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SMTP                                                          D. Crocker
Internet-Draft                               Brandenburg InternetWorking
Expires: July 27, August 15, 2005                                  January 26,                               February 14, 2005


                       Internet Mail Architecture
                      draft-crocker-email-arch-02
                      draft-crocker-email-arch-03

Status of this Memo

   This document is an Internet-Draft and is subject to all provisions
   of section 3 of RFC 3667.  By submitting this Internet-Draft, each
   author represents that any applicable patent or other IPR claims of
   which he or she is aware have been or will be disclosed, and any of
   which he or she become aware will be disclosed, in accordance with
   RFC 3668.

   Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
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   This Internet-Draft will expire on July 27, August 15, 2005.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).

Abstract

   Over its thirty thirty-four year history, Internet mail has undergone
   significant changes in scale and complexity.  The first standardized
   architecture for email specified a simple split between the user world and the
   transmission
   world, in the form of Mail User Agents (MUA) (MUA), and the transmission
   world, in the form of the Mail Handling Service (MHS) composed of
   Mail Transfer Agents (MTA).  Over time each  Core aspects of these has divided into
   multiple, specialized modules.  Public discussion and agreement about the nature service, such as
   address and message style, have remained remarkably constant.
   However public discussion of the changes to Internet mail architecture has not kept pace, and
   abuses of the Internet mail service have brought these issues into pace with



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   stark relief.


   the real-world refinements.  This draft document offers clarifications and enhancements, an enhanced
   Internet Mail architecture to
   provide a more consistent base for community discussion of email
   service problems and proposed email service enhancements. reflect the current service.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
   1.1 Service Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
   1.2 Document Changes Discussion venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
   1.3 Discussion venue Changes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
   2.  Email Actor Roles  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
   2.1 User-Level User Actors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
   2.2 Transfer-Level MHS Actors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
   2.3 Administrative Actors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
   3.  Email  Identities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . 13
   3.1 Mailbox Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 13
   3.2 Domain Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 14
   3.3 Message Identifers Identifiers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 14
   3.4 Identity Referencing Convention  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 15
   4.  Protocols and  Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 . . . . . . . 15
   4.1 Service Components Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 . . . . . 17
   4.2 Operational Configuration Mail User Agent (MUA)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 . . 19
   4.3 Layers of Identity References Mail Submission Agent (MSA)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
   5.  Message Data
   4.4 Mail Transfer Agent (MTA)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
   4.5 Mail Delivery Agent (MDA)  . . . . . . . 22
   5.1 Envelope . . . . . . . . . . . 24
   4.6 Message Store (MS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
   5.2 Message Header Fields . . . . . . 25
   5.  Mediators  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
   5.3 Body . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
   5.1 Aliasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
   6.  Two Levels of Store-And-Forward . . . . . . . . . . 27
   5.2 ReSending  . . . . . 23
   6.1 MTA Relaying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
   5.3 Mailing Lists  . . . . 23
   6.2 MUA Forwarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
   5.4 Gateways . . . . 23
   7.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
   8.  References . . . . 33
   5.5 Security Filter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
       Author's Address . 34
   6.  Security Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
   7.  References . . . 33
   A.  Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
       Intellectual Property and Copyright Statements 34
   7.1 References - Normative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
















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   7.2 Reference - Descriptive  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
       Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
   A.  Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
       Intellectual Property and Copyright Statements . . . . . . . . 38













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1.  Introduction

   Over its thirty thirty-four year history, Internet mail has undergone
   significant changes in scale and complexity.  The first standardized
   architecture for email specified a simple split between the user world and the
   transmission
   world, in the form of Mail User Agents (MUA) (MUA), and Mail
   Transfer Agents (MTA).  Over time each of these has sub-divided into
   more specialized modules.  However the basic style and use of names,
   addresses and message structure have remained remarkably constant.

   There are two, basic categories of participants transmission
   world, in Internet Mail.
   Users are customers the form of the Mail Handling Service (MHS).  They
   represent the sources and sinks (MHS) composed of that service.  The
   Mail Handling
   Service Transfer Agents (MTA).

   The MHS is responsible for accepting a message from one user User and
   delivering it to one or more others.

                                 +--------+
               +---------------->|  User  |
               |                 +--------+
               |                      .
   +--------+  |          +--------+  .
   |  User  +--+--------->|  User  |  .
   +--------+  |          +--------+  .
       .       |               .      .
       .       |   +--------+  .      .
       .       +-->|  User  |  .      .
       .           +--------+  .      .
       .                .      .      .
       .                .      .      .
       .                .      .      .
   +--------------------------------------+
   |                                      |
   |     Mail Handling Service (MHS)      |
   |                                      |
   +--------------------------------------+

                  Figure 1: Basic Email Service Model

   Public discussion and agreement about terms

   Over time the operational service has sub-divided each of reference these
   "layers" into more specialized modules.  Core aspects of the service,
   such as address and message style, have remained remarkably constant.
   However public discussion of the architecture has not kept pace with
   the changes, and abuses of the real-world refinements.  This document offers an enhanced
   Internet mail service
   have brought this into stark relief.  So, it is necessary Mail architecture to produce
   a revised architecture.  However it is important that reflect the current service.  The
   original distinction between user-level concerns and transfer-level
   concerns
   be retained.  This becomes challenging when is retained, and the user-level exchange
   is, itself, a sequence, such as with group dialogue or organizational
   message flow, as occurs with a purchase approval process.  It is easy elaboration to confuse this user-level activity with each "level" of the underlying mail
   transmission service exchanges.



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   architecture is discussed separately.

   For Internet mail, the term "end-to-end" usually refers to a single
   posting and the set of deliveries directly resulting from a its single
   transiting of the MHS.  However, note that specialized some uses of email
   consider the entire email service -- including Originator and
   Recipient -- as a subordinate component.  For these services,
   "end-to-end" refers to points outside of the email service.  Examples



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   are voicemail over email and [RFC2423], EDI over email. email [RFC1767], and
   facsimile over email.[ID-ffpim]

   The current draft seeks to:

   1.

   o  Document changes that have taken place in refining refinements to the email model

   2.

   o  Clarify functional roles for the architectural components

   3.

   o  Clarify identity-related issues, across the email service

   4.

   o  Provide a document that serves as a common venue for further
      defining and citing modern Internet mail architecture


1.1  Service Overview

   End-to-end Internet mail exchange is accomplished by using a
   standardized infrastructure comprising:

   1.

   o  An email object

   2.

   o  Global addressing

   3.

   o  A connected sequence of point-to-point transfer mechanisms

   4.

   o  No prior arrangement between originator Originator and recipient

   5. Recipient

   o  No prior arrangement between point-to-point transfer services,
      over the open Internet

   The end-to-end portion of the service is the message.  Broadly the
   message, itself, is divided between handling control information and
   user message payload. content.

   A precept to the design of Internet mail is to permit permitting user-to-user
   and MTA-to-MTA interoperability with no prior, direct administrative
   arrangement.  That is, all participants rely on having the core
   services be universally supported, either directly or through
   gateways
   Gateways that translate between Internet mail standards and other
   email conventions.




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   For localized environments (edge (Edge networks) prior, administrative
   arrangement can include access control, routing constraints and
   lookup service configuration.  In recent years one change to local
   environments is an increased requirement for authentication or, at
   least, accountability.  In these cases, the server performs explicit
   validation of the client's identity.



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1.2  Document Changes

   The major changes from the previous version of this document are:

   Overall: Clarify roles and responsibilities

   Diagrams: Revised diagrams and tightened things up

   Distinct architectural 'sections': Added concept of ADMDs, as
      operational layer, separate from functional or architectural
      layer.  Added user "layer", as distinct from transfer.  Introduced
      'mediator'.


1.3  Discussion venue

   NOTE:  This document is the work of a single person, about a topic
      with considerable diversity of views.  It is certain to be
      incomplete and inaccurate.  Some errors simply need to be
      reported; they will get fixed.  Others need to be discussed by the
      community, because the real requirement is to develop common
      community views.  To this end, please treat the draft as a
      touchstone for public discussion.

   Discussion about this document should be directed to the:
   <mailto:ietf-smtp@imc.org> mailing list.  The the IETF-SMTP
   mailing list
   <http://www.imc.org/ietf-smtp/index.htm> <http://www.imc.org/ietf-smtp>.  It is the most active,
   long-standing venue for discussing email architecture.  Although this
   list it
   is primarily for discussing only the SMTP protocol, it is recommended
   that discussion of this draft take place on that mailing
   list.  This list tends to attend because
   it attends to end-to-end infrastructure and architecture issues more
   than other email-related mailing lists.

2.  Email Actor Roles

   Discussion

1.3  Changes

   This is intended to be the last major revision, prior to seeking
   publication.

   Significant changes to this version:

   Administrative Domain:   Extensive discussion of email architecture requires this operational
      construct, including distinguishing different
   actors within the service, User, Edge and being clear about Transit ADs.
      This elaborates the job each
   performs.  The best way reference to "providers" in earlier drafts.

   Mediator:   Extensive revision both to maintain the distinction between user
   activity description of Mediator
      and handling activities is to depict their details use of the construct throughout the document.

   Gateway:   The construct of a gateway is elaborated.

   Set by:   Tables that had an entry for "Actor:" have been changed to
      "Set by:" in
   separate diagrams.  Current order to clarify the nature of the Actor reference
      being made.  It is intended to indicate who is responsible for
      setting the identity, rather than indicate what identity is
      referred to.  The specific references were carefully reviewed and
      modified, to reflect this focus.  The list of "set by" entries was
      extensively reviewed, with substantial modifications made.

   Editorial proofing:   A complete word-smithing pass over the
      document.


2.  Email Actor Roles

   Internet mail provides only Mail is a small set highly distributed service, with a variety of capabilities for supporting
   actors serving different kinds of ongoing, user-level roles.  These divide into:

   o  User

   o  Mail Handling Service (MHS)

   o  Administrative Domain



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   exchanges.


   Although related to a technical architecture, the focus of a
   discussions on Actors is on
   concerns participant responsibilities, rather than on functional
   modules.  Hence the labels used are different than for classic email
   architecture diagrams.  The figures depict the
   relationships among the Actors.  Actors often will be associated with
   entirely independent organizations from other Actors who are
   participating in
   different organizations.  This operational independence provides the email service.
   motivation for distinguishing Administrative Domains.

