process the stored mail transaction information.
This processing consumes the information in the reverse-path
buffer, the forward-path buffer, and the mail data buffer,
and on the completion of this command these buffers are
cleared. If the processing is successful the receiver must
send an OK reply. If the processing fails completely the
receiver must send a failure reply.
When the receiver-SMTP accepts a message either for relaying
or for final delivery it inserts at the beginning of the
mail data a time stamp line. The time stamp line indicates
the identity of the host that sent the message, and the
identity of the host that received the message (and is
inserting this time stamp), and the date and time the
message was received. Relayed messages will have multiple
time stamp lines.
When the receiver-SMTP makes the "final delivery" of a
message it inserts at the beginning of the mail data a
Postel [Page 21]
August 1982 RFC 821
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
return path line. The return path line preserves the
information in the <reverse-path> from the MAIL command.
Here, final delivery means the message leaves the SMTP
world. Normally, this would mean it has been delivered to
the destination user, but in some cases it may be further
processed and transmitted by another mail system.
It is possible for the mailbox in the return path be
different from the actual sender's mailbox, for example,
if error responses are to be delivered a special error
handling mailbox rather than the message senders.
The preceding two paragraphs imply that the final mail data
will begin with a return path line, followed by one or more
time stamp lines. These lines will be followed by the mail
data header and body [2]. See Example 8.
Special mention is needed of the response and further action
required when the processing following the end of mail data
indication is partially successful. This could arise if
after accepting several recipients and the mail data, the
receiver-SMTP finds that the mail data can be successfully
delivered to some of the recipients, but it cannot be to
others (for example, due to mailbox space allocation
problems). In such a situation, the response to the DATA
command must be an OK reply. But, the receiver-SMTP must
compose and send an "undeliverable mail" notification
message to the originator of the message. Either a single
notification which lists all of the recipients that failed
to get the message, or separate notification messages must
be sent for each failed recipient (see Example 7). All
undeliverable mail notification messages are sent using the
MAIL command (even if they result from processing a SEND,
SOML, or SAML command).
[Page 22] Postel
RFC 821 August 1982
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
-------------------------------------------------------------
Example of Return Path and Received Time Stamps
Return-Path: <@GHI.ARPA, at DEF.ARPA, at ABC.ARPA:JOE at ABC.ARPA>
Received: from GHI.ARPA by JKL.ARPA ; 27 Oct 81 15:27:39 PST
Received: from DEF.ARPA by GHI.ARPA ; 27 Oct 81 15:15:13 PST
Received: from ABC.ARPA by DEF.ARPA ; 27 Oct 81 15:01:59 PST
Date: 27 Oct 81 15:01:01 PST
From: JOE at ABC.ARPA
Subject: Improved Mailing System Installed
To: SAM at JKL.ARPA
This is to inform you that ...
Example 8
-------------------------------------------------------------
SEND (SEND)
This command is used to initiate a mail transaction in which
the mail data is delivered to one or more terminals. The
argument field contains a reverse-path. This command is
successful if the message is delivered to a terminal.
The reverse-path consists of an optional list of hosts and
the sender mailbox. When the list of hosts is present, it
is a "reverse" source route and indicates that the mail was
relayed through each host on the list (the first host in the
list was the most recent relay). This list is used as a
source route to return non-delivery notices to the sender.
As each relay host adds itself to the beginning of the list,
it must use its name as known in the IPCE to which it is
relaying the mail rather than the IPCE from which the mail
came (if they are different).
This command clears the reverse-path buffer, the
forward-path buffer, and the mail data buffer; and inserts
the reverse-path information from this command into the
reverse-path buffer.
SEND OR MAIL (SOML)
This command is used to initiate a mail transaction in which
the mail data is delivered to one or more terminals or
Postel [Page 23]
August 1982 RFC 821
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
mailboxes. For each recipient the mail data is delivered to
the recipient's terminal if the recipient is active on the
host (and accepting terminal messages), otherwise to the
recipient's mailbox. The argument field contains a
reverse-path. This command is successful if the message is
delivered to a terminal or the mailbox.
