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diff --git a/usr.sbin/sendmail/doc/rfc/rfc821.txt b/usr.sbin/sendmail/doc/rfc/rfc821.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d877b72 --- /dev/null +++ b/usr.sbin/sendmail/doc/rfc/rfc821.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4050 @@ + + + + RFC 821 + + + + + + SIMPLE MAIL TRANSFER PROTOCOL + + + + Jonathan B. Postel + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + August 1982 + + + + Information Sciences Institute + University of Southern California + 4676 Admiralty Way + Marina del Rey, California 90291 + + (213) 822-1511 + + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + TABLE OF CONTENTS + + 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................. 1 + + 2. THE SMTP MODEL ................................................ 2 + + 3. THE SMTP PROCEDURE ............................................ 4 + + 3.1. Mail ..................................................... 4 + 3.2. Forwarding ............................................... 7 + 3.3. Verifying and Expanding .................................. 8 + 3.4. Sending and Mailing ..................................... 11 + 3.5. Opening and Closing ..................................... 13 + 3.6. Relaying ................................................ 14 + 3.7. Domains ................................................. 17 + 3.8. Changing Roles .......................................... 18 + + 4. THE SMTP SPECIFICATIONS ...................................... 19 + + 4.1. SMTP Commands ........................................... 19 + 4.1.1. Command Semantics ..................................... 19 + 4.1.2. Command Syntax ........................................ 27 + 4.2. SMTP Replies ............................................ 34 + 4.2.1. Reply Codes by Function Group ......................... 35 + 4.2.2. Reply Codes in Numeric Order .......................... 36 + 4.3. Sequencing of Commands and Replies ...................... 37 + 4.4. State Diagrams .......................................... 39 + 4.5. Details ................................................. 41 + 4.5.1. Minimum Implementation ................................ 41 + 4.5.2. Transparency .......................................... 41 + 4.5.3. Sizes ................................................. 42 + + APPENDIX A: TCP ................................................. 44 + APPENDIX B: NCP ................................................. 45 + APPENDIX C: NITS ................................................ 46 + APPENDIX D: X.25 ................................................ 47 + APPENDIX E: Theory of Reply Codes ............................... 48 + APPENDIX F: Scenarios ........................................... 51 + + GLOSSARY ......................................................... 64 + + REFERENCES ....................................................... 67 + + + + +Network Working Group J. Postel +Request for Comments: DRAFT ISI +Replaces: RFC 788, 780, 772 August 1982 + + SIMPLE MAIL TRANSFER PROTOCOL + + +1. INTRODUCTION + + The objective of Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is to transfer + mail reliably and efficiently. + + SMTP is independent of the particular transmission subsystem and + requires only a reliable ordered data stream channel. Appendices A, + B, C, and D describe the use of SMTP with various transport services. + A Glossary provides the definitions of terms as used in this + document. + + An important feature of SMTP is its capability to relay mail across + transport service environments. A transport service provides an + interprocess communication environment (IPCE). An IPCE may cover one + network, several networks, or a subset of a network. It is important + to realize that transport systems (or IPCEs) are not one-to-one with + networks. A process can communicate directly with another process + through any mutually known IPCE. Mail is an application or use of + interprocess communication. Mail can be communicated between + processes in different IPCEs by relaying through a process connected + to two (or more) IPCEs. More specifically, mail can be relayed + between hosts on different transport systems by a host on both + transport systems. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 1] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + +2. THE SMTP MODEL + + The SMTP design is based on the following model of communication: as + the result of a user mail request, the sender-SMTP establishes a + two-way transmission channel to a receiver-SMTP. The receiver-SMTP + may be either the ultimate destination or an intermediate. SMTP + commands are generated by the sender-SMTP and sent to the + receiver-SMTP. SMTP replies are sent from the receiver-SMTP to the + sender-SMTP in response to the commands. + + Once the transmission channel is established, the SMTP-sender sends a + MAIL command indicating the sender of the mail. If the SMTP-receiver + can accept mail it responds with an OK reply. The SMTP-sender then + sends a RCPT command identifying a recipient of the mail. If the + SMTP-receiver can accept mail for that recipient it responds with an + OK reply; if not, it responds with a reply rejecting that recipient + (but not the whole mail transaction). The SMTP-sender and + SMTP-receiver may negotiate several recipients. When the recipients + have been negotiated the SMTP-sender sends the mail data, terminating + with a special sequence. If the SMTP-receiver successfully processes + the mail data it responds with an OK reply. The dialog is purposely + lock-step, one-at-a-time. + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + +----------+ +----------+ + +------+ | | | | + | User |<-->| | SMTP | | + +------+ | Sender- |Commands/Replies| Receiver-| + +------+ | SMTP |<-------------->| SMTP | +------+ + | File |<-->| | and Mail | |<-->| File | + |System| | | | | |System| + +------+ +----------+ +----------+ +------+ + + + Sender-SMTP Receiver-SMTP + + Model for SMTP Use + + Figure 1 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + The SMTP provides mechanisms for the transmission of mail; directly + from the sending user's host to the receiving user's host when the + + + +[Page 2] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + two host are connected to the same transport service, or via one or + more relay SMTP-servers when the source and destination hosts are not + connected to the same transport service. + + To be able to provide the relay capability the SMTP-server must be + supplied with the name of the ultimate destination host as well as + the destination mailbox name. + + The argument to the MAIL command is a reverse-path, which specifies + who the mail is from. The argument to the RCPT command is a + forward-path, which specifies who the mail is to. The forward-path + is a source route, while the reverse-path is a return route (which + may be used to return a message to the sender when an error occurs + with a relayed message). + + When the same message is sent to multiple recipients the SMTP + encourages the transmission of only one copy of the data for all the + recipients at the same destination host. + + The mail commands and replies have a rigid syntax. Replies also have + a numeric code. In the following, examples appear which use actual + commands and replies. The complete lists of commands and replies + appears in Section 4 on specifications. + + Commands and replies are not case sensitive. That is, a command or + reply word may be upper case, lower case, or any mixture of upper and + lower case. Note that this is not true of mailbox user names. For + some hosts the user name is case sensitive, and SMTP implementations + must take case to preserve the case of user names as they appear in + mailbox arguments. Host names are not case sensitive. + + Commands and replies are composed of characters from the ASCII + character set [1]. When the transport service provides an 8-bit byte + (octet) transmission channel, each 7-bit character is transmitted + right justified in an octet with the high order bit cleared to zero. + + When specifying the general form of a command or reply, an argument + (or special symbol) will be denoted by a meta-linguistic variable (or + constant), for example, "<string>" or "<reverse-path>". Here the + angle brackets indicate these are meta-linguistic variables. + However, some arguments use the angle brackets literally. For + example, an actual reverse-path is enclosed in angle brackets, i.e., + "<John.Smith@USC-ISI.ARPA>" is an instance of <reverse-path> (the + angle brackets are actually transmitted in the command or reply). + + + + + +Postel [Page 3] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + +3. THE SMTP PROCEDURES + + This section presents the procedures used in SMTP in several parts. + First comes the basic mail procedure defined as a mail transaction. + Following this are descriptions of forwarding mail, verifying mailbox + names and expanding mailing