2.1  User-Level  User Actors

   Users are the sources and sinks of messages.  They may have an
   exchange that iterates and they may expand or contract the set of
   users
   Users participating in a set of exchanges.  In Internet Mail there
   are three, basic three types of user-level Actors:
   Originators, Recipients, and Mediators.  Fromhe t

   o  Originators

   o  Recipients

   o  Mediators

   From the User-level perspective all mail transfer activities are
   performed by a monolithic, shared handling service. MHS.  Users are customers of this
   service.




























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   The following depicts the relationships among them.

   +------------+
   | Originator |<--------------+
   +-+---+----+-+               |
     |   |    |                 |
     |   |    V                 |
     |   |  +-----------+       |
     |   |  | Recipient |       |
     |   |  +-----------+       |
     |   |                      |
     |   |       +----------+   |
     |   |       |          |   |
     |   V       V          |   |
     | +-----------+    +---+---+---+
     | | Mediator  +--->| Recipient |
     | +-----------+    +-----------+
     |
     V
   +-----------+    +-----------+    +-----------+
   | Mediator  +--->| Mediator  +--->| Recipient |
   +-----------+    +-----------+    +-----------+

   The functions of these

               Figure 2: Relationships Among User Actors are:


2.1.1  Originator

   Also called "Author", this is the user-level participant responsible



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   for creating original content and requesting its transmission.  The
   Mail Handling Service
   MHS operates to send and deliver mail among Originators and
   Recipients.

2.1.2  Recipient

   The Recipient is a consumer of delivered content.

   A recipient Recipient may close the user-level communication loop by creating
   and submitting a new message that replies to an originator. Originator.  An
   automated, or semi-automated
   example of an automated form of reply is the Message Disposition
   Notification, which informs the Originator about the Recipient's
   disposition of the message.  See Section 4.1.

2.1.3  Mediator

   A Mediator receives, aggregates, reformulates and distributes redistributes
   messages as part of a potentially-protracted, higher-level exchange
   among users.  A Users.  Example uses of Mediators include group dialogue and



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   organizational message flow, as occurs with a purchase approval
   process.  Note that it is easy to confuse this user-level activity
   with the underlying MHS exchanges.  However they serve very different
   purposes and operate is very different ways.  Mediators are
   considered extensively in Section 5.

   When mail is delivered to an envelope address, a Mediator is viewed
   by the Mail Handling Service, when
   the Mediator's address is specified in the envelope. Service as a Recipient.  When submitting
   messages, the Mediator is an Originator.  What is distinctive is that
   a Mediator preserves the Originator information of the message(s) message it
   reformulates, but makes may make meaningful changes to the content.  Hence
   the
   Mail Handling Service MHS sees a new message, but Users receive a message that is
   interpreted as primarily being from -- or, at least, initiated by --
   the author of the original message.  The role of a Mediator permits
   distinct, active creativity, rather than being limited to the more passive
   constrained job of merely connecting together other participants.
   Hence it is really the Mediator that is responsible for the new
   message.

   A Mediator's task may be complex, contingent complex and creative, contingent, such as by modifying
   and adding content or regulating which users may participate and
   when.  The popular example of this role is a group mailing list.  A
   sequence of mediators may even perform a series of formal steps, such
   as reviewing, modifying and approving a purchase request.

   Because a Mediator originates messages, it might also receive
   replies.  That is,  So, a Mediator really is a full-fledged User.

   Specialized Mediators include:

   Forwarder:

   Gateway:   A new message encapsulates the original message Gateway is a particularly interesting form of Mediator.
      It is a hybrid of User and Relay that interconnects heterogeneous
      mail services.  Its goal of emulating a Relay, so Gateway is
      seen as strictly "from"
      described in the Mediator.  However next section.


2.2  MHS Actors

   The Mail Handling Service (MHS) has the Mediator might
      add commentary task of performing a single,
   email-level end-to-end transfer, on behalf of the Originator and certainly has
   reaching the opportunity to modify Recipient address(es) specified in the
      original message content. envelope.
   Mediated or protracted, iterative exchanges, such as those used for
   collaboration over time, are part of the User-level service, and are
   not part of this Transfer-level service.









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   Redirector:  Redirection differs from Forwarding by virtue of having


   The following depicts the Mediator "splice" communication between relationships among transfer participants
   in Internet Mail.  It shows the Originator of Source as distinct from the
      original message
   Originator, and the Recipient of the new message.  Hence the
      new Recipient sees the message Destination as being From the original
      Originator.

   Mailing List:  This Actor performs a task that can distinct from Recipient, although it
   is common for each pair to be viewed as an
      elaboration of the Redirector role.  In addition to sending same actor.  The figure also shows
   multiple Relays in the
      new message sequence.  It is legal to a potentially large number of new Recipients,
      content might be modified, such as deletion of attachments,
      formatting conversion, and addition of list-specific comments.  In
      additional, archival of list messages is common.

   Annotator:  The integrity of the original message is preserved, but
      one or more comments about the message are added in a manner that
      distinguishes commentary from original text.

   Adaptor:  {per Ned Freed}

   Security Filter:  Organizations often enforce security boundaries by
      having message subjected to analysis for conformance with the
      organization's safety policies.  Examples are detection of content
      classed as spam or a virus.  A Security Filter might alter the
      content, to render it safe, such as by removing content deemed
      unacceptable.  Typically these actions will result in the addition
      of content that records the actions.


2.2  Transfer-Level Actors

   The Mail Handling Service has the task of performing a single,
   end-to-end transfer on behalf of the originator and reaching the
   recipient address(es) specified in the envelope.  Protracted,
   iterative exchanges, such as those used for collaboration over time,
   are part of the User-level service, and are not part of this
   Transfer-level service.















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   The following depicts the relationships among transfer participants
   in Internet Mail.  It shows Source as distinct from the Originator,
   although it is common for them to be the same actor.  The figure also
   shows multiple Relays in the sequence.  It is legal to have only one, have only one, and
   for intra-organization mail services, this is common.

   +------------+                         +-----------+
   | Originator |                         | Recipient |
   +-----+------+                         +-----------+
         |                                      ^
         |         Mail Handling Service        |
   +===================================================+
   /+=================================================+\
   ||    |                                      |     ||
   ||    |                                      |     ||
         V                                      |
     +---------+    +--------+             +----+----+
     |         |    |        |<------------+         |
     | Source  +...>| Notice |             |  Dest   |
     |         |    |        |<---+        |         |
     +----+----+    +--------+    |        +---------+
          |                       |             ^
          V                       |             |
     +---------+             +----+----+   +----+----+
     |  Relay  +-->.......-->|  Relay  +-->|  Relay  |
     +---------+             +----+----+   +---------+
                                  |
                                  V
                             +---------+
                             | Gateway +-->...
                             +---------+

                Figure 3: Relationships Among MHS Actors


2.2.1  Source

   The Source role is responsible for ensuring that a message is valid
   for posting and then submitting it to a mail relay. Relay.  Validity includes
   conformance with Internet mail standards, as well as with local
   operational policies.  Source  The source may simply review the message for
   conformance, and reject it if there are errors, or it may create some
   or all of the necessary information.

   The Source operates with dual allegiance. "allegiance".  It serves the Originator
   and often it is the same entity.  However its role in assuring
   validity means that it must also represent the local operator of the Mail Handling
   Service.
   MHS, that is, the local Administrative Domain.



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   The Source also has the responsibility for any post-submission,
   originator-related
   Originator-related administrative tasks associated with message



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   transmission and delivery.  Notably this pertains to error and
   delivery notices.  Hence, Source is best held accountable for the
   message content, even when they did not create any or most of it.

2.2.2  Notices  Notifications Handler

   Transfer efforts might result in the generation of service reporting
   information

   The Notifications Handler processes service notifications that are
   generated by the MHS, as a result of its efforts to transfer or
   deliver the message.  Notices may be about failures or completions.  These Transfer or
   Delivery notification messages completions
   and are sent to an address that is specified by the Source.  A  This
   Notices handling address (also known as a Bounce or Return address)
   might have no visible characteristics in common the with the address of
   the Originator or Source.

2.2.3  Relay

   A mail relay Relay performs email transfer-service routing and
   store-and-forward.  It adds envelope-related envelope-level handling information and
   then (re-)transmits the message on towards its recipient(s). Recipient(s).  A Relay
   may add information to the envelope, such as with trace information.
   However it does not modify existing envelope information or the
   message contents.

   A basic transfer operation is between a client and content semantics.  It may modify message content syntax,
   such as a server Relay. change from text to binary transfer-encoding form, only as
   required to meet the capabilities of the next hop in the MHS.

   A set of Relays composes a Mail Handling Service network.  This is
   above any underlying packet-switching network that they might be
   using.  Hence, interesting email scenarios can involve three levels
   of store-and-forward:

   o  User Mediators

   o  MHS Relays

   o  Packet Switches

   Aborting a message transfer results in having the Relay become an
   Originator and send an error message to the Notifications (Bounce)
   address.  (The potential for looping is avoided by having this
   message, itself, contain no Bounce address. Notifications address.)

2.2.4  Gateway

   A Gateway is a special hybrid form of User and Relay that interconnects
   heterogeneous mail services.  It operates as a User process, but its
   purpose is simply to Relay messages.  The more closely a Gateway is



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   able to operate as a Relay, the better.  Differences between the mail
   services can be as small as minor syntax variations, but usually
   encompass much more basic, significant, semantic distinctions.  For example, the
   concept of an email address might be as different as a hierarchical,
   machine-specific address versus a flat, global name space.  Or
   between text-only content and multi-media.  Hence,  Hence the Relay function of
   in a gateway is Gateway offers the minor
   component. challenge in design.  The more
   significant challenge is in ensuring the user-to-user functionality
   that matches syntax and semantics of independent email standards
   suites.

   The basic test of a gateway's Gateway's adequacy is, of course, whether an
   originator
   Originator on one side of a Gateway can send a message to a recipient, Recipient
   on the other side, without requiring any changes to any of the components
   in the originator's mail service Originator's or the
   recipient's Recipient's mail service, services, other than adding
   the gateway. Gateway.  To each of these otherwise independent services, the gateway
   Gateway will appear to be a



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   ultimate test of a gateway's Gateway's adequacy is whether the originator Originator and recipient
   Recipient can sustain a dialogue.  In particular, can a recipient Recipient's
   MUA automatically formulate a valid Reply?

