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[Note that this file is a concatenation of more than one RFC.]

   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.

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

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).

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.

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.

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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.

August 1982                                                      RFC 821
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol                                           

      The same reply codes that are used for the MAIL commands are used
      for these commands.

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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

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.

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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

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

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.

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.

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".

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.

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>

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>

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.

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.

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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

      -------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Network Working Group                                    Craig Partridge
Request for Comments: 974                 CSNET CIC BBN Laboratories Inc
                                                            January 1986

                   MAIL ROUTING AND THE DOMAIN SYSTEM

Status of this Memo

   This RFC presents a description of how mail systems on the Internet
   are expected to route messages based on information from the domain
   system described in RFCs 882, 883 and 973.  Distribution of this memo
   is unlimited.

Introduction

   The purpose of this memo is to explain how mailers are to decide how
   to route a message addressed to a given Internet domain name.  This
   involves a discussion of how mailers interpret MX RRs, which are used
   for message routing.  Note that this memo makes no statement about
   how mailers are to deal with MB and MG RRs, which are used for
   interpreting mailbox names.

   Under RFC-882 and RFC-883 certain assumptions about mail addresses
   have been changed.  Up to now, one could usually assume that if a
   message was addressed to a mailbox, for example, at LOKI.BBN.COM,
   that one could just open an SMTP connection to LOKI.BBN.COM and pass
   the message along.  This system broke down in certain situations,
   such as for certain UUCP and CSNET hosts which were not directly
   attached to the Internet, but these hosts could be handled as special
   cases in configuration files (for example, most mailers were set up
   to automatically forward mail addressed to a CSNET host to
   CSNET-RELAY.ARPA).

   Under domains, one cannot simply open a connection to LOKI.BBN.COM,
   but must instead ask the domain system where messages to LOKI.BBN.COM
   are to be delivered. And the domain system may direct a mailer to
   deliver messages to an entirely different host, such as SH.CS.NET.
   Or, in a more complicated case, the mailer may learn that it has a
   choice of routes to LOKI.BBN.COM.  This memo is essentially a set of
   guidelines on how mailers should behave in this more complex world.

   Readers are expected to be familiar with RFCs 882, 883, and the
   updates to them (e.g., RFC-973).

RFC 974                                                     January 1986
Mail Routing and the Domain System

What the Domain Servers Know

   The domain servers store information as a series of resource records
   (RRs), each of which contains a particular piece of information about
   a given domain name (which is usually, but not always, a host).  The
   simplest way to think of a RR is as a typed pair of datum, a domain
   name matched with relevant data, and stored with some additional type
   information to help systems determine when the RR is relevant.  For
   the purposes of message routing, the system stores RRs known as MX
   RRs. Each MX matches a domain name with two pieces of data, a
   preference value (an unsigned 16-bit integer), and the name of a
   host.  The preference number is used to indicate in what order the
   mailer should attempt deliver to the MX hosts, with the lowest
   numbered MX being the one to try first.  Multiple MXs with the same
   preference are permitted and have the same priority.

   In addition to mail information, the servers store certain other
   types of RR's which mailers may encounter or choose to use.  These
   are: the canonical name (CNAME) RR, which simply states that the
   domain name queried for is actually an alias for another domain name,
   which is the proper, or canonical, name; and the Well Known Service
   (WKS) RR, which stores information about network services (such as
   SMTP) a given domain name supports.

General Routing Guidelines

   Before delving into a detailed discussion of how mailers are expected
   to do mail routing, it would seem to make sense to give a brief
   overview of how this memo is approaching the problems that routing
   poses.

   The first major principle is derived from the definition of the
   preference field in MX records, and is intended to prevent mail
   looping.  If the mailer is on a host which is listed as an MX for the
   destination host, the mailer may only deliver to an MX which has a
   lower preference count than its own host.

   It is also possible to cause mail looping because routing information
   is out of date or incomplete.  Out of date information is only a
   problem when domain tables are changed.  The changes will not be
   known to all affected hosts until their resolver caches time out.
   There is no way to ensure that this will not happen short of
   requiring mailers and their resolvers to always send their queries to
   an authoritative server, and never use data stored in a cache.  This
   is an impractical solution, since eliminating resolver caching would
   make mailing inordinately expensive.  What is more, the out-of-date
   RR problem should not happen if, when a domain table is changed,

RFC 974                                                     January 1986
Mail Routing and the Domain System

   affected hosts (those in the list of MXs) have their resolver caches
   flushed. In other words, given proper precautions, mail looping as a
   result of domain information should be avoidable, without requiring
   mailers to query authoritative servers.  (The appropriate precaution
   is to check with a host's administrator before adding that host to a
   list of MXs).