lists, sending to terminals instead of or + in combination with mailboxes, and the opening and closing exchanges. + At the end of this section are comments on relaying, a note on mail + domains, and a discussion of changing roles. Throughout this section + are examples of partial command and reply sequences, several complete + scenarios are presented in Appendix F. + + 3.1. MAIL + + There are three steps to SMTP mail transactions. The transaction + is started with a MAIL command which gives the sender + identification. A series of one or more RCPT commands follows + giving the receiver information. Then a DATA command gives the + mail data. And finally, the end of mail data indicator confirms + the transaction. + + The first step in the procedure is the MAIL command. The + <reverse-path> contains the source mailbox. + + MAIL <SP> FROM:<reverse-path> <CRLF> + + This command tells the SMTP-receiver that a new mail + transaction is starting and to reset all its state tables and + buffers, including any recipients or mail data. It gives the + reverse-path which can be used to report errors. If accepted, + the receiver-SMTP returns a 250 OK reply. + + The <reverse-path> can contain more than just a mailbox. The + <reverse-path> is a reverse source routing list of hosts and + source mailbox. The first host in the <reverse-path> should be + the host sending this command. + + The second step in the procedure is the RCPT command. + + RCPT <SP> TO:<forward-path> <CRLF> + + This command gives a forward-path identifying one recipient. + If accepted, the receiver-SMTP returns a 250 OK reply, and + stores the forward-path. If the recipient is unknown the + receiver-SMTP returns a 550 Failure reply. This second step of + the procedure can be repeated any number of times. + + + +[Page 4] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + The <forward-path> can contain more than just a mailbox. The + <forward-path> is a source routing list of hosts and the + destination mailbox. The first host in the <forward-path> + should be the host receiving this command. + + The third step in the procedure is the DATA command. + + DATA <CRLF> + + If accepted, the receiver-SMTP returns a 354 Intermediate reply + and considers all succeeding lines to be the message text. + When the end of text is received and stored the SMTP-receiver + sends a 250 OK reply. + + Since the mail data is sent on the transmission channel the end + of the mail data must be indicated so that the command and + reply dialog can be resumed. SMTP indicates the end of the + mail data by sending a line containing only a period. A + transparency procedure is used to prevent this from interfering + with the user's text (see Section 4.5.2). + + Please note that the mail data includes the memo header + items such as Date, Subject, To, Cc, From [2]. + + The end of mail data indicator also confirms the mail + transaction and tells the receiver-SMTP to now process the + stored recipients and mail data. If accepted, the + receiver-SMTP returns a 250 OK reply. The DATA command should + fail only if the mail transaction was incomplete (for example, + no recipients), or if resources are not available. + + The above procedure is an example of a mail transaction. These + commands must be used only in the order discussed above. + Example 1 (below) illustrates the use of these commands in a mail + transaction. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 5] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Example of the SMTP Procedure + + This SMTP example shows mail sent by Smith at host Alpha.ARPA, + to Jones, Green, and Brown at host Beta.ARPA. Here we assume + that host Alpha contacts host Beta directly. + + S: MAIL FROM:<Smith@Alpha.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Jones@Beta.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Green@Beta.ARPA> + R: 550 No such user here + + S: RCPT TO:<Brown@Beta.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Blah blah blah... + S: ...etc. etc. etc. + S: <CRLF>.<CRLF> + R: 250 OK + + The mail has now been accepted for Jones and Brown. Green did + not have a mailbox at host Beta. + + Example 1 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 6] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 3.2. FORWARDING + + There are some cases where the destination information in the + <forward-path> is incorrect, but the receiver-SMTP knows the + correct destination. In such cases, one of the following replies + should be used to allow the sender to contact the correct + destination. + + 251 User not local; will forward to <forward-path> + + This reply indicates that the receiver-SMTP knows the user's + mailbox is on another host and indicates the correct + forward-path to use in the future. Note that either the + host or user or both may be different. The receiver takes + responsibility for delivering the message. + + 551 User not local; please try <forward-path> + + This reply indicates that the receiver-SMTP knows the user's + mailbox is on another host and indicates the correct + forward-path to use. Note that either the host or user or + both may be different. The receiver refuses to accept mail + for this user, and the sender must either redirect the mail + according to the information provided or return an error + response to the originating user. + + Example 2 illustrates the use of these responses. + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Example of Forwarding + + Either + + S: RCPT TO:<Postel@USC-ISI.ARPA> + R: 251 User not local; will forward to <Postel@USC-ISIF.ARPA> + + Or + + S: RCPT TO:<Paul@USC-ISIB.ARPA> + R: 551 User not local; please try <Mockapetris@USC-ISIF.ARPA> + + Example 2 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +Postel [Page 7] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 3.3. VERIFYING AND EXPANDING + + SMTP provides as additional features, commands to verify a user + name or expand a mailing list. This is done with the VRFY and + EXPN commands, which have character string arguments. For the + VRFY command, the string is a user name, and the response may + include the full name of the user and must include the mailbox of + the user. For the EXPN command, the string identifies a mailing + list, and the multiline response may include the full name of the + users and must give the mailboxes on the mailing list. + + "User name" is a fuzzy term and used purposely. If a host + implements the VRFY or EXPN commands then at least local mailboxes + must be recognized as "user names". If a host chooses to + recognize other strings as "user names" that is allowed. + + In some hosts the distinction between a mailing list and an alias + for a single mailbox is a bit fuzzy, since a common data structure + may hold both types of entries, and it is possible to have mailing + lists of one mailbox. If a request is made to verify a mailing + list a positive response can be given if on receipt of a message + so addressed it will be delivered to everyone on the list, + otherwise an error should be reported (e.g., "550 That is a + mailing list, not a user"). If a request is made to expand a user + name a positive response can be formed by returning a list + containing one name, or an error can be reported (e.g., "550 That + is a user name, not a mailing list"). + + In the case of a multiline reply (normal for EXPN) exactly one + mailbox is to be specified on each line of the reply. In the case + of an ambiguous request, for example, "VRFY Smith", where there + are two Smith's the response must be "553 User ambiguous". + + The case of verifying a user name is straightforward as shown in + example 3. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 8] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Example of Verifying a User Name + + Either + + S: VRFY Smith + R: 250 Fred Smith <Smith@USC-ISIF.ARPA> + + Or + + S: VRFY Smith + R: 251 User not local; will forward to <Smith@USC-ISIQ.ARPA> + + Or + + S: VRFY Jones + R: 550 String does not match anything. + + Or + + S: VRFY Jones + R: 551 User not local; please try <Jones@USC-ISIQ.ARPA> + + Or + + S: VRFY Gourzenkyinplatz + R: 553 User ambiguous. + + Example 3 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 9] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + The case of expanding a mailbox list requires a multiline reply as + shown in example 4. + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Example of Expanding a Mailing List + + Either + + S: EXPN Example-People + R: 250-Jon Postel <Postel@USC-ISIF.ARPA> + R: 250-Fred Fonebone <Fonebone@USC-ISIQ.ARPA> + R: 250-Sam Q. Smith <SQSmith@USC-ISIQ.ARPA> + R: 250-Quincy Smith <@USC-ISIF.ARPA:Q-Smith@ISI-VAXA.ARPA> + R: 250-<joe@foo-unix.ARPA> + R: 250 <xyz@bar-unix.ARPA> + + Or + + S: EXPN Executive-Washroom-List + R: 550 Access Denied to You. + + Example 4 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + The character string arguments of the VRFY and EXPN commands + cannot be further restricted due to the variety of implementations + of the user name and mailbox list concepts. On some systems it + may be appropriate for the argument of the EXPN command to be a + file name for a file containing a mailing list, but again there is + a variety of file naming conventions in the Internet. + + The VRFY and EXPN commands are not included in the minimum + implementation (Section 4.5.1), and are not required to work + across relays when they are implemented. + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 10] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 3.4. SENDING AND MAILING + + The main purpose of SMTP is to deliver messages to user's + mailboxes. A very similar service provided by some hosts is to + deliver messages to user's terminals (provided the user is active + on the host). The delivery to the user's mailbox is called + "mailing", the delivery to the user's terminal is called + "sending". Because in many hosts the implementation of sending is + nearly identical to the implementation of mailing these two + functions are combined in SMTP. However the sending commands are + not included in the required minimum implementation + (Section 4.5.1). Users should have the ability to control the + writing of messages on their terminals. Most hosts permit the + users to accept or refuse such messages. + + The following three command are defined to support the sending + options. These are used in the mail transaction instead of the + MAIL command and inform the receiver-SMTP of the special semantics + of this transaction: + + SEND <SP> FROM:<reverse-path> <CRLF> + + The SEND command requires that the mail data be delivered to + the user's terminal. If the user is not active (or not + accepting terminal messages) on the host a 450 reply may + returned to a RCPT command. The mail transaction is + successful if the message is delivered the terminal. + + SOML <SP> FROM:<reverse-path> <CRLF> + + The Send Or MaiL command requires that the mail data be + delivered to the user's terminal if the user is active (and + accepting terminal messages) on the host. If the user is + not active (or not accepting terminal messages) then the + mail data is entered into the user's mailbox. The mail + transaction is successful if the message is delivered either + to the terminal or the mailbox. + + SAML <SP> FROM:<reverse-path> <CRLF> + + The Send And MaiL command requires that the mail data be + delivered to the user's terminal if the user is active (and + accepting terminal messages) on the host. In any case the + mail data is entered into the user's mailbox. The mail + transaction is successful if the message is delivered the + mailbox. + + + +Postel [Page 11] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + The same reply codes that are used for the MAIL commands are used + for these commands. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 12] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 3.5. OPENING AND CLOSING + + At the time the transmission channel is opened there is an + exchange to ensure that the hosts are communicating with the hosts + they think they are. + + The following two commands are used in transmission channel + opening and closing: + + HELO <SP> <domain> <CRLF> + + QUIT <CRLF> + + In the HELO command the host sending the command identifies + itself; the command may be interpreted as saying "Hello, I am + <domain>". + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Example of Connection Opening + + R: 220 BBN-UNIX.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO USC-ISIF.ARPA + R: 250 BBN-UNIX.ARPA + + Example 5 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Example of Connection Closing + + S: QUIT + R: 221 BBN-UNIX.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Example 6 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 13] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 3.6. RELAYING + + The forward-path may be a source route of the form + "@ONE,@TWO:JOE@THREE", where ONE, TWO, and THREE are hosts. This + form is used to emphasize the distinction between an address and a + route. The mailbox is an absolute address, and the route is + information about how to get there. The two concepts should not + be confused. + + Conceptually the elements of the forward-path are moved to the + reverse-path as the message is relayed from one server-SMTP to + another. The reverse-path is a reverse source route, (i.e., a + source route from the current location of the message to the + originator of the message). When a server-SMTP deletes its + identifier from the forward-path and inserts it into the + reverse-path, it must use the name it is known by in the + environment it is sending into, not the environment the mail came + from, in case the server-SMTP is known by different names in + different environments. + + If when the message arrives at an SMTP the first element of the + forward-path is not the identifier of that SMTP the element is not + deleted from the forward-path and is used to determine the next + SMTP to send the message to. In any case, the SMTP adds its own + identifier to the reverse-path. + + Using source routing the receiver-SMTP receives mail to be relayed + to another server-SMTP The receiver-SMTP may accept or reject the + task of relaying the mail in the same way it accepts or rejects + mail for a local user. The receiver-SMTP transforms the command + arguments by moving its own identifier from the forward-path to + the beginning of the reverse-path. The receiver-SMTP then becomes + a sender-SMTP, establishes a transmission channel to the next SMTP + in the forward-path, and sends it the mail. + + The first host in the reverse-path should be the host sending the + SMTP commands, and the first host in the forward-path should be + the host receiving the SMTP commands. + + Notice that the forward-path and reverse-path appear in the SMTP + commands and replies, but not necessarily in the message. That + is, there is no need for these paths and especially this syntax to + appear in the "To:" , "From:", "CC:", etc. fields of the message + header. + + If a server-SMTP has accepted the task of relaying the mail and + + + +[Page 14] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + later finds that the forward-path is incorrect or that the mail + cannot be delivered for whatever reason, then it must construct an + "undeliverable mail" notification message and send it to the + originator of the undeliverable mail (as indicated by the + reverse-path). + + This notification message must be from the server-SMTP at this + host. Of course, server-SMTPs should not send notification + messages about problems with notification messages. One way to + prevent loops in error reporting is to specify a null reverse-path + in the MAIL command of a notification message. When such a + message is relayed it is permissible to leave the reverse-path + null. A MAIL command with a null reverse-path appears as follows: + + MAIL FROM:<> + + An undeliverable mail notification message is shown in example 7. + This notification is in response to a message originated by JOE at + HOSTW and sent via HOSTX to HOSTY with instructions to relay it on + to HOSTZ. What we see in the example is the transaction between + HOSTY and HOSTX, which is the first step in the return of the + notification message. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 15] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Example Undeliverable Mail Notification Message + + S: MAIL FROM:<> + R: 250 ok + S: RCPT TO:<@HOSTX.ARPA:JOE@HOSTW.ARPA> + R: 250 ok + S: DATA + R: 354 send the mail data, end with . + S: Date: 23 Oct 81 11:22:33 + S: From: SMTP@HOSTY.ARPA + S: To: JOE@HOSTW.ARPA + S: Subject: Mail System Problem + S: + S: Sorry JOE, your message to SAM@HOSTZ.ARPA lost. + S: HOSTZ.ARPA said this: + S: "550 No Such User" + S: . + R: 250 ok + + Example 7 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 16] Postel + + + +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@HOSTY.ARPA> + TO:<@HOSTA.ARPA,@HOSTB.ARPA:USERC@HOSTD.ARPA> + + will be relayed on to host B with arguments + + FROM:<@HOSTA.ARPA:USERX@HOSTY.ARPA> + TO:<@HOSTB.ARPA:USERC@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,@DEF.ARPA,@ABC.ARPA:JOE@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@ABC.ARPA + Subject: Improved Mailing System Installed + To: SAM@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 + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + There are restrictions on the order in which these command may + be used. + + The first command in a session must be the HELO command. + The HELO command may be used later in a session as well. If + the HELO command argument is not acceptable a 501 failure + reply must be returned and the receiver-SMTP must stay in + the same state. + + The NOOP, HELP, EXPN, and VRFY commands can be used at any + time during a session. + + The MAIL, SEND, SOML, or SAML commands begin a mail + transaction. Once started a mail transaction consists of + one of the transaction