2.3  Administrative Actors

   Operation of Internet mail services is apportioned to different
   providers (or operators) each is operators).  Each can be composed of an independent
   Administrative Domain. Domain (AD).  Examples include an end-user operating
   their desktop client, a department operating a local relay, Relay, an IT
   department operating an enterprise relay, Relay, and an ISP operating a
   public, shared email service.  These can be configured into many
   combinations of administrative and operational relationships, with
   each Administrative Domain potentially having a complex arrangement
   of functional components.

   The interactions between functional components within an
   Administrative Domain are subject to  Figure 4 depicts the policies of that domain.
   Policies can cover such things as reliability, access control,
   accountability and content evaluation and may be implemented in
   different functional components, according to relationships among
   ADs.  Perhaps the needs most salient aspect of an AD is the
   Administrative Domain.

2.3.1  Provider

   Providers operate component services or sets of services.  It is
   possible for Providers to host services differential
   trust that determines its policies for activities within the AD,
   versus those involving interactions with other Providers.  Common
   examples are:

   Enterprise Service Providers: Operating an organization's internal
      data and/or mail operations.

   Internet Service Providers: Operating underlying data communication
      services that, in turn, ADs.

   Basic components of AD distinction include:

   Transit:   These are used by one or more Relays and Users.
      It is not their job to perform email functions, but to provide an
      environment in which those functions can be performed. Mail Service Providers: Operate email services, Providers (MSP) offering
      value-added capabilities for Edge ADs, such as for
      end-users, or mailing lists.

   Operational pragmatics often dictate that Providers be involved in
   detailed administration aggregation and enforcement issues, to help insure
      filtering.

   Edge:   Independent transfer services, in networks at the
   health edge of the overall Internet Mail Service.

3.  Email Identities
      Internet mail uses three forms of identity.  The most common is the
   mailbox address <addr-spec> [RFC2822].  The other two forms are service.

   User:   End-user services.  This might be subsumed under the Edge
      service, such as is common for web-based email access.




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   <domain name> [RFC1034] and message identifier [RFC2822].

3.1  Mailbox Addresses

   An addr-spec has two distinct parts, divided by an at-sign ("@").
   The right-hand side contains a globally interpreted name for an
   administrative domain.  This domain name might refer to an entire
   organization, or to a collection of machines integrated into a
   homogeneous service, or to a single machine.  Domain names


   Note that Transit services are
   defined and operated quite different from packet-level
   transit operation.  Whereas end-to-end packet transfers usually go
   through intermediate routers.  Email exchange across the DNS [RFC1034], [RFC1035].

   The left-hand side of open
   Internet is often directly between the at-sign contains a string that is globally
   opaque and is called the <local-part>.  It is to be interpreted only
   by the entity specified in Edge ADs, at the address's right-hand side.  All other
   entities must treat email level.

   +------                             +------+     +------+
   | AD-1 |                            | AD-3 |     | AD-4 |
   | ---- |                            | ---- |     | ---- |
   |      |    +---------------------->|      |     |      |
   | User |    |                       |-Edge-+---->|-User |
   |  |   |    |                  +--->|      |     |      |
   |  V   |    |                  |    +------+     +------+
   | Edge-+----+                  |
   |      |    |    +---------+   |
   +------+    |    | AD-2    |   |
               |    | ------- |   |
               |    |         |   |
               +--->|-Transit-+---+
                    |         |
                    +---------+

                 Figure 4: Administrative Domains (AD)

   Edge networks may use proprietary email standards internally.
   However the local-part as a uninterpreted, literal string distinction between Transit network and must preserve all of its original details.  As such, its
   distribution is equivalent to sending a "cookie" that is only
   interpreted upon being returned to its originator.

3.1.1  Global Standards for Local-Part

   It Edge network
   transfer services is common primarily significant because it highlights the
   need for sites to have local structuring conventions concern over interaction and protection between independent
   administrations.  In particular, this distinctions calls for the
   left-hand side (local-part)
   additional care in assessing transitions of an addr-spec.  This permits
   sub-addressing, such responsibility, as well
   as for distinguishing different discussion
   groups by the same participant.  However it must be stressed that
   these conventions are strictly private to the user's organization accountability and
   must not be interpreted by any domain except the one listed authorization relationships among
   participants in email transfer.

   The interactions between functional components within an
   Administrative Domain are subject to the
   right-hand side policies of the add-spec.

   A small class of addresses have an elaboration on basic email
   addressing, with a standardized, global schema for the local-part.
   These are conventions between originating end-systems that domain.
   Policies can cover such things as reliability, access control,
   accountability and recipient
   gateways, even content evaluation and they are invisible modification.  They
   may be implemented in different functional components, according to
   the public email transfer
   infrastructure.  When an originator is explicitly sending via a
   gateway out needs of the Internet, there Administrative Domain.  For example, see
   [ID-spamops].

   User, Edge and Transit services can be offered by providers that
   operate component services or sets of services.  Further, it is
   possible for one AD to host services for other ADs.  Common AD
   examples are:

   Enterprise Service Providers:





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      Operating an organization's internal data and/or mail operations.

   Internet Service Providers:

      Operating underlying data communication services that, in turn,
      are coding conventions used by one or more Relays and Users.  It is not their job to
      perform email functions, but to provide an environment in which
      those functions can be performed.

   Mail Service Providers:

      Operate email services, such as for the
   local-part, so end-users, or mailing lists.

   Operational pragmatics often dictate that providers be involved in
   detailed administration and enforcement issues, to help ensure the originator can formulate instructions for
   health of the
   gateway.  Standardized examples overall Internet Mail Service.  This can include
   operators of this lower-level packet services.

3.  Identities

   Internet mail uses three forms of identity.  The most common is the
   mailbox address <addr-spec> [RFC2822].  The other two are the telephone numbering
   formats for VPIM [RFC2421], such as "+16137637582@vpim.example.com", domain
   name <domain> [RFC1034] and iFax [RFC2304], such as "FAX=+12027653000/
   T33S=1387@ifax.example.com".

3.1.2  Scope message identifier <msg-id> [RFC2822].

3.1  Mailbox Addresses

      "A mailbox sends and receives mail.  It is a conceptual entity
      which does not necessarily pertain to file storage." [RFC2822]

   A mailbox is specified as an Internet mail address <addr-spec>.  It
   has two distinct parts, divided by an at-sign ("@").  The right-hand
   side contains a globally interpreted name for an administrative
   domain.  This domain name might refer to an entire organization, or
   to a collection of Email Address Use

   Email addresses machines integrated into a homogeneous service, or
   to a single machine.  Domain names are being used far beyond their defined and operated through
   the Domain Name Service (DNS) [RFC1034], [RFC1035], [RFC2181].

   The portion to the left of the at-sign contains a string that is
   globally opaque and is called the <local-part>.  It is to be
   interpreted only by the entity specified in the address's right-hand
   side.  All other entities must treat the local-part as a
   uninterpreted, literal string and must preserve all of its original email
   transfer
   details.  As such, its public distribution is equivalent to sending a
   "cookie" that is only interpreted upon being returned to its
   originator.






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3.1.1  Global Standards for Local-Part

   It is common for sites to have local structuring conventions for the
   left-hand side (local-part) of an addr-spec.  This permits
   sub-addressing, such as for distinguishing different discussion
   groups by the same participant.  However it must be stressed that
   these conventions are strictly private to the user's organization and
   must not be interpreted by any domain except the one listed in the
   right-hand side of the addr-spec.

   A small class of addresses has an elaboration on basic email
   addressing, with a standardized, global schema for the local-part.
   These are conventions between originating end-systems and Recipient
   Gateways, and they are invisible to the public email transfer
   infrastructure.  When an Originator is explicitly sending via a
   Gateway out of the Internet, there are coding conventions for the
   local-part, so that the Originator can formulate instructions for the
   Gateway.  Standardized examples of this are the telephone numbering
   formats for VPIM [RFC2421], such as "+16137637582@vpim.example.com",
   and iFax [RFC2304], such as "FAX=+12027653000/
   T33S=1387@ifax.example.com".

3.1.2  Scope of Email Address Use

   Email addresses are being used far beyond their original email
   transfer and delivery role.  In practical terms, email strings have
   become a common form of user identity on the Internet.  What is
   essential, then, is to be clear about the nature and role of an
   identity string in a particular context and to be clear about the
   entity responsible for setting that string.

3.2  Domain Names

   A domain name is a global reference to an Internet resource, such as
   a host, a service or a network.  A name usually maps to one or more
   IP Addresses.  A domain name can be administered to refer to
   individual users, but this is not common practice.  The name is
   structure as a hierarchical sequence of sub-names, separated by dots
   (".").

   When not part of a mailbox address, a domain name is used in Internet
   mail to refer to a node that took action upon the message, such as
   providing the administrative scope for a message identifier, or
   performing transfer processing.

3.3  Message Identifiers

   Like mailbox addresses, message identifiers have two distinct parts,



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   divided by an at-sign ("@").  The right-hand side is globally
   interpreted and specifies the administrative domain assigning the
   identifier.  The left-hand side of the at-sign contains a string that
   is globally opaque and serves to uniquely identify the message within
   the domain referenced on the right-hand side.  The duration of
   uniqueness for the message identifier is undefined.

   The identifier may be assigned by the user or by any component of the
   system along the path, within the AD responsible for the indicated
   domain.  Although Internet mail standards provide for a single
   identifier, more than one is sometimes assigned.

3.4  Identity Referencing Convention

   In this document, fields references to identities are labeled in a
   two-part, dotted notation.  The first part cites the document
   defining the identity and the second defines the name of the
   identity.  Hence, <RFC2822.From> is the From field in an email
   content header, and <RFC2821.MailFrom> is the address in the SMTP
   "Mail From" command.