   The incomplete data problem also requires some care when handling
   domain queries.  If the answer section of a query is incomplete
   critical MX RRs may be left out.  This may result in mail looping, or
   in a message being mistakenly labelled undeliverable.  As a result,
   mailers may only accept responses from the domain system which have
   complete answer sections.  Note that this entire problem can be
   avoided by only using virtual circuits for queries, but since this
   situation is likely to be very rare and datagrams are the preferred
   way to interact with the domain system, implementors should probably
   just ensure that their mailer will repeat a query with virtual
   circuits should the truncation bit ever be set.

Determining Where to Send a Message

   The explanation of how mailers should decide how to route a message
   is discussed in terms of the problem of a mailer on a host with
   domain name LOCAL trying to deliver a message addressed to the domain
   name REMOTE. Both LOCAL and REMOTE are assumed to be syntactically
   correct domain names.  Furthermore, LOCAL is assumed to be the
   official name for the host on which the mailer resides (i.e., it is
   not a alias).

Issuing a Query

   The first step for the mailer at LOCAL is to issue a query for MX RRs
   for REMOTE.  It is strongly urged that this step be taken every time
   a mailer attempts to send the message.  The hope is that changes in
   the domain database will rapidly be used by mailers, and thus domain
   administrators will be able to re-route in-transit messages for
   defective hosts by simply changing their domain databases.

   Certain responses to the query are considered errors:

      Getting no response to the query.  The domain server the mailer
      queried never sends anything back.  (This is distinct from an
      answer which contains no answers to the query, which is not an
      error).

      Getting a response in which the truncation field of the header is

RFC 974                                                     January 1986
Mail Routing and the Domain System

      set.  (Recall discussion of incomplete queries above).  Mailers
      may not use responses of this type, and should repeat the query
      using virtual circuits instead of datagrams.

      Getting a response in which the response code is non-zero.

   Mailers are expected to do something reasonable in the face of an
   error.  The behaviour for each type of error is not specified here,
   but implementors should note that different types of errors should
   probably be treated differently.  For example, a response code of
   "non-existent domain" should probably cause the message to be
   returned to the sender as invalid, while a response code of "server
   failure" should probably cause the message to be retried later.

   There is one other special case.  If the response contains an answer
   which is a CNAME RR, it indicates that REMOTE is actually an alias
   for some other domain name. The query should be repeated with the
   canonical domain name.

   If the response does not contain an error response, and does not
   contain aliases, its answer section should be a (possibly zero
   length) list of MX RRs for domain name REMOTE (or REMOTE's true
   domain name if REMOTE was a alias).  The next section describes how
   this list is interpreted.

Interpreting the List of MX RRs

   NOTE: This section only discusses how mailers choose which names to
   try to deliver a message to, working from a list of RR's.  It does
   not discuss how the mailers actually make delivery.  Where ever
   delivering a message is mentioned, all that is meant is that the
   mailer should do whatever it needs to do to transfer a message to a
   remote site, given a domain name for that site.  (For example, an
   SMTP mailer will try to get an address for the domain name, which
   involves another query to the domain system, and then, if it gets an
   address, connect to the SMTP TCP port).  The mechanics of actually
   transferring the message over the network to the address associated
   with a given domain name is not within the scope of this memo.

   It is possible that the list of MXs in the response to the query will
   be empty.  This is a special case.  If the list is empty, mailers
   should treat it as if it contained one RR, an MX RR with a preference
   value of 0, and a host name of REMOTE.  (I.e., REMOTE is its only
   MX).  In addition, the mailer should do no further processing on the
   list, but should attempt to deliver the message to REMOTE.  The idea

RFC 974                                                     January 1986
Mail Routing and the Domain System

   here is that if a domain fails to advertise any information about a
   particular name we will give it the benefit of the doubt and attempt
   delivery.