beginning commands, one or more RCPT + commands, and a DATA command, in that order. A mail + transaction may be aborted by the RSET command. There may + be zero or more transactions in a session. + + If the transaction beginning command argument is not + acceptable a 501 failure reply must be returned and the + receiver-SMTP must stay in the same state. If the commands + in a transaction are out of order a 503 failure reply must + be returned and the receiver-SMTP must stay in the same + state. + + The last command in a session must be the QUIT command. The + QUIT command can not be used at any other time in a session. + + 4.1.2. COMMAND SYNTAX + + The commands consist of a command code followed by an argument + field. Command codes are four alphabetic characters. Upper + and lower case alphabetic characters are to be treated + identically. Thus, any of the following may represent the mail + command: + + MAIL Mail mail MaIl mAIl + + This also applies to any symbols representing parameter values, + such as "TO" or "to" for the forward-path. Command codes and + the argument fields are separated by one or more spaces. + However, within the reverse-path and forward-path arguments + case is important. In particular, in some hosts the user + "smith" is different from the user "Smith". + + + + +Postel [Page 27] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + The argument field consists of a variable length character + string ending with the character sequence <CRLF>. The receiver + is to take no action until this sequence is received. + + Square brackets denote an optional argument field. If the + option is not taken, the appropriate default is implied. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 28] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + The following are the SMTP commands: + + HELO <SP> <domain> <CRLF> + + MAIL <SP> FROM:<reverse-path> <CRLF> + + RCPT <SP> TO:<forward-path> <CRLF> + + DATA <CRLF> + + RSET <CRLF> + + SEND <SP> FROM:<reverse-path> <CRLF> + + SOML <SP> FROM:<reverse-path> <CRLF> + + SAML <SP> FROM:<reverse-path> <CRLF> + + VRFY <SP> <string> <CRLF> + + EXPN <SP> <string> <CRLF> + + HELP [<SP> <string>] <CRLF> + + NOOP <CRLF> + + QUIT <CRLF> + + TURN <CRLF> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 29] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + The syntax of the above argument fields (using BNF notation + where applicable) is given below. The "..." notation indicates + that a field may be repeated one or more times. + + <reverse-path> ::= <path> + + <forward-path> ::= <path> + + <path> ::= "<" [ <a-d-l> ":" ] <mailbox> ">" + + <a-d-l> ::= <at-domain> | <at-domain> "," <a-d-l> + + <at-domain> ::= "@" <domain> + + <domain> ::= <element> | <element> "." <domain> + + <element> ::= <name> | "#" <number> | "[" <dotnum> "]" + + <mailbox> ::= <local-part> "@" <domain> + + <local-part> ::= <dot-string> | <quoted-string> + + <name> ::= <a> <ldh-str> <let-dig> + + <ldh-str> ::= <let-dig-hyp> | <let-dig-hyp> <ldh-str> + + <let-dig> ::= <a> | <d> + + <let-dig-hyp> ::= <a> | <d> | "-" + + <dot-string> ::= <string> | <string> "." <dot-string> + + <string> ::= <char> | <char> <string> + + <quoted-string> ::= """ <qtext> """ + + <qtext> ::= "\" <x> | "\" <x> <qtext> | <q> | <q> <qtext> + + <char> ::= <c> | "\" <x> + + <dotnum> ::= <snum> "." <snum> "." <snum> "." <snum> + + <number> ::= <d> | <d> <number> + + <CRLF> ::= <CR> <LF> + + + + +[Page 30] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + <CR> ::= the carriage return character (ASCII code 13) + + <LF> ::= the line feed character (ASCII code 10) + + <SP> ::= the space character (ASCII code 32) + + <snum> ::= one, two, or three digits representing a decimal + integer value in the range 0 through 255 + + <a> ::= any one of the 52 alphabetic characters A through Z + in upper case and a through z in lower case + + <c> ::= any one of the 128 ASCII characters, but not any + <special> or <SP> + + <d> ::= any one of the ten digits 0 through 9 + + <q> ::= any one of the 128 ASCII characters except <CR>, + <LF>, quote ("), or backslash (\) + + <x> ::= any one of the 128 ASCII characters (no exceptions) + + <special> ::= "<" | ">" | "(" | ")" | "[" | "]" | "\" | "." + | "," | ";" | ":" | "@" """ | the control + characters (ASCII codes 0 through 31 inclusive and + 127) + + Note that the backslash, "\", is a quote character, which is + used to indicate that the next character is to be used + literally (instead of its normal interpretation). For example, + "Joe\,Smith" could be used to indicate a single nine character + user field with comma being the fourth character of the field. + + Hosts are generally known by names which are translated to + addresses in each host. Note that the name elements of domains + are the official names -- no use of nicknames or aliases is + allowed. + + Sometimes a host is not known to the translation function and + communication is blocked. To bypass this barrier two numeric + forms are also allowed for host "names". One form is a decimal + integer prefixed by a pound sign, "#", which indicates the + number is the address of the host. Another form is four small + decimal integers separated by dots and enclosed by brackets, + e.g., "[123.255.37.2]", which indicates a 32-bit ARPA Internet + Address in four 8-bit fields. + + + +Postel [Page 31] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + The time stamp line and the return path line are formally + defined as follows: + + <return-path-line> ::= "Return-Path:" <SP><reverse-path><CRLF> + + <time-stamp-line> ::= "Received:" <SP> <stamp> <CRLF> + + <stamp> ::= <from-domain> <by-domain> <opt-info> ";" + <daytime> + + <from-domain> ::= "FROM" <SP> <domain> <SP> + + <by-domain> ::= "BY" <SP> <domain> <SP> + + <opt-info> ::= [<via>] [<with>] [<id>] [<for>] + + <via> ::= "VIA" <SP> <link> <SP> + + <with> ::= "WITH" <SP> <protocol> <SP> + + <id> ::= "ID" <SP> <string> <SP> + + <for> ::= "FOR" <SP> <path> <SP> + + <link> ::= The standard names for links are registered with + the Network Information Center. + + <protocol> ::= The standard names for protocols are + registered with the Network Information Center. + + <daytime> ::= <SP> <date> <SP> <time> + + <date> ::= <dd> <SP> <mon> <SP> <yy> + + <time> ::= <hh> ":" <mm> ":" <ss> <SP> <zone> + + <dd> ::= the one or two decimal integer day of the month in + the range 1 to 31. + + <mon> ::= "JAN" | "FEB" | "MAR" | "APR" | "MAY" | "JUN" | + "JUL" | "AUG" | "SEP" | "OCT" | "NOV" | "DEC" + + <yy> ::= the two decimal integer year of the century in the + range 00 to 99. + + + + + +[Page 32] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + <hh> ::= the two decimal integer hour of the day in the + range 00 to 24. + + <mm> ::= the two decimal integer minute of the hour in the + range 00 to 59. + + <ss> ::= the two decimal integer second of the minute in the + range 00 to 59. + + <zone> ::= "UT" for Universal Time (the default) or other + time zone designator (as in [2]). + + + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Return Path Example + + Return-Path: <@CHARLIE.ARPA,@BAKER.ARPA:JOE@ABLE.ARPA> + + Example 9 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Time Stamp Line Example + + Received: FROM ABC.ARPA BY XYZ.ARPA ; 22 OCT 81 09:23:59 PDT + + Received: from ABC.ARPA by XYZ.ARPA via TELENET with X25 + id M12345 for Smith@PDQ.ARPA ; 22 OCT 81 09:23:59 PDT + + Example 10 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 33] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 4.2. SMTP REPLIES + + Replies to SMTP commands are devised to ensure the synchronization + of requests and actions in the process of mail transfer, and to + guarantee that the sender-SMTP always knows the state of the + receiver-SMTP. Every command must generate exactly one reply. + + The details of the command-reply sequence are made explicit in + Section 5.3 on Sequencing and Section 5.4 State Diagrams. + + An SMTP reply consists of a three digit number (transmitted as + three alphanumeric characters) followed by some text. The number + is intended for use by automata to determine what state to enter + next; the text is meant for the human user. It is intended that + the three digits contain enough encoded information that the + sender-SMTP need not examine the text and may either discard it or + pass it on to the user, as appropriate. In particular, the text + may be receiver-dependent and context dependent, so there are + likely to be varying texts for each reply code. A discussion of + the theory of reply codes is given in Appendix E. Formally, a + reply is defined to be the sequence: a three-digit code, <SP>, + one line of text, and <CRLF>, or a multiline reply (as defined in + Appendix E). Only the EXPN and HELP commands are expected to + result in multiline replies in normal circumstances, however + multiline replies are allowed for any command. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 34] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 4.2.1. REPLY CODES BY FUNCTION GROUPS + + 500 Syntax error, command unrecognized + [This may include errors such as command line too long] + 501 Syntax error in parameters or arguments + 502 Command not implemented + 503 Bad sequence of commands + 504 Command parameter not implemented + + 211 System status, or system help reply + 214 Help message + [Information on how to use the receiver or the meaning of a + particular non-standard command; this reply is useful only + to the human user] + + 220 <domain> Service ready + 221 <domain> Service closing transmission channel + 421 <domain> Service not available, + closing transmission channel + [This may be a reply to any command if the service knows it + must shut down] + + 250 Requested mail action okay, completed + 251 User not local; will forward to <forward-path> + 450 Requested mail action not taken: mailbox unavailable + [E.g., mailbox busy] + 550 Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable + [E.g., mailbox not found, no access] + 451 Requested action aborted: error in processing + 551 User not local; please try <forward-path> + 452 Requested action not taken: insufficient system storage + 552 Requested mail action aborted: exceeded storage allocation + 553 Requested action not taken: mailbox name not allowed + [E.g., mailbox syntax incorrect] + 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + 554 Transaction failed + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 35] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 4.2.2. NUMERIC ORDER LIST OF REPLY CODES + + 211 System status, or system help reply + 214 Help message + [Information on how to use the receiver or the meaning of a + particular non-standard command; this reply is useful only + to the human user] + 220 <domain> Service ready + 221 <domain> Service closing transmission channel + 250 Requested mail action okay, completed + 251 User not local; will forward to <forward-path> + + 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + + 421 <domain> Service not available, + closing transmission channel + [This may be a reply to any command if the service knows it + must shut down] + 450 Requested mail action not taken: mailbox unavailable + [E.g., mailbox busy] + 451 Requested action aborted: local error in processing + 452 Requested action not taken: insufficient system storage + + 500 Syntax error, command unrecognized + [This may include errors such as command line too long] + 501 Syntax error in parameters or arguments + 502 Command not implemented + 503 Bad sequence of commands + 504 Command parameter not implemented + 550 Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable + [E.g., mailbox not found, no access] + 551 User not local; please try <forward-path> + 552 Requested mail action aborted: exceeded storage allocation + 553 Requested action not taken: mailbox name not allowed + [E.g., mailbox syntax incorrect] + 554 Transaction failed + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 36] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 4.3. SEQUENCING OF COMMANDS AND REPLIES + + The communication between the sender and receiver is intended to + be an alternating dialogue, controlled by the sender. As such, + the sender issues a command and the receiver responds with a + reply. The sender must wait for this response before sending + further commands. + + One important reply is the connection greeting. Normally, a + receiver will send a 220 "Service ready" reply when the connection + is completed. The sender should wait for this greeting message + before sending any commands. + + Note: all the greeting type replies have the official name of + the server host as the first word following the reply code. + + For example, + + 220 <SP> USC-ISIF.ARPA <SP> Service ready <CRLF> + + The table below lists alternative success and failure replies for + each command. These must be strictly adhered to; a receiver may + substitute text in the replies, but the meaning and action implied + by the code numbers and by the specific command reply sequence + cannot be altered. + + COMMAND-REPLY SEQUENCES + + Each command is listed with its possible replies. The prefixes + used before the possible replies are "P" for preliminary (not + used in SMTP), "I" for intermediate, "S" for success, "F" for + failure, and "E" for error. The 421 reply (service not + available, closing transmission channel) may be given to any + command if the SMTP-receiver knows it must shut down. This + listing forms the basis for the State Diagrams in Section 4.4. + + CONNECTION ESTABLISHMENT + S: 220 + F: 421 + HELO + S: 250 + E: 500, 501, 504, 421 + MAIL + S: 250 + F: 552, 451, 452 + E: 500, 501, 421 + + + +Postel [Page 37] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + RCPT + S: 250, 251 + F: 550, 551, 552, 553, 450, 451, 452 + E: 500, 501, 503, 421 + DATA + I: 354 -> data -> S: 250 + F: 552, 554, 451, 452 + F: 451, 554 + E: 500, 501, 503, 421 + RSET + S: 250 + E: 500, 501, 504, 421 + SEND + S: 250 + F: 552, 451, 452 + E: 500, 501, 502, 421 + SOML + S: 250 + F: 552, 451, 452 + E: 500, 501, 502, 421 + SAML + S: 250 + F: 552, 451, 452 + E: 500, 501, 502, 421 + VRFY + S: 250, 251 + F: 550, 551, 553 + E: 500, 501, 502, 504, 421 + EXPN + S: 250 + F: 550 + E: 500, 501, 502, 504, 421 + HELP + S: 211, 214 + E: 500, 501, 502, 504, 421 + NOOP + S: 250 + E: 500, 421 + QUIT + S: 221 + E: 500 + TURN + S: 250 + F: 502 + E: 500, 503 + + + + +[Page 38] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 4.4. STATE DIAGRAMS + + Following are state diagrams for a simple-minded SMTP + implementation. Only the first digit of the reply codes is used. + There is one state diagram for each group of SMTP commands. The + command groupings were determined by constructing a model for each + command and then collecting together the commands with + structurally identical models. + + For each command there are three possible outcomes: "success" + (S), "failure" (F), and "error" (E). In the state diagrams below + we use the symbol B for "begin", and the symbol W for "wait for + reply". + + First, the diagram that represents most of the SMTP commands: + + + 1,3 +---+ + ----------->| E | + | +---+ + | + +---+ cmd +---+ 2 +---+ + | B |---------->| W |---------->| S | + +---+ +---+ +---+ + | + | 4,5 +---+ + ----------->| F | + +---+ + + + This diagram models the commands: + + HELO, MAIL, RCPT, RSET, SEND, SOML, SAML, VRFY, EXPN, HELP, + NOOP, QUIT, TURN. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 39] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + A more complex diagram models the DATA command: + + + +---+ DATA +---+ 1,2 +---+ + | B |---------->| W |-------------------->| E | + +---+ +---+ ------------>+---+ + 3| |4,5 | + | | | + -------------- ----- | + | | | +---+ + | ---------- -------->| S | + | | | | +---+ + | | ------------ + | | | | + V 1,3| |2 | + +---+ data +---+ --------------->+---+ + | |---------->| W | | F | + +---+ +---+-------------------->+---+ + 4,5 + + + Note that the "data" here is a series of lines sent from the + sender to the receiver with no response expected until the last + line is sent. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 40] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + 4.5. DETAILS + + 4.5.1. MINIMUM IMPLEMENTATION + + In order to make SMTP workable, the following minimum + implementation is required for all receivers: + + COMMANDS -- HELO + MAIL + RCPT + DATA + RSET + NOOP + QUIT + + 4.5.2. TRANSPARENCY + + Without some provision for data transparency the character + sequence "<CRLF>.<CRLF>" ends the mail text and cannot be sent + by the user. In general, users are not aware of such + "forbidden" sequences. To allow all user composed text to be + transmitted transparently the following procedures are used. + + 1. Before sending a line of mail text the sender-SMTP checks + the first character of the line. If it is a period, one + additional period is inserted at the beginning of the line. + + 2. When a line of mail text is received by the receiver-SMTP + it checks the line. If the line is composed of a single + period it is the end of mail. If the first character is a + period and there are other characters on the line, the first + character is deleted. + + The mail data may contain any of the 128 ASCII characters. All + characters are to be delivered to the recipient's mailbox + including format effectors and other control characters. If + the transmission channel provides an 8-bit byte (octets) data + stream, the 7-bit ASCII codes are transmitted right justified + in the octets with the high order bits cleared to zero. + + In some systems it may be necessary to transform the data as + it is received and stored. This may be necessary for hosts + that use a different character set than ASCII as their local + character set, or that store data in records rather than + + + + + +Postel [Page 41] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + strings. If such transforms are necessary, they must be + reversible -- especially if such transforms are