4.  Services

   The Internet's MHS architecture distinguishes six types of functional
   components, arranged to support a store-and-forward service
   architecture:

   o  Message

   o  Mail User Agent (MUA)

   o  Message Submission Agent (MSA)

   o  Message Transfer Agent (MTA)

   o  Message Delivery Agent (MDA)

   o  Message Store (MS)

   This section describes the specific functional components for
   Internet Mail, and the standard protocols associated with performing
   them.

   This figure shows function modules and the protocols used between
   them.

                        +------+
         ...............+ oMUA |<------------------------------+



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         .              +--+---+                               |
         .                 |    {smtp, submission              |
         .                 V                                   |
         .              +------+                               |
         .              | MSA  |<--------------------+         |
         .              +--+---+                     |         |
         .                 |    {smtp                |         |
         .                 V                         |         |
         .              +------+                /+===+===+\    |
         .              | MTA  |                ||  dsn  ||    |
   /+==========+\       +--+---+                \+=======+/    |
   || MESSAGE  ||          .    {smtp              ^   ^       |
   ||----------||          .                       |   |       |
   || Envelope ||          .                       |   |       |
   ||  SMTP    ||          V                       |   |       |
   ||  RFC2822 ||       +------+                   |   |   /+==+==+\
   || Content  ||       | MTA  +-------------------+   |   || mdn ||
   ||  RFC2822 ||       +--+---+                       |   \+=====+/
   ||  MIME    ||          |    {local, smtp, lmtp     |       |
   \+==========+/          V                           |       |
         .              +------+                       |       |
         .              |      +-----------------------+       |
         .              | MDA  |                               |
         .              |      |<--------------------+         |
         .              +-+--+-+                     |         |
         .        local}  |  |                       |         |
         .                V  |                       |         |
         .          +------+ |                  /+===+===+\    |
         .          | MS-1 | |                  || sieve ||    |
         .          +-+--+-+ |                  \+=======+/    |
         .            |  |   |  {pop, imap           ^         |
         .            |  V   V                       |         |
         .            | +------+                     |         |
         .            | | MS-2 |                     |         |
         .            | +--+---+                     |         |
         .            |    |    {pop, imap, local    |         |
         .            V    V                         |         |
         .           +------+                        |         |
         ...........>| rMUA +------------------------+---------+
                     +------+

                    Figure 5: Protocols and delivery role.  In practical terms, email strings have
   become a common form Services

   Software implementations of user identity on the Internet.  What is
   essential, then, is to be clear about these architectural components often
   compress them, such as having the nature same software do MSA, MTA and role MDA
   functions.  However the requirements for each of these components of an
   identity string in a particular context and to be clear about
   the service are becoming more extensive.  So, their separation is
   increasingly common.



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   entity responsible for setting that string.

3.2  Domain Names


   NOTE:

      A domain name discussion about any interesting system architecture is often
      complicated by confusion between architecture versus
      implementation.  An architecture defines the conceptual functions
      of a global reference to an Internet resource, such service, divided into discrete conceptual modules.  An
      implementation of that architecture may combine or separate
      architectural components, as needed for a host, particular operational
      environment.  It is important not to confuse the engineering
      decisions that are made to implement a service or product, with the
      architectural abstractions used to define conceptual functions.


4.1  Message

   The purpose of the Mail Handling Service is to exchange a network.  A name usually maps message
   object among participants.  Hence, all of the underlying mechanisms
   are merely in the service of getting that message from its Originator
   to one or more
   IP Addresses. its Recipients.  A domain name can message may be administered to refer explicitly labeled as to
   individual users, but this is not common practice. its
   nature.  [RFC3458]

   A message comprises a transit handling envelope and the end-user
   message content.  The envelope contains handling information used by
   the Message Handling Service, or generated by it.  The name content is
   structure as a hierarchical sequence of sub-names, separated by dots
   (".").

   When not part of
   divided into a mailbox address, structured header and the body.  The body may be
   unstructured, simple text, or it may be a domain name is used in tree of multi-media
   subordinate objects.

   Internet mail has distinguished some special versions of messages,
   for exchanging control information:

   Delivery Status Notification (DSN):

      A Delivery Status Notification (DSN) may be generated by the Mail
      Handling Service (MSA, MTA or MDA) and sent to refer to a node that took action upon the message,
      RFC2821.MailFrom address.  It provides information about message
      transit, such as
   providing the administrative scope for a message identifier, transmission errors or
   performing transfer processing.

3.3 successful delivery.
      [RFC3461]

   Message Identifers Disposition Notification (MDN):

      A Message identifiers have two distinct parts, divided Disposition Notification (MDN) may be generated by an at-sign
   ("@").  The right-hand side contains a globally interpreted name for
   the administrative domain assigning the identifier.  The left-hand
   side of the at-sign contains a string that is globally opaque
      rMUA and
   serves is sent to uniquely identify the Disposition-Notification-To address.  It
      provides information about Recipient-side message within processing, such
      as indicating that the domain referenced
   on message has been read [RFC2298] or the right-hand side.  The duration form
      of uniqueness content that can be supported.  [RFC3297]





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   Message Filtering (SIEVE):

      SIEVE provides a means of specifying conditions for differential
      handling of mail, at the message
   identifier time of delivery.  [RFC3028]


4.1.1  Envelope

   Information that is undefined.

   The identifier may be assigned by the user directly used by, or by any component of produced by, the
   system along email
   transfer service is called the path.  Although "envelope".  It controls and records
   handling activities by the transfer service.  Internet mail standards provide for mail has a single identifier, more than one is sometimes assigned.

3.4  Identity Referencing Convention

   In
   fragmented framework for handling this document, fields references to identities are labeled "handling" information.  The
   envelope exists partly in a
   two-part, dotted notation. the transfer protocol SMTP [RFC2821] and
   partly in the message object [RFC2822].  The first part cites SMTP specification uses
   the document
   defining term to refer only to the identity and transfer-protocol information.

   NOTE:

      Due to the second defines frequent use of the name term "envelope" to refer only to
      SMTP constructs, there has been some call for using a different
      term, to label the larger set of information defined here.  So
      far, no alternative term has developed any community support.

   Direct envelope addressing information, as well as optional transfer
   directives, are carried within the
   identity.  Hence, <RFC2822.From> SMTP control channel.  Other
   envelope information, such as trace records, is carried within the From field in
   content header fields.  Upon delivery, SMTP-level envelope
   information is typically encoded within additional content header
   fields, such as Return-Path.

4.1.2  Message Header Fields

   Header fields are attribute/value pairs covering an extensible range
   of email service, user content header, and <RFC2821.MailFrom> user transaction meta-information.
   The core set of header fields is the address defined in the SMTP
   "Mail From" command.

4.  Protocols and Services

   NOTE: [RFC2822], [RFC0822].  It
   is common to extend this set, for different applications.  A discussion about any interesting system architecture complete
   set of registered header fields is being developed through
   [ID-hdr-reg].

   One danger with placing additional information in header fields is
   that Gateways often complicated by confusion between architecture versus
      implementation.  An architecture defines the conceptual functions alter or delete them.

4.1.3  Body

   The body of a service, divided into discrete conceptual modules.  An
      implementation a message might simply be lines of that architecture may combine ASCII text or separate
      architectural components, as needed for it might
   be structured into a particular operational
      environment. composition of multi-media, body-part
   attachments, using MIME [RFC2045], [RFC2046], [RFC2047], [RFC2048],
   and [RFC2049].  It is important not to confuse the engineering should be noted that MIME structures each



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      decisions that are made to implement


   body-part into a product, with the
      architectural abstractions used to define conceptual functions.

   Modern Internet email architecture distinguishes four types recursive set of
   functional components, arranged to support MIME header field meta-data and
   MIME Content sections.

4.1.4  Identity References in a store-and-forward
   service architecture:

                      +------+
         .............+ oMUA |<------------------------------+
         .            +--+---+                               |
         .               |      { smtp,submission            |
         .               V                                   |
         .            +------+                               |
         .            | MSA  |<--------------------+         |
         .            +--+---+                     |         |
         .               |      { smtp             |         |
         .               V                         |         |
         .            +------+                +====+====+    |
         .            | MTA  |                ||  dsn  ||    |
   +============+     +--+---+                +=========+    |
   ||  MESSAGE ||        .      { smtp           ^   ^       |
   ||          ||        .                       |   |       |
   ||(envelope)||        .                       |   |       |
   ||          ||        V                       | Message

   For a message in transit, the core uses of identity references
   combine into:

     +-----------------------+-------------+---------------------+
     | Layer                 |
   ||  RFC2822 ||     +------+ Field       | Set By              |   +===+===+
   ||          ||
     +-----------------------+-------------+---------------------+
     | MTA  +-------------------+ Message Body          |   || mdn ||
   || MIME    ||     +--+---+                       |   +=======+
   +============+        |      { local, smtp, lmtp  |       |
         .               V                           |       |
         .            +------+                       |       |
         .            |      +-----------------------+       |
         . Header | MDA Originator          |
     |
         . Message header fields |      |<--------------------+ From        |
         .            +-+--+-+ Originator          |
     |
         .   local }                       | Sender      | Source              |
     |
         .              V                       | Reply-To    | Originator          |
         .        +------+
     |                  +====+====+                       |
         . To, CC, BCC | MS-1 Originator          |
     |                  || sieve ||                       |
         .        +-+--+-+ Message-ID  |                  +=========+ Source              |
         .
     |                       | Received    |   { pop, imap         ^ Source, Relay, Dest |
         .
     |  V   V                       | Return-Path |
         . MDA, from MailFrom  | +------+
     |                       |
         . Resent-*    | Mediator            | MS-2
     | SMTP                  | HELO        |
         . Latest Relay Client | +--+---+
     |                       |
         . MailFrom    | Source              |     { pop, imap, local
     |                       |
         .          V    V RcptTo      | Originator          |
         .         +------+
     | IP                    |
         .........>| rMUA +------------------------+---------+



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                   +------+

   Software implementations of these architectural components often
   compress them, such as having the same software do MSA, MTA and MDA
   functions.  However the requirements for each of these components of
   the service are becoming more extensive.  So, their separation is
   increasingly common.

4.1  Service Components

4.1.1 IP Address  | Latest Relay Client |
     +-----------------------+-------------+---------------------+


4.2  Mail User Agent (MUA)

   A Mail User Agent (MUA) works on behalf of end-users and end-user
   applications.  It is their "representative" within the email service.