   If the list is not empty, the mailer should remove irrelevant RR's
   from the list according to the following steps.  Note that the order
   is significant.

      For each MX, a WKS query should be issued to see if the domain
      name listed actually supports the mail service desired.  MX RRs
      which list domain names which do not support the service should be
      discarded.  This step is optional, but strongly encouraged.

      If the domain name LOCAL is listed as an MX RR, all MX RRs with a
      preference value greater than or equal to that of LOCAL's must be
      discarded.

   After removing irrelevant RRs, the list can again be empty.  This is
   now an error condition and can occur in several ways.  The simplest
   case is that the WKS queries have discovered that none of the hosts
   listed supports the mail service desired.  The message is thus deemed
   undeliverable, though extremely persistent mail systems might want to
   try a delivery to REMOTE's address (if it exists) before returning
   the message. Another, more dangerous, possibility is that the domain
   system believes that LOCAL is handling message for REMOTE, but the
   mailer on LOCAL is not set up to handle mail for REMOTE.  For
   example, if the domain system lists LOCAL as the only MX for REMOTE,
   LOCAL will delete all the entries in the list.  But LOCAL is
   presumably querying the domain system because it didn't know what to
   do with a message addressed to REMOTE. Clearly something is wrong.
   How a mailer chooses to handle these situations is to some extent
   implementation dependent, and is thus left to the implementor's
   discretion.

   If the list of MX RRs is not empty, the mailer should try to deliver
   the message to the MXs in order (lowest preference value tried
   first).  The mailer is required to attempt delivery to the lowest
   valued MX.  Implementors are encouraged to write mailers so that they
   try the MXs in order until one of the MXs accepts the message, or all
   the MXs have been tried.  A somewhat less demanding system, in which
   a fixed number of MXs is tried, is also reasonable.  Note that
   multiple MXs may have the same preference value.  In this case, all
   MXs at with a given value must be tried before any of a higher value
   are tried.  In addition, in the special case in which there are
   several MXs with the lowest preference value,  all of them should be
   tried before a message is deemed undeliverable.

RFC 974                                                     January 1986
Mail Routing and the Domain System

Minor Special Issues

   There are a couple of special issues left out of the preceding
   section because they complicated the discussion.  They are treated
   here in no particular order.

   Wildcard names, those containing the character '*' in them, may be
   used for mail routing.  There are likely to be servers on the network
   which simply state that any mail to a domain is to be routed through
   a relay. For example, at the time that this RFC is being written, all
   mail to hosts in the domain IL is routed through RELAY.CS.NET.  This
   is done by creating a wildcard RR, which states that *.IL has an MX
   of RELAY.CS.NET.  This should be transparent to the mailer since the
   domain servers will hide this wildcard match. (If it matches *.IL
   with HUJI.IL for example, a domain server will return an RR
   containing HUJI.IL, not *.IL). If by some accident a mailer receives
   an RR with a wildcard domain name in its name or data section it
   should discard the RR.

   Note that the algorithm to delete irrelevant RRs breaks if LOCAL has
   a alias and the alias is listed in the MX records for REMOTE.  (E.g.
   REMOTE has an MX of ALIAS, where ALIAS has a CNAME of LOCAL).  This
   can be avoided if aliases are never used in the data section of MX
   RRs.

   Implementors should understand that the query and interpretation of
   the query is only performed for REMOTE.  It is not repeated for the
   MX RRs listed for REMOTE.  You cannot try to support more extravagant
   mail routing by building a chain of MXs.  (E.g. UNIX.BBN.COM is an MX
   for RELAY.CS.NET and RELAY.CS.NET is an MX for all the hosts in .IL,
   but this does not mean that UNIX.BBN.COM accepts any responsibility
   for mail for .IL).

   Finally, it should be noted that this is a standard for routing on
   the Internet.  Mailers serving hosts which lie on multiple networks
   will presumably have to make some decisions about which network to
   route through. This decision making is outside the scope of this
   memo, although mailers may well use the domain system to help them
   decide.  However, once a mailer decides to deliver a message via the
   Internet it must apply these rules to route the message.