applied to + mail being relayed. + + 4.5.3. SIZES + + There are several objects that have required minimum maximum + sizes. That is, every implementation must be able to receive + objects of at least these sizes, but must not send objects + larger than these sizes. + + + **************************************************** + * * + * TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE, IMPLEMENTATION * + * TECHNIQUES WHICH IMPOSE NO LIMITS ON THE LENGTH * + * OF THESE OBJECTS SHOULD BE USED. * + * * + **************************************************** + + user + + The maximum total length of a user name is 64 characters. + + domain + + The maximum total length of a domain name or number is 64 + characters. + + path + + The maximum total length of a reverse-path or + forward-path is 256 characters (including the punctuation + and element separators). + + command line + + The maximum total length of a command line including the + command word and the <CRLF> is 512 characters. + + reply line + + The maximum total length of a reply line including the + reply code and the <CRLF> is 512 characters. + + + + + +[Page 42] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + text line + + The maximum total length of a text line including the + <CRLF> is 1000 characters (but not counting the leading + dot duplicated for transparency). + + recipients buffer + + The maximum total number of recipients that must be + buffered is 100 recipients. + + + **************************************************** + * * + * TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE, IMPLEMENTATION * + * TECHNIQUES WHICH IMPOSE NO LIMITS ON THE LENGTH * + * OF THESE OBJECTS SHOULD BE USED. * + * * + **************************************************** + + Errors due to exceeding these limits may be reported by using + the reply codes, for example: + + 500 Line too long. + + 501 Path too long + + 552 Too many recipients. + + 552 Too much mail data. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 43] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + +APPENDIX A + + TCP Transport service + + The Transmission Control Protocol [3] is used in the ARPA + Internet, and in any network following the US DoD standards for + internetwork protocols. + + Connection Establishment + + The SMTP transmission channel is a TCP connection established + between the sender process port U and the receiver process port + L. This single full duplex connection is used as the + transmission channel. This protocol is assigned the service + port 25 (31 octal), that is L=25. + + Data Transfer + + The TCP connection supports the transmission of 8-bit bytes. + The SMTP data is 7-bit ASCII characters. Each character is + transmitted as an 8-bit byte with the high-order bit cleared to + zero. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 44] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + +APPENDIX B + + NCP Transport service + + The ARPANET Host-to-Host Protocol [4] (implemented by the Network + Control Program) may be used in the ARPANET. + + Connection Establishment + + The SMTP transmission channel is established via NCP between + the sender process socket U and receiver process socket L. The + Initial Connection Protocol [5] is followed resulting in a pair + of simplex connections. This pair of connections is used as + the transmission channel. This protocol is assigned the + contact socket 25 (31 octal), that is L=25. + + Data Transfer + + The NCP data connections are established in 8-bit byte mode. + The SMTP data is 7-bit ASCII characters. Each character is + transmitted as an 8-bit byte with the high-order bit cleared to + zero. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 45] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + +APPENDIX C + + NITS + + The Network Independent Transport Service [6] may be used. + + Connection Establishment + + The SMTP transmission channel is established via NITS between + the sender process and receiver process. The sender process + executes the CONNECT primitive, and the waiting receiver + process executes the ACCEPT primitive. + + Data Transfer + + The NITS connection supports the transmission of 8-bit bytes. + The SMTP data is 7-bit ASCII characters. Each character is + transmitted as an 8-bit byte with the high-order bit cleared to + zero. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 46] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + +APPENDIX D + + X.25 Transport service + + It may be possible to use the X.25 service [7] as provided by the + Public Data Networks directly, however, it is suggested that a + reliable end-to-end protocol such as TCP be used on top of X.25 + connections. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 47] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + +APPENDIX E + + Theory of Reply Codes + + The three digits of the reply each have a special significance. + The first digit denotes whether the response is good, bad or + incomplete. An unsophisticated sender-SMTP will be able to + determine its next action (proceed as planned, redo, retrench, + etc.) by simply examining this first digit. A sender-SMTP that + wants to know approximately what kind of error occurred (e.g., + mail system error, command syntax error) may examine the second + digit, reserving the third digit for the finest gradation of + information. + + There are five values for the first digit of the reply code: + + 1yz Positive Preliminary reply + + The command has been accepted, but the requested action + is being held in abeyance, pending confirmation of the + information in this reply. The sender-SMTP should send + another command specifying whether to continue or abort + the action. + + [Note: SMTP does not have any commands that allow this + type of reply, and so does not have the continue or + abort commands.] + + 2yz Positive Completion reply + + The requested action has been successfully completed. A + new request may be initiated. + + 3yz Positive Intermediate reply + + The command has been accepted, but the requested action + is being held in abeyance, pending receipt of further + information. The sender-SMTP should send another command + specifying this information. This reply is used in + command sequence groups. + + 4yz Transient Negative Completion reply + + The command was not accepted and the requested action did + not occur. However, the error condition is temporary and + the action may be requested again. The sender should + + + +[Page 48] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + return to the beginning of the command sequence (if any). + It is difficult to assign a meaning to "transient" when + two different sites (receiver- and sender- SMTPs) must + agree on the interpretation. Each reply in this category + might have a different time value, but the sender-SMTP is + encouraged to try again. A rule of thumb to determine if + a reply fits into the 4yz or the 5yz category (see below) + is that replies are 4yz if they can be repeated without + any change in command form or in properties of the sender + or receiver. (E.g., the command is repeated identically + and the receiver does not put up a new implementation.) + + 5yz Permanent Negative Completion reply + + The command was not accepted and the requested action did + not occur. The sender-SMTP is discouraged from repeating + the exact request (in the same sequence). Even some + "permanent" error conditions can be corrected, so the + human user may want to direct the sender-SMTP to + reinitiate the command sequence by direct action at some + point in the future (e.g., after the spelling has been + changed, or the user has altered the account status). + + The second digit encodes responses in specific categories: + + x0z Syntax -- These replies refer to syntax errors, + syntactically correct commands that don't fit any + functional category, and unimplemented or superfluous + commands. + + x1z Information -- These are replies to requests for + information, such as status or help. + + x2z Connections -- These are replies referring to the + transmission channel. + + x3z Unspecified as yet. + + x4z Unspecified as yet. + + x5z Mail system -- These replies indicate the status of + the receiver mail system vis-a-vis the requested + transfer or other mail system action. + + The third digit gives a finer gradation of meaning in each + category specified by the second digit. The list of replies + + + +Postel [Page 49] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + illustrates this. Each reply text is recommended rather than + mandatory, and may even change according to the command with + which it is associated. On the other hand, the reply codes + must strictly follow the specifications in this section. + Receiver implementations should not invent new codes for + slightly different situations from the ones described here, but + rather adapt codes already defined. + + For example, a command such as NOOP whose successful execution + does not offer the sender-SMTP any new information