   At the origination side of the service, the oMUA is used to create a
   message and perform initial "submission" into the transfer
   infrastructure, via a Mail Submission Agent (MSA).  It may also
   perform any creation- and posting-time archival.  An MUA outbox is
   part of the origination-side MUA.

   The recipient-side Recipient-side rMUA works on behalf of the end-user recipient Recipient to
   process received mail.  This includes generating user-level return
   control messages, display and disposition of the received message,
   and closing or expanding the user communication loop, by initiating
   replies and forwarding new messages.

   An MUA may, itself, have a distributed architecture, such as
   implementing a "thin" user interface module on a limited end-user
   device, with the bulk of the MUA functionality operated remotely on a
   more capable server.  An example of such an architecture might use



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   IMAP [RFC3501] for most of the interactions between an MUA client and
   an MUA server.

   A Mediator is special class of MUA performs message re-posting, as
   discussed in
   the <Mediator> section. Section 2.1.

   Identity fields set by relevant to the MUA include:

   RFC2822.From

      Actor:

      Set by: Originator

      Names and addresses for author(s) of the message content are
      listed in the From header field






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   RFC2822.Reply-To

      Actor:

      Set by: Originator

      If a message recipient Recipient sends a reply message that would otherwise
      use the RFC2822.From field address(es) contained in the original
      message, then they are instead to use the address(es) in the
      RFC2822.Reply-To field.  In other words, this field is a direct
      override of the From field, for responses from recipients. Recipients.

   RFC2822.Sender

      Actor:

      Set by: Source

      This specifies the address responsible for submission submitting the message
      into the transfer service.  For efficiency, this field should be
      omitted if it contains the same address as RFC2822.From.  However
      this does not mean there is no Sender specified.  Rather, it means
      that that header field is virtual and that the address in the From
      field must be used.  Specification of the error return addresses
      -- the
      "notifications" "Notifications" (or "bounces") address, contained in
      RFC2821.MailFrom -- is made by the RFC2822.Sender.  Typically the
      notifications
      Notifications address is the same as the Sender address.  However
      some usage scenarios require it to be different.

   RFC2822.To, RFC2822.CC

      Actor: Recipient

      Set by: Originator

      These specify MUA recipient Recipient addresses.  The addresses in the
      fields might not be present in the RFC2821.RcptTo command.  The
      distinction between To and CC is subjective.  Generally, a To
      addressee is considered primary and is expected to take action on



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      the message.  A CC addressee typically receives a copy only for
      their information.

   RFC2822.BCC

      Actor: Recipient

      Set by: Originator

      A message might be copied to an addressee whose participation is
      not to be disclosed to the RFC2822.To or RFC2822.CC recipients. Recipients
      and, usually, not to the other BCC Recipients.  The BCC header
      field indicates a message copy to such a recipient. Recipient.  Typically,
      the field lists no addresses or only lists the address of the single recipient
      Recipient receiving the this copy.  This usually ensures
      that even other BCC recipients do not know of each other.  An MUA will typically make
      separate postings for TO and CC recipients, Recipients, versus BCC recipients. Recipients.
      The former will see no indication that any BCCs were sent, whereas
      the latter have a BCC field present.  It might be empty, contain a
      comment, or contain one or more BCC



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      preferences or the Originator.


4.1.2


4.3  Mail Submission Agent (MSA)

   A Mail Submission Agent (MSA) accepts the message submission from the
   oMUA and enforces the policies of the hosting network AD and the requirements
   of Internet standards.  Enforcement might be passive, involving
   review and approval or rejection, or it might be active, involving
   direct modification of the message.  An MSA implements a server
   function to MUAs and a client function to MTAs (or MDAs).

   Examples of MSA-styled functions, in the world of paper mail, might
   range across the very different capabilities of administrative
   assistants, postal drop boxes, and post office front-counter
   employees.

   The MUA/MSA interface can be implemented within a single host and use
   private conventions for their its interactions.  Historically,
   standards-based MUA/MSA interactions have used SMTP [RFC2821].
   However a recent alternative is SUBMISSION [RFC2476].  Although
   SUBMISSION derives from SMTP, it operates on a separate TCP port, and
   will typically impose distinct requirements, such as access
   authorization.

   Identities set by relevant to the MSA include:

   RFC2821.HELO or RFC2821.EHLO

      Actor:






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      Set by: Source

      The MSA may specify its hosting domain identity for the SMTP HELO
      or EHLO command operation.

   RFC2821.MailFrom

      Actor:

      Set by: Source

      This is an end-to-end string that specifies an email address for
      receiving return control information, such as "bounces".  The name
      of this field is misleading, because it is not required to specify
      either the author or the agent responsible for submitting the
      message.  Rather, the agent responsible for submission specifies
      the RFC2821.MailFrom address.  Ultimately the simple basis for
      deciding what address needs to be in the RFC2821.MailFrom is to
      determine what address needs to be informed about
      transmission-level problems (and, possibly, successes.




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   RFC2821.Rcpt-To

      Actor: Recipient successes.)

   RFC2821.RcptTo

      Set by: Originator

      This specifies the MUA inbox mailbox address of a recipient.  The string
      might not be visible in the message content header.  For example,
      the message destination address header fields, such as RFC2822.To,
      might specify a mailing list address, while the RFC2821.Rcpt-To RFC2821.RcptTo
      address specifies a member of that list.

   RFC2821.Received

      Actor:

      Set by: Source

      An MSA may record a Received header field, to indicate initial
      submission trace information, including originating host and MSA
      host domain names and/or IP Addresses.


4.1.3


4.4  Mail Transfer Agent (MTA)

   A Mail Transfer Agent (MTA)

   An <MTA> relays mail.  It is like a message to another other MTA packet-switch
   or to an <MDA>, IP router in a
   point-to-point exchange. that its job is to make routing assessments and to
   move the message closer to the Recipient(s).  Relaying is performed
   by a sequence of MTAs, until the message reaches its destination MDA.
   Hence an MTA implements both client and server MTA functionality.

   The basic functionality of an MTA is similar  It
   does not make changes to that of a packet
   switch addresses in the envelope or IP router.  That is, it does email store-and-forward email,
   with a routing decision determining where reformulate the next-hop destination
   shall be.
   content, except as transfer-encoding requirements dictate.  Also it
   may add trace information.



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   The primary "routing" mechanism for Internet mail is the DNS MX
   record [RFC1035].  As with most "link layer" network layer mechanisms Internet
   mail's SMTP supports a basic level of reliability, by virtue of
   providing for retransmission after al a temporary transfer failure.
   However the degree of persistence by an MTA can be highly variable.

   However

   Of course email objects are typically much larger than the payload of
   a packet or datagram, and the end-to-end latencies are typically much
   higher.  Contrary to typical packet switches (and Instant Messaging
   services) Internet mail MTAs typically store messages in a manner
   that allows recovery across services service interruptions, such as host
   system shutdown.

   Internet mail primarily uses SMTP [RFC2821], [RFC0821] to effect
   point-to-point transfers between peer MTAs.  Other transfer
   mechanisms include Batch SMTP [RFC2442] and ODMR [RFC2645] [RFC2645].

   An important characteristic of MTA-MTA communications, over the open
   Internet, is that they do not require prior arrangement between the
   independent administrations operating the different MTAs.  Given the
   importance of spontaneity and serendipity in the world of human
   communications, this lack of prearrangement, between the
   participants, is a core benefit of Internet mail and remains a core
   requirement for it.

   Identities relevant to the MTA include:

   RFC2821.HELO

      Set by: Relay

      The MTA may specify its hosting domain identity for the SMTP HELO
      or EHLO command.  This is the only standardized way of identifying
      the agent responsible for operation of the Relay, during the
      transfer operation.

   RFC2821.MailFrom

      Set by: Source

      This is an end-to-end string that specifies an email address for
      receiving return control Notifications, such as "bounces".  The
      name of this field is misleading, because it is not required to
      specify either the author or the agent responsible for submitting
      the message.  Rather, the agent responsible for submission
      specifies the MailFrom address.  Ultimately the simple basis for
      deciding what address needs to be in the RFC2821.MailFrom is to
      determine what address needs to be informed about



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   independent administrations operating the different MTAs.  Given the
   importance of spontaneity and serendipity in the world of human
   communications, this lack of prearrangement, between


      transmission-level problems (and, possibly, successes.)

   RFC2821.RcptTo

      Set by: Originator

      This specifies the
   participants, is a core benefit MUA mailbox address of Internet mail and remains a core
   requirement for it.

   Identities set by the MTA include:

   RFC2821.HELO

      Actor: Relay Recipient.  The MTA may specify its hosting domain identity for string
      might not be visible in the SMTP HELO
      or EHLO command operation.

   RFC2821.Return-Path

      Actor: Source

      The MDA records message content header.  For example,
      the RFC2821.MailFrom message destination address into an RFC2822 header field named Return-Path. fields, such as RFC2822.To,
      might specify a mailing list address, while the RFC2821.RcptTo
      address specifies a member of that list.

   RFC2822.Received

      Actor:

      Set by: Relay

      An MTA must record a Received header field, to indicate trace
      information, including source host and receiving host domain names
      and/or IP Addresses.


4.1.4


4.5  Mail Delivery Agent (MDA)

   The <MDA> delivers email to the recipient's inbox.

   A Mail Delivery Agent (MDA) delivers email to the Recipient's
   mailbox.  It can provide distinctive, address-based functionality,
   made possible by its detailed knowledge of the properties of the
   destination address.  This knowledge might also be present elsewhere
   in the recipient's Recipient's Administrative Domain, such as at an
   organizational border gateway. Relay.  However it is required for the MDA, if
   only because the MDA must know where to store deliver the message.
   This knowledge is used to achieve differential handling of messages.

   Using Internet protocols, delivery is can be effected with POP [RFC1939] or
   IMAP [RFC3501]. by a variety of
   standard protocols.  When coupled with an internal, local mechanism,
   SMTP
   permits [RFC2821] and LMTP [RFC2033] permit "push" delivery to the recipient
   Recipient system, at the initative initiative of the upstream email service.
   POP is [RFC1939] and IMAP [RFC3501] are used for "pull" delivery at the
   initiative of the recipient Recipient system.  Notably, SMTP and  POP effect a



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   transfer of message control from the email service to the recipient
   host.  In contrast, and IMAP provides on-going, interactive can also be used
   for repeated access to messages on a
   message store, and does not effect a transfer of message control to
   the end-user host.  Instead, control stays with the message store
   host that is being access by the user. remote MS.