RFC 974                                                     January 1986
Mail Routing and the Domain System

Examples

   To illustrate the discussion above, here are three examples of how
   mailers should route messages.  All examples work with the following
   database:

      A.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    MX    10    A.EXAMPLE.ORG
      A.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    MX    15    B.EXAMPLE.ORG
      A.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    MX    20    C.EXAMPLE.ORG
      A.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    WKS   10.0.0.1    TCP    SMTP

      B.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    MX    0      B.EXAMPLE.ORG
      B.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    MX    10     C.EXAMPLE.ORG
      B.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    WKS   10.0.0.2    TCP    SMTP

      C.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    MX    0     C.EXAMPLE.ORG
      C.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    WKS   10.0.0.3    TCP    SMTP

      D.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    MX    0     D.EXAMPLE.ORG
      D.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    MX    0     C.EXAMPLE.ORG
      D.EXAMPLE.ORG    IN    WKS   10.0.0.4    TCP    SMTP

   In the first example, an SMTP mailer on D.EXAMPLE.ORG is trying to
   deliver a message addressed to A.EXAMPLE.ORG. From the answer to its
   query, it learns that A.EXAMPLE.ORG has three MX RRs.  D.EXAMPLE.ORG
   is not one of the MX RRs and all three MXs support SMTP mail
   (determined from the WKS entries), so none of the MXs are eliminated.
   The mailer is obliged to try to deliver to A.EXAMPLE.ORG as the
   lowest valued MX.  If it cannot reach A.EXAMPLE.ORG it can (but is
   not required to) try B.EXAMPLE.ORG. and if B.EXAMPLE.ORG is not
   responding, it can try C.EXAMPLE.ORG.

   In the second example, the mailer is on B.EXAMPLE.ORG, and is again
   trying to deliver a message addressed to A.EXAMPLE.ORG.  There are
   once again three MX RRs for A.EXAMPLE.ORG, but in this case the
   mailer must discard the RRs for itself and C.EXAMPLE.ORG (because the
   MX RR for C.EXAMPLE.ORG has a higher preference value than the RR for
   B.EXAMPLE.ORG).  It is left only with the RR for A.EXAMPLE.ORG, and
   can only try delivery to A.EXAMPLE.ORG.

   In the third example, consider a mailer on A.EXAMPLE.ORG trying to
   deliver a message to D.EXAMPLE.ORG.  In this case there are only two
   MX RRs, both with the same preference value.  Either MX will accept
   messages for D.EXAMPLE.ORG. The mailer should try one MX first (which
   one is up to the mailer, though D.EXAMPLE.ORG seems most reasonable),
   and if that delivery fails should try the other MX (e.g.
   C.EXAMPLE.ORG).

Network Working Group                               J. Klensin, WG Chair
Request For Comments: 1869                                           MCI
STD: 10                                                 N. Freed, Editor
Obsoletes: 1651                             Innosoft International, Inc.
Category: Standards Track                                        M. Rose
                                            Dover Beach Consulting, Inc.
                                                            E. Stefferud
                                     Network Management Associates, Inc.
                                                              D. Crocker
                                                  Brandenburg Consulting
                                                           November 1995

                        SMTP Service Extensions

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

1.  Abstract

   This memo defines a framework for extending the SMTP service by
   defining a means whereby a server SMTP can inform a client SMTP as to
   the service extensions it supports.  Extensions to the SMTP service
   are registered with the IANA. This framework does not require
   modification of existing SMTP clients or servers unless the features
   of the service extensions are to be requested or provided.

2.  Introduction

   The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) [1] has provided a stable,
   effective basis for the relay function of message transfer agents.
   Although a decade old, SMTP has proven remarkably resilient.
   Nevertheless, the need for a number of protocol extensions has become
   evident. Rather than describing these extensions as separate and
   haphazard entities, this document enhances SMTP in a straightforward
   fashion that provides a framework in which all future extensions can
   be built in a single consistent way.

3.  Framework for SMTP Extensions

   For the purpose of service extensions to SMTP, SMTP relays a mail
   object containing an envelope and a content.

 (1)   The SMTP envelope is straightforward, and is sent as a
       series of SMTP protocol units: it consists of an
       originator address (to which error reports should be
       directed); a delivery mode (e.g., deliver to recipient
       mailboxes); and, one or more recipient addresses.