will return + a 250 reply. The response is 502 when the command requests an + unimplemented non-site-specific action. A refinement of that + is the 504 reply for a command that is implemented, but that + requests an unimplemented parameter. + + The reply text may be longer than a single line; in these cases + the complete text must be marked so the sender-SMTP knows when it + can stop reading the reply. This requires a special format to + indicate a multiple line reply. + + The format for multiline replies requires that every line, + except the last, begin with the reply code, followed + immediately by a hyphen, "-" (also known as minus), followed by + text. The last line will begin with the reply code, followed + immediately by <SP>, optionally some text, and <CRLF>. + + For example: + 123-First line + 123-Second line + 123-234 text beginning with numbers + 123 The last line + + In many cases the sender-SMTP then simply needs to search for + the reply code followed by <SP> at the beginning of a line, and + ignore all preceding lines. In a few cases, there is important + data for the sender in the reply "text". The sender will know + these cases from the current context. + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 50] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + +APPENDIX F + + Scenarios + + This section presents complete scenarios of several types of SMTP + sessions. + + A Typical SMTP Transaction Scenario + + This SMTP example shows mail sent by Smith at host USC-ISIF, to + Jones, Green, and Brown at host BBN-UNIX. Here we assume that + host USC-ISIF contacts host BBN-UNIX directly. The mail is + accepted for Jones and Brown. Green does not have a mailbox at + host BBN-UNIX. + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + R: 220 BBN-UNIX.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO USC-ISIF.ARPA + R: 250 BBN-UNIX.ARPA + + S: MAIL FROM:<Smith@USC-ISIF.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Jones@BBN-UNIX.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Green@BBN-UNIX.ARPA> + R: 550 No such user here + + S: RCPT TO:<Brown@BBN-UNIX.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Blah blah blah... + S: ...etc. etc. etc. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 BBN-UNIX.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Scenario 1 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + +Postel [Page 51] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Aborted SMTP Transaction Scenario + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + R: 220 MIT-Multics.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO ISI-VAXA.ARPA + R: 250 MIT-Multics.ARPA + + S: MAIL FROM:<Smith@ISI-VAXA.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Jones@MIT-Multics.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Green@MIT-Multics.ARPA> + R: 550 No such user here + + S: RSET + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 MIT-Multics.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Scenario 2 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 52] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Relayed Mail Scenario + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Step 1 -- Source Host to Relay Host + + R: 220 USC-ISIE.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO MIT-AI.ARPA + R: 250 USC-ISIE.ARPA + + S: MAIL FROM:<JQP@MIT-AI.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<@USC-ISIE.ARPA:Jones@BBN-VAX.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Date: 2 Nov 81 22:33:44 + S: From: John Q. Public <JQP@MIT-AI.ARPA> + S: Subject: The Next Meeting of the Board + S: To: Jones@BBN-Vax.ARPA + S: + S: Bill: + S: The next meeting of the board of directors will be + S: on Tuesday. + S: John. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 USC-ISIE.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 53] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Step 2 -- Relay Host to Destination Host + + R: 220 BBN-VAX.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO USC-ISIE.ARPA + R: 250 BBN-VAX.ARPA + + S: MAIL FROM:<@USC-ISIE.ARPA:JQP@MIT-AI.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Jones@BBN-VAX.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Received: from MIT-AI.ARPA by USC-ISIE.ARPA ; + 2 Nov 81 22:40:10 UT + S: Date: 2 Nov 81 22:33:44 + S: From: John Q. Public <JQP@MIT-AI.ARPA> + S: Subject: The Next Meeting of the Board + S: To: Jones@BBN-Vax.ARPA + S: + S: Bill: + S: The next meeting of the board of directors will be + S: on Tuesday. + S: John. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 USC-ISIE.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Scenario 3 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 54] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Verifying and Sending Scenario + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + R: 220 SU-SCORE.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO MIT-MC.ARPA + R: 250 SU-SCORE.ARPA + + S: VRFY Crispin + R: 250 Mark Crispin <Admin.MRC@SU-SCORE.ARPA> + + S: SEND FROM:<EAK@MIT-MC.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Admin.MRC@SU-SCORE.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Blah blah blah... + S: ...etc. etc. etc. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 SU-SCORE.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Scenario 4 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 55] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Sending and Mailing Scenarios + + First the user's name is verified, then an attempt is made to + send to the user's terminal. When that fails, the messages is + mailed to the user's mailbox. + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + R: 220 SU-SCORE.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO MIT-MC.ARPA + R: 250 SU-SCORE.ARPA + + S: VRFY Crispin + R: 250 Mark Crispin <Admin.MRC@SU-SCORE.ARPA> + + S: SEND FROM:<EAK@MIT-MC.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Admin.MRC@SU-SCORE.ARPA> + R: 450 User not active now + + S: RSET + R: 250 OK + + S: MAIL FROM:<EAK@MIT-MC.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Admin.MRC@SU-SCORE.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Blah blah blah... + S: ...etc. etc. etc. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 SU-SCORE.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Scenario 5 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + +[Page 56] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Doing the preceding scenario more efficiently. + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + R: 220 SU-SCORE.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO MIT-MC.ARPA + R: 250 SU-SCORE.ARPA + + S: VRFY Crispin + R: 250 Mark Crispin <Admin.MRC@SU-SCORE.ARPA> + + S: SOML FROM:<EAK@MIT-MC.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Admin.MRC@SU-SCORE.ARPA> + R: 250 User not active now, so will do mail. + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Blah blah blah... + S: ...etc. etc. etc. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 SU-SCORE.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Scenario 6 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 57] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Mailing List Scenario + + First each of two mailing lists are expanded in separate sessions + with different hosts. Then the message is sent to everyone that + appeared on either list (but no duplicates) via a relay host. + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Step 1 -- Expanding the First List + + R: 220 MIT-AI.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO SU-SCORE.ARPA + R: 250 MIT-AI.ARPA + + S: EXPN Example-People + R: 250-<ABC@MIT-MC.ARPA> + R: 250-Fred Fonebone <Fonebone@USC-ISIQ.ARPA> + R: 250-Xenon Y. Zither <XYZ@MIT-AI.ARPA> + R: 250-Quincy Smith <@USC-ISIF.ARPA:Q-Smith@ISI-VAXA.ARPA> + R: 250-<joe@foo-unix.ARPA> + R: 250 <xyz@bar-unix.ARPA> + + S: QUIT + R: 221 MIT-AI.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 58] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Step 2 -- Expanding the Second List + + R: 220 MIT-MC.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO SU-SCORE.ARPA + R: 250 MIT-MC.ARPA + + S: EXPN Interested-Parties + R: 250-Al Calico <ABC@MIT-MC.ARPA> + R: 250-<XYZ@MIT-AI.ARPA> + R: 250-Quincy Smith <@USC-ISIF.ARPA:Q-Smith@ISI-VAXA.ARPA> + R: 250-<fred@BBN-UNIX.ARPA> + R: 250 <xyz@bar-unix.ARPA> + + S: QUIT + R: 221 MIT-MC.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 59] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Step 3 -- Mailing to All via a Relay Host + + R: 220 USC-ISIE.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO SU-SCORE.ARPA + R: 250 USC-ISIE.ARPA + + S: MAIL FROM:<Account.Person@SU-SCORE.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + S: RCPT TO:<@USC-ISIE.ARPA:ABC@MIT-MC.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + S: RCPT TO:<@USC-ISIE.ARPA:Fonebone@USC-ISIQA.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + S: RCPT TO:<@USC-ISIE.ARPA:XYZ@MIT-AI.