   Identities set by relevant to the MDA include:

   RFC2821.HELO or RFC2821.EHLO

      Actor: Relay

   RFC2821.Return-Path

      Set by: Source

      The MDA may specify its hosting domain identity for records the RFC2821.MailFrom address into the SMTP HELO
      or EHLO command operation.
      RFC2822.Return-Path field.




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   RFC2822.Received

      Actors: Source, Relay, Dest

      Set by: Destination

      An MTA MDA must record a Received header field, to indicate trace
      information, including source host and receiving host domain names
      and/or IP Addresses.


4.1.5


4.6  Message Store (MS)

   An MUA's uses MUA can use a long-term Message Store (MS).  A rich set of choices
   for the use of that store derives from permitting more than one to be
   associated with a single user, demonstrated as MS-1 and MS-2 in the
   Figure.
   Figure 5.  MS-1 is shown as being remote from the MUA and MS-2 as
   being local.  Further the relationship between two message store may
   vary.  Between the MDA and the MUA, these choices are supported by a
   wide variety of protocol options.

   The operational relationship among two MSs can be:

   Online:

      Only a remote MS is used, with messages being accessible only when
      the MUA is attached to the MS, and the MUA repeatedly fetches all
      or part of a message, from one session to the next.

   Offline:  The MS is local to the user, and messages are moved from
      any remote store, rather than (also) being retained there.

   Disconnected:  A remote MS and a local MS synchronize all or parts of
      their contents, while connected.  The user may make changes while
      disconnected, and the two stores are re-synchronized upon
      reconnection.




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4.2  Operational Configuration

   Mail service components can be arranged into numerous organizational
   structures, each with independent software and administration.  One
   common arrangement is to distinguish:

   1.  an open, core, global email transfer infrastructure

   2.  independent transfer services in networks at the edge of the core

   3.  end-user services

   Edge networks may use proprietary email standards.  However the
   distinction between "public" network and edge network transfer
   services is primarily significant because it highlights the need for
   concern over interaction and protection between independent
   administrations.  In particular, this distinctions calls for
   additional care in assessing transitions of responsibility, as well
   as the accountability and authorization relationships among
   participants in email transfer.

   On the other hand, real-world operations of Internet mail
   environments do impose boundaries such as access control at
   organizational firewalls to the Internet.  It should be noted that
   the current Internet Mail architecture offers no special constructs
   for these configuration choices.  The current design of Internet mail
   is for a seamless, end-to-end store-and-forward sequence.  It one session to the next.

   Offline:

      The MS is
   possible that local to the architectural enhancement will not require new
   protocols, but user, and messages are moved from any
      remote store, rather will require clarification than (also) being retained there.

   Disconnected:

      A remote MS and a local MS synchronize all or parts of best practises,
   as exemplified by their
      contents, while connected.  The user may make changes while
      disconnected, and the two stores are re-synchronized upon
      reconnection.


5.  Mediators

   Basic email transfer is accomplished with an asynchronous
   store-and-forward communication infrastructure, in a recent effort [ID-spamops]

4.3  Layers sequence of Identity References
   independent transmissions through some number of MTAs.  A very
   different task is a User-level sequence of postings and deliveries,
   through Mediators.  For such re-postings, a message in transit, the core identity fields combine into: Mediator does share some
   functionality with basic MTA relaying, but it enjoys a degree of



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     +-----------------------+-------------+---------------------+
     | Layer                 | Field       |


   freedom with both addressing and content that is not available to
   MTAs.

   RFC2821.HELO or RFC2821.EHLO

      Set By              |
     +-----------------------+-------------+---------------------+
     | Message Content       | MIME Header | Originator          |
     | Message header fields | From        | Originator          |
     |                       | Sender      | Source              |
     |                       | Reply-To    | Originator          |
     |                       | To, CC, BCC | Originator          |
     |                       | Received    | Source, Relay, Dest |
     |                       | Return-Path | MDA, from MailFrom  |
     | SMTP                  | HELO        | Latest Relay Client |
     |                       | MailFrom    | by: Source              |
     |                       | RCPT-TO     | Originator          |
     | IP                    | IP Address  | Latest or Relay Client |
     +-----------------------+-------------+---------------------+


5.  Message Data

5.1  Envelope

   Information

      The MSA may specify its hosting domain identity for the SMTP HELO
      or EHLO command operation.

   RFC2821.MailFrom

      Set by: Source

      This is an end-to-end string that specifies an email address for
      receiving return control Notifications, such as "bounces".  The
      name of this field is directly used misleading, because it is not required to
      specify either the author or produced by the email transfer
   service is called agent responsible for submitting
      the "envelope".  It controls and records handling
   activities by message.  Rather, the transfer service.  Internet mail has a fragmented
   framework agent responsible for handling this "handling" information.  The envelope
   exists partly in submission
      specifies the transfer protocol SMTP [RFC2821] and partly RFC2821.MailFrom address.  Ultimately the simple
      basis for deciding what address needs to be in the message object [RFC2822].

   Direct envelope addressing information, as well as optional transfer
   directives, are carried in-band by MTAs.  All other envelope
   information, such as trace records,
      RFC2821.MailFrom is carried within to determine what address needs to be informed
      about transmission-level problems (and, possibly, successes.)

   RFC2821.RcptTo

      Set by: Mediator

      This specifies the MUA mailbox address of a Recipient.  The string
      might not be visible in the message content
   header fields.  Upon delivery, SMTP-level envelope information is
   typically encoded within additional content header.  For example,
      the message destination address header fields, such as
   Return-Path and Received (From and For).

5.2  Message Header Fields

   Header fields are attribute/value pairs covering an extensible range RFC2822.To,
      might specify a mailing list address, while the RFC2821.RcptTo
      address specifies a member of email service, user content that list.

   RFC2821.Received

      Set by: Mediator

      An MSA may record a Received header field, to indicate initial
      submission trace information, including originating host and user transaction meta-information. MSA
      host domain names and/or IP Addresses.

   The core set of header fields is defined in [RFC2822], [RFC0822].  It
   is common to extend this set, for different applications.  A complete
   set salient aspect of registered header fields is being developed through
   [ID-hdr-reg].

   One danger with placing additional information in header fields a Mediator, that distinguishes it from any
   other MUA creating an entirely new message, is that gateways often alter or delete them. a Mediator
   preserves the integrity and tone of the original message, including
   the essential aspects of the original origination information.  The
   Mediator might also add commentary.




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5.3  Body

   The body


   Examples of a MUA message might simply be lines of ASCII text or it might
   be structured into a composition of multi-media, body-part
   attachments, using MIME [RFC2045], [RFC2046], [RFC2047], [RFC2048],
   and [RFC2049].  It should be noted creation that MIME structures each
   body-part into are not performed by Mediators
   include:

   New Message Forwarding Existing Message:

      Curiously, this action provides a recursive set of MIME header field meta-data and
   MIME Content sections.

6.  Two Levels basic template for a class of Store-And-Forward

   Basic email transfer
      Mediators.  However by itself, it's typical occurrence is accomplished with not, in
      fact, an asynchronous
   store-and-forward communication infrastructure.  This means that
   moving example of a Mediator.  The new message is viewed as
      being from an originator to a recipient involves a
   sequence of independent transmissions through some number of
   intermediaries, called MTAs. the Agent doing the forwarding, rather than being from
      the original Originator.

      A very different task new message encapsulates the original message and is seen as
      strictly "from" the user-level
   process Mediator.  The Mediator might add commentary
      and certainly has the opportunity to modify the original message
      content.  The forwarded message is therefore independent of re-posting a the
      original message through exchange and creates a new submission process,
   after message dialogue.
      However the final delivery for an earlier transfer sequence.  Such
   MUA-based re-posting shares some functionality with basic MTA
   relaying, but it enjoys Recipient sees the contained message as from the
      original Originator.

   Reply:

      When a degree of freedom with both addressing and
   content that is not available Recipient formulates a response to MTAs.

   The primary "routing" mechanism for Internet mail is a message, the DNS MX
   record [RFC1035].  It new
      message is an advertisement, by not typically viewed as being a recipient domain, "forwarding" of
   hosts that are able to relay mail to it, within the portion of
      original.  It's focus is the
   Internet served by this instance new content; any inclusion of
      material from the DNS.

6.1  MTA Relaying

   MTAs relay mail.  They are like packet-switches and IP routers.
   Their job original message is to make routing assessments contextual and to move secondary.

   Annotator:

      The integrity of the original message
   payload data closer to the recipient.  It is not their job to
   reformulate the payload usually preserved, but
      one or to change addresses in more comments about the envelope or message are added in a manner that
      distinguishes commentary from original text.  The tone of the
   content.

6.2  MUA Forwarding

   As discussed new
      message is that it is primarily commentary from a new Originator,
      similar to a Reply.

   The remainder of this section describes common examples of Mediators.

5.1  Aliasing

   A simple re-addressing facility that is available in <Mediator> section, forwarding most MDA
   implementations is called Aliasing.  It is performed by MUAs
   that take just before
   delivering a received message and submit it to the specified Recipient's mailbox.  Instead,
   the message is submitted back to the transfer service, for delivery
   to one or more different alternate addresses.  A
   forwarded message may appear identical to a relayed message, such as
   for Alias forwarders, or it may have minimal similarity,  Although implemented as with part of
   the message delivery service, this facility is strictly a
   Reply.

6.2.1  MUA Basic Forwarding

   The simplest type of forwarding involves creating an entirely new Recipient
   user function.  It resubmits the message, with new content, replacing the envelope
   address, on behalf of the mailbox address that includes was listed in the original message between
   envelope.




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   Originator-1 and Recipient-1.  However


   What is most distinctive about this forwarded communication forwarding mechanism is between Recipient-1 (who could also be called Originator-2) and how
   closely it compares to normal MTA store-and-forward Relaying.  In
   reality its only interesting difference is that it changes the
   RFC2821.RcptTo value.