 (2)   The SMTP content is sent in the SMTP DATA protocol unit
       and has two parts: the headers and the body. The
       headers form a collection of field/value pairs
       structured according to RFC 822 [2], whilst the body,
       if structured, is defined according to MIME [3]. The
       content is textual in nature, expressed using the US
       ASCII repertoire (ANSI X3.4-1986). Although extensions
       (such as MIME) may relax this restriction for the
       content body, the content headers are always encoded
       using the US ASCII repertoire. The algorithm defined in
       [4] is used to represent header values outside the US
       ASCII repertoire, whilst still encoding them using the
       US ASCII repertoire.

   Although SMTP is widely and robustly deployed, some parts of the
   Internet community might wish to extend the SMTP service.  This memo
   defines a means whereby both an extended SMTP client and server may
   recognize each other as such and the server can inform the client as
   to the service extensions that it supports.

   It must be emphasized that any extension to the SMTP service should
   not be considered lightly. SMTP's strength comes primarily from its
   simplicity.  Experience with many protocols has shown that:

     protocols with few options tend towards ubiquity, whilst
     protocols with many options tend towards obscurity.

   This means that each and every extension, regardless of its benefits,
   must be carefully scrutinized with respect to its implementation,
   deployment, and interoperability costs. In many cases, the cost of
   extending the SMTP service will likely outweigh the benefit.

   Given this environment, the framework for the extensions described in
   this memo consists of:

 (1)   a new SMTP command (section 4)

 (2)   a registry of SMTP service extensions (section 5)

 (3)   additional parameters to the SMTP MAIL FROM and RCPT TO
       commands (section 6).

4.  The EHLO command

   A client SMTP supporting SMTP service extensions should start an SMTP
   session by issuing the EHLO command instead of the HELO command. If
   the SMTP server supports the SMTP service extensions it will give a
   successful response (see section 4.3), a failure response (see 4.4),
   or an error response (4.5). If the SMTP server does not support any
   SMTP service extensions it will generate an error response (see
   section 4.5).

4.1.  Changes to STD 10, RFC 821

   This specification is intended to extend STD 10, RFC 821 without
   impacting existing services in any way.  The minor changes needed are
   enumerated below.

4.1.1.  First command

   RFC 821 states that the first command in an SMTP session must be the
   HELO command. This requirement is hereby amended to allow a session
   to start with either EHLO or HELO.

4.1.2.  Maximum command line length

   This specification extends the SMTP MAIL FROM and RCPT TO to allow
   additional parameters and parameter values.  It is possible that the
   MAIL FROM and RCPT TO lines that result will exceed the 512 character
   limit on command line length imposed by RFC 821.  This limit is
   hereby amended to only apply to command lines without any parameters.
   Each specification that defines new MAIL FROM or RCPT TO parameters
   must also specify maximum parameter value lengths for each parameter
   so that implementors of some set of extensions know how much buffer
   space must be allocated. The maximum command length that must be
   supported by an SMTP implementation with extensions is 512 plus the
   sum of all the maximum parameter lengths for all the extensions
   supported.

4.2.  Command syntax

   The syntax for this command, using the ABNF notation of [2], is:

     ehlo-cmd ::= "EHLO" SP domain CR LF

   If successful, the server SMTP responds with code 250. On failure,
   the server SMTP responds with code 550. On error, the server SMTP
   responds with one of codes 500, 501, 502, 504, or 421.

   This command is issued instead of the HELO command, and may be issued
   at any time that a HELO command would be appropriate.  That is, if
   the EHLO command is issued, and a successful response is returned,
   then a subsequent HELO or EHLO command will result in the server SMTP
   replying with code 503.  A client SMTP must not cache any information
   returned if the EHLO command succeeds. That is, a client SMTP must
   issue the EHLO command at the start of each SMTP session if
   information about extended facilities is needed.

4.3.  Successful response

   If the server SMTP implements and is able to perform the EHLO
   command, it will return code 250.  This indicates that both the
   server and client SMTP are in the initial state, that is, there is no
   transaction in progress and all state tables and buffers are cleared.