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + S: RCPT + TO:<@USC-ISIE.ARPA,@USC-ISIF.ARPA:Q-Smith@ISI-VAXA.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + S: RCPT TO:<@USC-ISIE.ARPA:joe@FOO-UNIX.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + S: RCPT TO:<@USC-ISIE.ARPA:xyz@BAR-UNIX.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + S: RCPT TO:<@USC-ISIE.ARPA:fred@BBN-UNIX.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Blah blah blah... + S: ...etc. etc. etc. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 USC-ISIE.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Scenario 7 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 60] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Forwarding Scenarios + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + R: 220 USC-ISIF.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO LBL-UNIX.ARPA + R: 250 USC-ISIF.ARPA + + S: MAIL FROM:<mo@LBL-UNIX.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<fred@USC-ISIF.ARPA> + R: 251 User not local; will forward to <Jones@USC-ISI.ARPA> + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Blah blah blah... + S: ...etc. etc. etc. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 USC-ISIF.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Scenario 8 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Postel [Page 61] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Step 1 -- Trying the Mailbox at the First Host + + R: 220 USC-ISIF.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO LBL-UNIX.ARPA + R: 250 USC-ISIF.ARPA + + S: MAIL FROM:<mo@LBL-UNIX.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<fred@USC-ISIF.ARPA> + R: 251 User not local; will forward to <Jones@USC-ISI.ARPA> + + S: RSET + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 USC-ISIF.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Step 2 -- Delivering the Mail at the Second Host + + R: 220 USC-ISI.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO LBL-UNIX.ARPA + R: 250 USC-ISI.ARPA + + S: MAIL FROM:<mo@LBL-UNIX.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<Jones@USC-ISI.ARPA> + R: OK + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Blah blah blah... + S: ...etc. etc. etc. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 USC-ISI.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Scenario 9 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +[Page 62] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + Too Many Recipients Scenario + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + R: 220 BERKELEY.ARPA Simple Mail Transfer Service Ready + S: HELO USC-ISIF.ARPA + R: 250 BERKELEY.ARPA + + S: MAIL FROM:<Postel@USC-ISIF.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<fabry@BERKELEY.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<eric@BERKELEY.ARPA> + R: 552 Recipient storage full, try again in another transaction + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Blah blah blah... + S: ...etc. etc. etc. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: MAIL FROM:<Postel@USC-ISIF.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: RCPT TO:<eric@BERKELEY.ARPA> + R: 250 OK + + S: DATA + R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF> + S: Blah blah blah... + S: ...etc. etc. etc. + S: . + R: 250 OK + + S: QUIT + R: 221 BERKELEY.ARPA Service closing transmission channel + + Scenario 10 + + ------------------------------------------------------------- + + Note that a real implementation must handle many recipients as + specified in Section 4.5.3. + + + +Postel [Page 63] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + +GLOSSARY + + ASCII + + American Standard Code for Information Interchange [1]. + + command + + A request for a mail service action sent by the sender-SMTP to the + receiver-SMTP. + + domain + + The hierarchially structured global character string address of a + host computer in the mail system. + + end of mail data indication + + A special sequence of characters that indicates the end of the + mail data. In particular, the five characters carriage return, + line feed, period, carriage return, line feed, in that order. + + host + + A computer in the internetwork environment on which mailboxes or + SMTP processes reside. + + line + + A a sequence of ASCII characters ending with a <CRLF>. + + mail data + + A sequence of ASCII characters of arbitrary length, which conforms + to the standard set in the Standard for the Format of ARPA + Internet Text Messages (RFC 822 [2]). + + mailbox + + A character string (address) which identifies a user to whom mail + is to be sent. Mailbox normally consists of the host and user + specifications. The standard mailbox naming convention is defined + to be "user@domain". Additionally, the "container" in which mail + is stored. + + + + + +[Page 64] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + receiver-SMTP process + + A process which transfers mail in cooperation with a sender-SMTP + process. It waits for a connection to be established via the + transport service. It receives SMTP commands from the + sender-SMTP, sends replies, and performs the specified operations. + + reply + + A reply is an acknowledgment (positive or negative) sent from + receiver to sender via the transmission channel in response to a + command. The general form of a reply is a completion code + (including error codes) followed by a text string. The codes are + for use by programs and the text is usually intended for human + users. + + sender-SMTP process + + A process which transfers mail in cooperation with a receiver-SMTP + process. A local language may be used in the user interface + command/reply dialogue. The sender-SMTP initiates the transport + service connection. It initiates SMTP commands, receives replies, + and governs the transfer of mail. + + session + + The set of exchanges that occur while the transmission channel is + open. + + transaction + + The set of exchanges required for one message to be transmitted + for one or more recipients. + + transmission channel + + A full-duplex communication path between a sender-SMTP and a + receiver-SMTP for the exchange of commands, replies, and mail + text. + + transport service + + Any reliable stream-oriented data communication services. For + example, NCP, TCP, NITS. + + + + + +Postel [Page 65] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + user + + A human being (or a process on behalf of a human being) wishing to + obtain mail transfer service. In addition, a recipient of + computer mail. + + word + + A sequence of printing characters. + + <CRLF> + + The characters carriage return and line feed (in that order). + + <SP> + + The space character. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 66] Postel + + + +RFC 821 August 1982 + Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + +REFERENCES + + [1] ASCII + + ASCII, "USA Code for Information Interchange", United States of + America Standards Institute, X3.4, 1968. Also in: Feinler, E. + and J. Postel, eds., "ARPANET Protocol Handbook", NIC 7104, for + the Defense Communications Agency by SRI International, Menlo + Park, California, Revised January 1978. + + [2] RFC 822 + + Crocker, D., "Standard for the Format of ARPA Internet Text + Messages," RFC 822, Department of Electrical Engineering, + University of Delaware, August 1982. + + [3] TCP + + Postel, J., ed., "Transmission Control Protocol - DARPA Internet + Program Protocol Specification", RFC 793, USC/Information Sciences + Institute, NTIS AD Number A111091, September 1981. Also in: + Feinler, E. and J. Postel, eds., "Internet Protocol Transition + Workbook", SRI International, Menlo Park, California, March 1982. + + [4] NCP + + McKenzie,A., "Host/Host Protocol for the ARPA Network", NIC 8246, + January 1972. Also in: Feinler, E. and J. Postel, eds., "ARPANET + Protocol Handbook", NIC 7104, for the Defense Communications + Agency by SRI International, Menlo Park, California, Revised + January 1978. + + [5] Initial Connection Protocol + + Postel, J., "Official Initial Connection Protocol", NIC 7101, + 11 June 1971. Also in: Feinler, E. and J. Postel, eds., "ARPANET + Protocol Handbook", NIC 7104, for the Defense Communications + Agency by SRI International, Menlo Park, California, Revised + January 1978. + + [6] NITS + + PSS/SG3, "A Network Independent Transport Service", Study Group 3, + The Post Office PSS Users Group, February 1980. Available from + the DCPU, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK. + + + + +Postel [Page 67] + + + +August 1982 RFC 821 +Simple Mail Transfer Protocol + + + + [7] X.25 + + CCITT, "Recommendation X.25 - Interface Between Data Terminal + Equipment (DTE) and Data Circuit-terminating Equipment (DCE) for + Terminals Operating in the Packet Mode on Public Data Networks," + CCITT Orange Book, Vol. VIII.2, International Telephone and + Telegraph Consultative Committee, Geneva, 1976. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +[Page 68] Postel + |