   An MDA that is re-posting a
   new recipient, Recipient-2.  The forwarded message is therefore
   independent to an alias typically changes
   only envelope information:

   RFC2822.TO, RFC2822.CC, RFC2822.BCC

      Set by: Originator

      These retain their original addresses.

   RFC2821.RcptTo

      Set by: Mediator

      This field contains an alias address.

   RFC2821.MailFrom

      Set by: Mediator or original Source

      The agent responsible for submission to an alias address will
      often retain the original address to receive handling
      Notifications.  The benefit of retaining the original message exchange and creates a new
   message dialogue.

6.2.2  MUA Re-Sending

   A recipient may wish MailFrom
      value is to declare ensure that an alternate addressee should
   take on the origination-side agent knows that
      there has been a delivery problem.  On the other hand, the
      responsibility for a message, or otherwise become involved in the problem usually lies with the Recipient,
      since the Alias mechanism is strictly under the Recipient's
      control.

   RFC2821.Received

      Set by: Mediator

      The agent should record Received information, to indicate the
      delivery to the original communication.  They do this address and submission to the alias
      address.  The trace of Received header fields should therefore
      include everything from original posting through a user-level
   forwarding function, final delivery to
      the alias.


5.2  ReSending

   Also called re-sending.  The act ReDirecting, ReSending differs from Forwarding by virtue
   of re-sending, or
   re-directing, splices having the Mediator "splice" a communication between Originator-1 and
   Recipient-1, message's addressing information,



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   to become a communication between Originator-1 and new
   Recipient-2.  In this case, connect the content Originator of the new original message is and the old
   message, including preservation Recipient
   of the essential aspects of new message.  This permits them to have direct exchange, using
   their normal MUA Reply functions.  Hence the new Recipient sees the
   message as being From the original message's origination information. Originator, even if the Mediator
   adds commentary.

   Identities specified in a resent message include

   RFC2822.From

      Actor:

      Set by: original Originator

      Names and email addresses for the original author(s) of the
      message content are retained.  The free-form (display-name)
      portion of the address might be modified to provide informal
      reference to the agent responsible for the redirection.

   RFC2822.Reply-To

      Actor:

      Set by: original Originator

      If this field is present in the original message, it should be is retained
      in the Re-sent Resent message.

   RFC2822.Sender

      Actor:

      Set by: original Source

      This field is expected to contain the original Sender value.

   RFC2822.TO, RFC2822.CC, RFC2822.BCC

      Actor: Recipient






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      Set by: original Originator

      These specify the original message recipients. Recipients.

   RFC2822.Resent-From

      Actor: Mediating Originator

      Set by: Mediator

      The address of the original recipient Recipient who is redirecting the
      message.  Otherwise, the same rules apply for the Resent-From
      field as for an original RFC2822.From field

   RFC2822.Resent-Sender

      Actor: Mediating Source






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      Set by: Mediator

      The address of the agent responsible for re-submitting the
      message.  For efficiency, efficiency this field should be is often omitted if it
      contains the same address as RFC2822.Resent-From.  However this
      does not mean there is no Resend-Sender specified.  Rather, it
      means that that header field is virtual and that the address in
      the Resent-From field must be used.  Specification of the error
      return addresses (the "bounces" Notification address, contained in
      RFC2821.MailFrom) is made by the Resent-Sender.  Typically the
      bounce
      Notifications address is the same as the Resent-Sender address.
      However some usage scenarios require it to be different.

   RFC2822.Resent-To, RFC2822.Resent-cc, RFC2822.Resent-bcc:  Actor:
      Recipient

      Set by: Mediator

      The addresses of the new recipients Recipients who will now be able to reply
      to the original author.

   RFC2821.MailFrom

      Actor: Mediating Source

      Set by: Mediator

      The agent responsible for re-submission (RFC2822.Resent-Sender) is
      also responsible for specifying the new RFC2821.MailFrom MailFrom address.

   RFC2821.Rcpt-to

      Actor: Recipient

   RFC2821.RcptTo

      Set by: Mediator

      This will contain the address of a new recipient Recipient

   RFC2822.Received






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      Actor: Mediating Source

      Set by: Mediator

      When re-sending resending a message, the submission agent may record a
      Received header field, to indicate the transition from original
      posting to resubmission.


6.2.3  MUA Reply

   When


5.3  Mailing Lists

   Mailing lists have explicit email addresses and they forward messages
   to a recipient formulates list of subscribed members.  The Mailing List Actor performs a response
   task that can be viewed as an elaboration of the ReDirector role.  In
   addition to a message, sending the new message
   is not typically viewed as being to a "forwarding" potentially large number of



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   new Recipients, the original.

6.2.4  MUA Gateways

   Gateways perform the basic routing Mediator can modify content, such as deleting
   attachments, formatting conversion, and transfer work of message
   relaying, but they also make any message or address modifications
   that are needed to send adding list-specific
   comments.  In addition, archiving list messages is common.  Still,
   the message into retains characteristics of being "from" the next messaging
   environment.  When original
   Originator.

   Identities relevant to a gateway connects two differing messaging
   services, its role mailing list processor, when submitting a
   message, include:

   RFC2919.List-id

      Set by: Mediator

      This provides a global mailing list naming framework that is easy to identify and understand.  When
      independent of particular hosts.  Although [RFC2919] is a
      standards-track specification, it
   connects environments that have technical similarity, but may have has not gained significant administrative differences, it is easy to think that
      adoption.

   RFC2369.List-*

      Set by: Mediator

      [RFC2369] defines a
   gateway is merely an MTA. collection of message header fields for use by
      mailing lists.  In effect, they supply list-specific parameters
      for common mailing list user operations.  The critical distinguish between an MTA identifiers for
      these operations are for the list, itself, and a gateway is that the latter modifies addresses and/or message
   content.

   A gateway may set any identity field available to a regular MUA.
   Identities typically set by gateways include:
      user-as-subscriber.

   RFC2822.From

      Actor:

      Set by: original Originator

      Names and email addresses for the original author(s) of the
      message content are retained.  As specified.

   RFC2822.Reply-To

      Set by: original Originator or Mediator

      Mailing lists have introduced an ambiguity for the Reply-To field.
      Some List operations choose to force all original addressing
      information in replies to go to all list
      members.  They achieve this by placing the message, list address into the gateway may translate addresses in
      whatever way will allow them continue
      RFC2822.Reply-To field.  Hence, direct, "private" replies only to
      the original author cannot be useful in achieved by using the target
      environment.

   RFC2822.Reply-To

      Actor: Originator

      The gateway should retain this information, if it is originally
      present.  The ability MUA's typical
      "reply to perform a successful reply by author" function.  If the author created a gatewayed
      recipient Reply-To
      field, its information is a typical test of gateway functionality. lost.





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   RFC2822.Sender

      Actor:

      Set by: original Source or Mediator

      This may retain will usually specify the original value or may be set to a new address

   RFC2822.TO, RFC2822.CC, RFC2822.BCC

      Actor: Recipient

      These usually retain their original addresses.

   RFC2821.MailFrom

      Actor: Source

      The of the agent responsible for gatewaying the message may choose to
      specify
      mailing list operations.  However, some mailing lists operate in a new address
      manner very similar to receive handling notices.

   RFC2822.Receive

      Actors - Source, Relay, Dest

      The gateway may record a Received header field, to indicate the
      transition from original posting to the new messaging environment.


6.2.5  MUA Alias Handling

   A simple re-addressing facility MTA Relay, so that is available in most MDA
   implementations is called Aliasing.  It is performed just before
   placing a message into the specified recipient's inbox.  Instead, the
   message is submitted back to the transfer service, for delivery to
   one or more alternate addresses.  Although implemented they preserve
      as part of the
   message delivery service, this facility is strictly a recipient user
   function.  In effect it resubmits the message to a new address, on
   behalf much of the listed recipient.

   What is most distinctive about this forwarding mechanism is how
   closely it compares to normal MTA store-and-forward.  In reality its
   only interesting difference is that it changes the RFC2821.RCPT-TO
   value.  Notably it does not typically change original handling information as possible,
      including the RFC2821.Mailfrom

   An MDA that is re-posting a message to an alias typically changes
   only envelope information:






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   RFC2822.TO, RFC2822.CC, RFC2822.BCC

      Actor: Recipient original RFC2822.Sender field.

   RFC2822.TO, RFC2822.CC

      Set by: original Originator

      These retain their will usually contain the original addresses.

   RFC2821.Rcpt-To

      Actor: list of Recipient

      This field contains an alias address.
      addresses.

   RFC2821.MailFrom

      Actor: Mediating

      Set by: original Source

      The agent responsible for submission to an alias address will
      usually retain or Mediator

      This may contain the original address to receive handling
      notifications.  The benefit be notified of retaining
      transmission issues, or the mailing list agent may set it to
      contain a new Notification address.  Typically, the original MailFrom value is set
      to ensure a new address, so that mailing list members and posters are not
      burdened with transmission-related Notifications.

   RFC2821.RcptTo

      Set by: Mediator

      This contains the origination-side agent knows address of that
      there has been a delivery problem.  On the other hand, the
      responsibility for the problem usually lies with the recipient,
      since the Alias mechanism is strictly under the recipient's
      control. mailing list member.

   RFC2821.Received

      Actor: Mediating Recipient

      The agent

      Set by: Mediator

      An Mailing List Agent should record a Received information, header field, to
      indicate the
      delivery to the transition from original address and submission posting to the alias
      address. mailing list
      forwarding.  The trace Agent may choose to have the message retain the
      original set of Received header fields should include
      everything from original posting through final delivery to the
      alias.


6.2.6  MUA Mailing Lists

   Mailing lists have explicit email addresses and they forward messages or may choose to a list of subscribed members.  Mailing list processing is a
   user-level activity, outside of remove
      them.  In the core email transfer service.  The
   mailing list address is, therefore, associated with a distinct
   user-level entity latter case, it should ensure that can perform arbitrary actions upon the original message, before submitting it to the mailing list
   membership.  Hence, mailing lists are similar to gateways.

   Identities set by a mailing list processor, when submitting a
   message, include:
      Received header fields are otherwise available, to ensure later
      accountability and diagnostic access to it.