The reverse-path consists of an optional list of hosts and
the sender mailbox. When the list of hosts is present, it
is a "reverse" source route and indicates that the mail was
relayed through each host on the list (the first host in the
list was the most recent relay). This list is used as a
source route to return non-delivery notices to the sender.
As each relay host adds itself to the beginning of the list,
it must use its name as known in the IPCE to which it is
relaying the mail rather than the IPCE from which the mail
came (if they are different).
This command clears the reverse-path buffer, the
forward-path buffer, and the mail data buffer; and inserts
the reverse-path information from this command into the
reverse-path buffer.
SEND AND MAIL (SAML)
This command is used to initiate a mail transaction in which
the mail data is delivered to one or more terminals and
mailboxes. For each recipient the mail data is delivered to
the recipient's terminal if the recipient is active on the
host (and accepting terminal messages), and for all
recipients to the recipient's mailbox. The argument field
contains a reverse-path. This command is successful if the
message is delivered to the mailbox.
The reverse-path consists of an optional list of hosts and
the sender mailbox. When the list of hosts is present, it
is a "reverse" source route and indicates that the mail was
relayed through each host on the list (the first host in the
list was the most recent relay). This list is used as a
source route to return non-delivery notices to the sender.
As each relay host adds itself to the beginning of the list,
it must use its name as known in the IPCE to which it is
relaying the mail rather than the IPCE from which the mail
came (if they are different).
This command clears the reverse-path buffer, the
[Page 24] Postel
RFC 821 August 1982
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
forward-path buffer, and the mail data buffer; and inserts
the reverse-path information from this command into the
reverse-path buffer.
RESET (RSET)
This command specifies that the current mail transaction is
to be aborted. Any stored sender, recipients, and mail data
must be discarded, and all buffers and state tables cleared.
The receiver must send an OK reply.
VERIFY (VRFY)
This command asks the receiver to confirm that the argument
identifies a user. If it is a user name, the full name of
the user (if known) and the fully specified mailbox are
returned.
This command has no effect on any of the reverse-path
buffer, the forward-path buffer, or the mail data buffer.
EXPAND (EXPN)
This command asks the receiver to confirm that the argument
identifies a mailing list, and if so, to return the
membership of that list. The full name of the users (if
known) and the fully specified mailboxes are returned in a
multiline reply.
This command has no effect on any of the reverse-path
buffer, the forward-path buffer, or the mail data buffer.
HELP (HELP)
This command causes the receiver to send helpful information
to the sender of the HELP command. The command may take an
argument (e.g., any command name) and return more specific
information as a response.
This command has no effect on any of the reverse-path
buffer, the forward-path buffer, or the mail data buffer.
Postel [Page 25]
August 1982 RFC 821
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
NOOP (NOOP)
This command does not affect any parameters or previously
entered commands. It specifies no action other than that
the receiver send an OK reply.
This command has no effect on any of the reverse-path
buffer, the forward-path buffer, or the mail data buffer.
QUIT (QUIT)
This command specifies that the receiver must send an OK
reply, and then close the transmission channel.
The receiver should not close the transmission channel until
it receives and replies to a QUIT command (even if there was
an error). The sender should not close the transmission
channel until it send a QUIT command and receives the reply
(even if there was an error response to a previous command).
If the connection is closed prematurely the receiver should
act as if a RSET command had been received (canceling any
pending transaction, but not undoing any previously
completed transaction), the sender should act as if the
command or transaction in progress had received a temporary
error (4xx).
TURN (TURN)
This command specifies that the receiver must either (1)
send an OK reply and then take on the role of the
sender-SMTP, or (2) send a refusal reply and retain the role
of the receiver-SMTP.
If program-A is currently the sender-SMTP and it sends the
TURN command and receives an OK reply (250) then program-A
becomes the receiver-SMTP. Program-A is then in the initial
state as if the transmission channel just opened, and it
then sends the 220 service ready greeting.
If program-B is currently the receiver-SMTP and it receives
the TURN command and sends an OK reply (250) then program-B
becomes the sender-SMTP. Program-B is then in the initial
state as if the transmission channel just opened, and it
then expects to receive the 220 service ready greeting.
To refuse to change roles the receiver sends the 502 reply.
[Page 26] Postel
More information about the Mod.sources.doc
mailing list