   Normally, this response will be a multiline reply. Each line of the
   response contains a keyword and, optionally, one or more parameters.
   The syntax for a positive response, using the ABNF notation of [2],
   is:

     ehlo-ok-rsp  ::=      "250"    domain [ SP greeting ] CR LF
                    / (    "250-"   domain [ SP greeting ] CR LF
                        *( "250-"      ehlo-line           CR LF )
                           "250"    SP ehlo-line           CR LF   )

                  ; the usual HELO chit-chat
     greeting     ::= 1*<any character other than CR or LF>

     ehlo-line    ::= ehlo-keyword *( SP ehlo-param )

     ehlo-keyword ::= (ALPHA / DIGIT) *(ALPHA / DIGIT / "-")

                  ; syntax and values depend on ehlo-keyword
     ehlo-param   ::= 1*<any CHAR excluding SP and all
                         control characters (US ASCII 0-31
                         inclusive)>

     ALPHA        ::= <any one of the 52 alphabetic characters
                       (A through Z in upper case, and,
                        a through z in lower case)>
     DIGIT        ::= <any one of the 10 numeric characters
                       (0 through 9)>

     CR           ::= <the carriage-return character
                       (ASCII decimal code 13)>
     LF           ::= <the line-feed character
                       (ASCII decimal code 10)>

     SP           ::= <the space character
                       (ASCII decimal code 32)>

   Although EHLO keywords may be specified in upper, lower, or mixed
   case, they must always be recognized and processed in a case-
   insensitive manner. This is simply an extension of practices begun in
   RFC 821.

   The IANA maintains a registry of SMTP service extensions.  Associated
   with each such extension is a corresponding EHLO keyword value. Each
   service extension registered with the IANA must be defined in an RFC.
   Such RFCs must either be on the standards-track or must define an
   IESG-approved experimental protocol.  The definition must include:

 (1)   the textual name of the SMTP service extension;

 (2)   the EHLO keyword value associated with the extension;

 (3)   the syntax and possible values of parameters associated
       with the EHLO keyword value;

 (4)   any additional SMTP verbs associated with the extension
       (additional verbs will usually be, but are not required
       to be, the same as the EHLO keyword value);

 (5)   any new parameters the extension associates with the
       MAIL FROM or RCPT TO verbs;

 (6)   how support for the extension affects the behavior of a
       server and client SMTP; and,

 (7)   the increment by which the extension is increasing the
       maximum length of the commands MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, or
       both, over that specified in RFC 821.

   In addition, any EHLO keyword value that starts with an upper or
   lower case "X" refers to a local SMTP service extension, which is
   used through bilateral, rather than standardized, agreement. Keywords
   beginning with "X" may not be used in a registered service extension.

   Any keyword values presented in the EHLO response that do not begin
   with "X" must correspond to a standard, standards-track, or IESG-
   approved experimental SMTP service extension registered with IANA.  A
   conforming server must not offer non "X" prefixed keyword values that
   are not described in a registered extension.

   Additional verbs are bound by the same rules as EHLO keywords;
   specifically, verbs begining with "X" are local extensions that may
   not be registered or standardized and verbs not beginning with "X"
   must always be registered.

4.4.  Failure response

   If for some reason the server SMTP is unable to list the service
   extensions it supports, it will return code 554.

   In the case of a failure response, the client SMTP should issue
   either the HELO or QUIT command.

4.5.  Error responses from extended servers

   If the server SMTP recognizes the EHLO command, but the command
   argument is unacceptable, it will return code 501.

   If the server SMTP recognizes, but does not implement, the EHLO
   command, it will return code 502.

   If the server SMTP determines that the SMTP service is no longer
   available (e.g., due to imminent system shutdown), it will return
   code 421.

   In the case of any error response, the client SMTP should issue
   either the HELO or QUIT command.

4.6.  Responses from servers without extensions

   A server SMTP that conforms to RFC 821 but does not support the
   extensions specified here will not recognize the EHLO command and
   will consequently return code 500, as specified in RFC 821.  The
   server SMTP should stay in the same state after returning this code
   (see section 4.1.1 of RFC 821).  The client SMTP may then issue
   either a HELO or a QUIT command.

4.7.  Responses from improperly implemented servers

   Some SMTP servers are known to disconnect the SMTP transmission
   channel upon receipt of the EHLO command. The disconnect can occur
   immediately or after sending a response.  Such behavior violates
   section 4.1.1 of RFC 821, which explicitly states that disconnection
   should only occur after a QUIT command is issued.

