Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
<messaging> (SMTP) A protocol defined in STD 10, RFC 821, used to
transfer electronic mail between computers, usually over Ethernet. It is a
server to server protocol, so other protocols are used to access the messages.
The SMTP dialog usually happens in the background under the control of the
message transfer agent, e.g. sendmail but it is possible to interact with an
SMTP server using telnet to connect to the normal SMTP port, 25. E.g.
telnet mhs-relay.ac.uk 25
You should normally start by identifying the local host:
HELO wombat.doc.ic.ac.uk
You can then issue commands to verify an address or expand an alias:
VRFY fred@doc.ic.ac.uk
VRFY postmaster
or expand a mailing list:
EXPN c-help
You can even send a message:
MAIL From:<fred@doc.ic.ac.uk>
RCPT To:<fred@mailway.doc.ic.ac.uk>
DATA
What is the point?
.
QUIT
This is useful if you want to find out exactly what is happening to your
message at a certain point.
See also Post Office Protocol, RFC 822, sendmail.
(1995-10-17)
Nearby terms:
SIMPLE « Simple Authentication and Security Layer «
Simple Gateway Control Protocol « Simple Mail
Transfer Protocol
» simple multicast protocol » Simple Network
Management Protocol » Simple Network Management
Protocol version 2
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