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   RFC2919.List-id

      Actor: Mediating Originator

      This provides a global mailing list naming framework that is
      independent


5.4  Gateways

   Gateways perform the basic routing and transfer work of particular hosts.  Although [RFC2919] is message
   relaying, but they also make any message or address modifications
   that are needed to send the message into the next messaging
   environment.  When a
      standards-track specification, Gateway connects two differing messaging
   services, its role is easy to identify and understand.  When it has not gained
   connects environments that have technical similarity, but may have
   significant
      adoption.

   RFC2369.List-*

      Actor: Mediating Recipient

      [RFC2369] defines administrative differences, it is easy to think that a collection of message header fields for use by
      mailing lists.  In effect, they supply list-specific parameters
      for common mailing list user operations.
   Gateway is merely an MTA.  The identifiers for
      these operations are for the list, itself, critical distinction between an MTA
   and a Gateway is that the
      user-as-subscriber. latter transforms addresses and/or message
   content, in order to map between the standards of two, different
   messaging services.  In virtually all cases, this mapping process
   results in some degree of semantic loss.  The challenge of Gateway
   design is to minimize this loss.

   A Gateway may set any identity field available to a regular MUA.
   Identities typically relevant to Gateways include:

   RFC2822.From

      Actor:

      Set by: original Originator

      Names and email addresses for the original author(s) of the
      message content are specified.

   RFC2822.Reply-To

      Actor: Originator

      Mailing lists have introduced an ambiguity retained.  As for the Reply-To field.
      Some List operations choose to force all replies to go to all list
      members.  They achieve this by placing the list address into the
      RFC2822.Reply-To field.  Hence, direct, "private" replies only to
      the original author cannot be achieved by using addressing
      information in the MUA's typical
      "reply message, the Gateway may translate addresses in
      whatever way will allow them continue to author" function.  If be useful in the author created target
      environment.

   RFC2822.Reply-To

      Set by: original Originator

      The Gateway should retain this information, if it is originally
      present.  The ability to perform a Reply-To
      field, its information successful reply by a Gatewayed
      Recipient is lost. a typical test of Gateway functionality.

   RFC2822.Sender

      Actor:

      Set by: original Source or Mediator

      This will usually specify the address of may retain the agent responsible for
      mailing list operations.  However, some mailing lists operate in a
      manner very similar original value or may be set to a simple MTA relay, so that they preserve
      as much of the original handling information as possible,
      including the new address

   RFC2822.TO, RFC2822.CC, RFC2822.BCC

      Set by: original RFC2822.Sender field. Recipient





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   RFC2822.TO, RFC2822.CC

      Actor: Mediating Recipient


      These will usually contain the retain their original list of recipient addresses.

   RFC2821.MailFrom

      Actor: Mediating Source

      This may contain the

      Set by: original address to be notified of
      transmission issues, Source or the mailing list Mediator

      The agent may set it to
      contain a new notification address.  Typically, responsible for gatewaying the value is set message may choose to
      specify a new address, so that mailing list members and posters are not
      burdened with transmission-related notifications.

   RFC2821.Rcpt-To

      Actor: Recipient

      This contains the address of a mailing list member.

   RFC2821.Received

      Actor: Mediating Recipient

      An Mailing List Agent should to receive handling notices.

   RFC2822.Received

      Set by: Mediator

      The Gateway may record a Received header field, to indicate the
      transition from original posting to mailing list
      forwarding.  The Agent may choose to have the new messaging environment.


5.5  Security Filter

   Organizations often enforce security boundaries by having message retain
   subjected to analysis for conformance with the
      original set organization's safety
   policies.  Examples are detection of Received header fields content classed as spam or may choose to remove
      them.  In a
   virus.  A Security Filter might alter the latter case, content, to render it should ensure safe,
   such as by removing content deemed unacceptable.  Typically these
   actions will result in the addition of content that records the original
      Received header fields are otherwise available, to ensure later
      accountability and diagnostic access to it.


7.
   actions.

6.  Security Considerations

   This document does not specify any new Internet mail functionality.
   Consequently it should introduce no new security considerations.

   However its discussion of the roles and responsibilities for
   different mail service modules, and the information they create,
   highlights the considerable security considerations that must be
   present when implementing any component of the Internet mail service.






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8

7.  References

7.1  References - Normative

   [ID-hdr-reg]
              "Registration of mail and MIME header fields",
              draft-klyne-hdrreg-mail-04.txt (work in progress), Apr
              2004.

   [ID-spamops]
              Hutzler, C., Crocker, D., Resnick, P., Sanderson, R. and
              E. Allman, "Email Submission Between Independent
              Networks", draft-spamops-00 (work in progress), March
              2004.

   [RFC0821]  Postel, J., "Simple Mail Transfer Protocol", STD 10, RFC
              821, August 1982.



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   [RFC0822]  Crocker, D., "Standard for the format of ARPA Internet
              text messages", STD 11, RFC 822, August 1982.

   [RFC1034]  Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - concepts and facilities",
              STD 13, RFC 1034, November 1987.

   [RFC1035]  Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - implementation and
              specification", STD 13, RFC 1035, November 1987.

   [RFC1939]  Myers, J. and M. Rose, "Post Office Protocol - Version 3",
              STD 53, RFC 1939, May 1996.

   [RFC2033]  Myers, J., "Local Mail Transfer Protocol", RFC 2033,
              October 1996.

   [RFC2045]  Freed, N. and N. Borenstein, "Multipurpose Internet Mail
              Extensions (MIME) Part One: Format of Internet Message
              Bodies", RFC 2045, November 1996.

   [RFC2046]  Freed, N. and N. Borenstein, "Multipurpose Internet Mail
              Extensions (MIME) Part Two: Media Types", RFC 2046,
              November 1996.

   [RFC2047]  Moore, K., "MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions)
              Part Three: Message Header Extensions for Non-ASCII Text",
              RFC 2047, November 1996.

   [RFC2048]  Freed, N., Klensin, J. and J. Postel, "Multipurpose
              Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) Part Four: Registration
              Procedures", BCP 13, RFC 2048, November 1996.

   [RFC2049]  Freed, N. and N. Borenstein, "Multipurpose Internet Mail



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              Extensions (MIME) Part Five: Conformance Criteria and
              Examples", RFC 2049, November 1996.

   [RFC2181]  Elz, R. and R. Bush, "Clarifications to the DNS
              Specification", RFC 2181, July 1997.

   [RFC2298]  Fajman, R., "An Extensible Message Format for Message
              Disposition Notifications", RFC 2298, March 1998.

   [RFC2304]  Allocchio, C., "Minimal FAX address format in Internet
              Mail", RFC 2304, March 1998.

   [RFC2369]  Neufeld, G. and J. Baer, "The Use of URLs as Meta-Syntax
              for Core Mail List Commands and their Transport through
              Message Header Fields", RFC 2369, July 1998.




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   [RFC2421]  Vaudreuil, G. and G. Parsons, "Voice Profile for Internet
              Mail - version 2", RFC 2421, September 1998.

   [RFC2423]  Vaudreuil, G. and G. Parsons, "VPIM Voice Message MIME
              Sub-type Registration", RFC 2423, September 1998.

   [RFC2442]  "The Batch SMTP Media Type", RFC 2442, November 1998.

   [RFC2476]  Gellens, R. and J. Klensin, "Message Submission", RFC
              2476, December 1998.

   [RFC2645]  "On-Demand Mail Relay (ODMR) SMTP with Dynamic IP
              Addresses", RFC 2465, August 1999.

   [RFC2782]  Gulbrandsen, A., Vixie, P. and L. Esibov, "A DNS RR for
              specifying the location of services (DNS SRV)", RFC 2782,
              February 2000.

   [RFC2821]  Klensin, J., "Simple Mail Transfer Protocol", RFC 2821,
              April 2001.

   [RFC2822]  Resnick, P., "Internet Message Format", RFC 2822, April
              2001.

   [RFC2919]  Chandhok, R. and G. Wenger, "List-Id: A Structured Field
              and Namespace for the Identification of Mailing Lists",
              RFC 2919, March 2001.

   [RFC3028]  Showalter, T., "Sieve: A Mail Filtering Language", RFC
              3028, January 2001.

   [RFC3297]  Klyne, G., Iwazaki, R. and D. Crocker, "Content
              Negotiation for Messaging Services based on Email", RFC
              3297, July 2002.

   [RFC3458]  Burger, E., Candell, E., Eliot, C. and G. Klyne, "Message
              Context for Internet Mail", RFC 3458, January 2003.

   [RFC3461]  Moore, K., "Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) Service



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              Extension for Delivery Status Notifications (DSNs)", RFC
              3461, January 2003.

   [RFC3501]  Crispin, M., "Internet Message Access Protocol - Version
              4rev1", RFC 3501, March 2003.

7.2  Reference - Descriptive

   [ID-ffpim]
              Crocker, D. and G. Klyne, "Full-mode Fax Profile for
              Internet Mail: FFPIM", March 2004.

   [ID-spamops]



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              Hutzler, C., Crocker, D., Resnick, P., Sanderson, R. and
              E. Allman, "Email Submission Between Independent
              Networks", draft-spamops-00 (work in progress), March
              2004.

   [RFC1767]  Crocker, D., "MIME Encapsulation of EDI Objects", RFC
              1767, March 1995.


Author's Address

   Dave Crocker
   Brandenburg InternetWorking
   675 Spruce Drive
   Sunnyvale, CA  94086
   USA

   Phone: +1.408.246.8253
   EMail: dcrocker@bbiw.net

Appendix A.  Acknowledgements

   The Email Architecture section

   This work derives from a section in draft-hutzler-spamops
   [ID-spamops].  The text has been further elaborated.  Discussion of the Source actor role was greatly
   clarified during discussions in the IETF's Marid working group.

   Graham Klyne, Pete Resnick and Steve Atkins provided thoughtful
   insight on the framework and details of early drafts.

   Additional review and suggestions were provided by Nathaniel
   Borenstein, Ed Bradford, Cyrus Daboo, Frank Ellermann, Tony Finch,
   Ned Freed, Eric Hall, Bruce Lilly,
   Eric Hall, Mark E.  Mallett, Chris Newman,
   Daryl Odnert, Rahmat M.  Samik-Ibrahim, Hector Santos, Jochen Topf. Topf,
   Willemien.

















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