   Nevertheless, in order to achieve maxmimum interoperablity it is
   suggested that extended SMTP clients using EHLO be coded to check for
   server connection closure after EHLO is sent, either before or after

   returning a reply.  If this happens the client must decide if the
   operation can be successfully completed without using any SMTP
   extensions. If it can a new connection can be opened and the HELO
   command can be used.

   Other improperly-implemented servers will not accept a HELO command
   after EHLO has been sent and rejected.  In some cases, this problem
   can be worked around by sending a RSET after the failure response to
   EHLO, then sending the HELO.  Clients that do this should be aware
   that many implementations will return a failure code (e.g., 503 Bad
   sequence of commands) in response to the RSET.  This code can be
   safely ignored.

5.  Initial IANA Registry

   The IANA's initial registry of SMTP service extensions consists of
   these entries:

   Service Ext   EHLO Keyword Parameters Verb       Added Behavior
   ------------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------------
   Send             SEND         none       SEND    defined in RFC 821
   Send or Mail     SOML         none       SOML    defined in RFC 821
   Send and Mail    SAML         none       SAML    defined in RFC 821
   Expand           EXPN         none       EXPN    defined in RFC 821
   Help             HELP         none       HELP    defined in RFC 821
   Turn             TURN         none       TURN    defined in RFC 821

   which correspond to those SMTP commands which are defined as optional
   in [5].  (The mandatory SMTP commands, according to [5], are HELO,
   MAIL, RCPT, DATA, RSET, VRFY, NOOP, and QUIT.)

6.  MAIL FROM and RCPT TO Parameters

   It is recognized that several of the extensions planned for SMTP will
   make use of additional parameters associated with the MAIL FROM and
   RCPT TO command. The syntax for these commands, again using the ABNF
   notation of [2] as well as underlying definitions from [1], is:

     esmtp-cmd        ::= inner-esmtp-cmd [SP esmtp-parameters] CR LF
     esmtp-parameters ::= esmtp-parameter *(SP esmtp-parameter)
     esmtp-parameter  ::= esmtp-keyword ["=" esmtp-value]
     esmtp-keyword    ::= (ALPHA / DIGIT) *(ALPHA / DIGIT / "-")

                          ; syntax and values depend on esmtp-keyword
     esmtp-value      ::= 1*<any CHAR excluding "=", SP, and all
                             control characters (US ASCII 0-31
                             inclusive)>

                          ; The following commands are extended to
                          ; accept extended parameters.
     inner-esmtp-cmd  ::= ("MAIL FROM:" reverse-path)   /
                          ("RCPT TO:" forward-path)

   All esmtp-keyword values must be registered as part of the IANA
   registration process described above. This definition only provides
   the framework for future extension; no extended MAIL FROM or RCPT TO
   parameters are defined by this RFC.

6.1.  Error responses

   If the server SMTP does not recognize or cannot implement one or more
   of the parameters associated with a particular MAIL FROM or RCPT TO
   command, it will return code 555.

   If for some reason the server is temporarily unable to accomodate one
   or more of the parameters associated with a MAIL FROM or RCPT TO
   command, and if the definition of the specific parameter does not
   mandate the use of another code, it should return code 455.

   Errors specific to particular parameters and their values will be
   specified in the parameter's defining RFC.

7.  Received: Header Field Annotation

   SMTP servers are required to add an appropriate Received: field to
   the headers of all messages they receive. A "with ESMTP" clause
   should be added to this field when any SMTP service extensions are
   used. "ESMTP" is hereby added to the list of standard protocol names
   registered with IANA.

8.  Usage Examples

 (1)   An interaction of the form:

       S: <wait for connection on TCP port 25>
       C: <open connection to server>
       S: 220 dbc.mtview.ca.us SMTP service ready
       C: EHLO ymir.claremont.edu
       S: 250 dbc.mtview.ca.us says hello
        ...

       indicates that the server SMTP implements only those
       SMTP commands which are defined as mandatory in [5].

 (2)   In contrast, an interaction of the form:

       S: <wait for connection on TCP port 25>
       C: <open connection to server>
       S: 220 dbc.mtview.ca.us SMTP service ready
       C: EHLO ymir.claremont.edu
       S: 250-dbc.mtview.ca.us says hello
       S: 250-EXPN
       S: 250-HELP
       S: 250-8BITMIME
       S: 250-XONE
       S: 250 XVRB
        ...

       indicates that the server SMTP also implements the SMTP
       EXPN and HELP commands, one standard service extension
       (8BITMIME), and two nonstandard and unregistered
       service extensions (XONE and XVRB).

 (3)   Finally, a server that does not support SMTP service
       extensions would act as follows:

       S: <wait for connection on TCP port 25>
       C: <open connection to server>
       S: 220 dbc.mtview.ca.us SMTP service ready
       C: EHLO ymir.claremont.edu
       S: 500 Command not recognized: EHLO
        ...

       The 500 response indicates that the server SMTP does
       not implement the extensions specified here.  The
       client would normally send a HELO command and proceed
       as specified in RFC 821.   See section 4.7 for
       additional discussion.

9.  Security Considerations

   This RFC does not discuss security issues and is not believed to
   raise any security issues not already endemic in electronic mail and
   present in fully conforming implementations of RFC-821.  It does
   provide an announcement of server mail capabilities via the response
   to the EHLO verb. However, all information provided by announcement
   of any of the initial set of service extensions defined by this RFC
   can be readily deduced by selective probing of the verbs required to
   transport and deliver mail. The security implications of service
   extensions described in other RFCs should be dealt with in those
   RFCs.

10.  Acknowledgements

   This document represents a synthesis of the ideas of many people and
   reactions to the ideas and proposals of others.  Randall Atkinson,
   Craig Everhart, Risto Kankkunen, and Greg Vaudreuil contributed ideas
   and text sufficient to be considered co-authors.  Other important
   suggestions, text, or encouragement came from Harald Alvestrand, Jim
   Conklin, Mark Crispin, Frank da Cruz, 'Olafur Gudmundsson, Per
   Hedeland, Christian Huitma, Neil Katin, Eliot Lear, Harold A.
   Miller, Keith Moore, John Myers, Dan Oscarsson, Julian Onions, Rayan
   Zachariassen, and the contributions of the entire IETF SMTP Working
   Group. Of course, none of the individuals are necessarily responsible
   for the combination of ideas represented here. Indeed, in some cases,
   the response to a particular criticism was to accept the problem
   identification but to include an entirely different solution from the
   one originally proposed.

11.  References

   [1] Postel, J., "Simple Mail Transfer Protocol", STD 10, RFC 821,
       USC/Information Sciences Institute, August 1982.

   [2] Crocker, D., "Standard for the Format of ARPA Internet Text
       Messages", STD 11, RFC 822, UDEL, August 1982.

   [3] Borenstein, N., and N. Freed, "Multipurpose Internet Mail
       Extensions", RFC 1521, Bellcore, Innosoft, September 1993.

   [4] Moore, K., "Representation of Non-ASCII Text in Internet Message
       Headers", RFC 1522, University of Tennessee, September 1993.

   [5] Braden, R., "Requirements for Internet Hosts - Application and
       Support", STD 3, RFC 1123, USC/Information Sciences Institute,
       October 1989.

12.  Chair, Editor, and Author Addresses

   John Klensin, WG Chair
   MCI
   2100 Reston Parkway
   Reston, VA 22091

   Phone: +1 703 715-7361
   Fax: +1 703 715-7436
   EMail: klensin@mci.net

   Ned Freed, Editor
   Innosoft International, Inc.
   1050 East Garvey Avenue South
   West Covina, CA 91790
   USA

   Phone: +1 818 919 3600
   Fax: +1 818 919 3614
   EMail: ned@innosoft.com

   Marshall T. Rose
   Dover Beach Consulting, Inc.
   420 Whisman Court
   Moutain View, CA  94043-2186
   USA

   Phone: +1 415 968 1052
   Fax: +1 415 968 2510
   EMail: mrose@dbc.mtview.ca.us

   Einar A. Stefferud
   Network Management Associates, Inc.
   17301 Drey Lane
   Huntington Beach, CA, 92647-5615
   USA

   Phone: +1 714 842 3711
   Fax: +1 714 848 2091
   EMail: stef@nma.com

   Dave Crocker
   Brandenburg Consulting
   675 Spruce Dr.
   Sunnyvale, CA 94086 USA
   USA

   Phone: +1 408 246 8253
   Fax: +1 408 249 6205
   EMail: dcrocker@mordor.stanford.edu