Difference between revisions of "Mail server"

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A [[mail server]] (hereinafter, the ''Server'') is any digital construct that is located in a computer network under its distinguishable [[hostname]] in order to accept, analyze, adjust, clarify, and transfer [[email|electronic mail message]]s (or, simply, [[email]]s) from [[mail user agent]]s ([[mail user agent|MUA]]s) to [[mail exchanger]]s ([[mail exchanger|MX host]]s) and vice versa.
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A [[mail server]] (hereinafter, the ''Server'') is any digital construct that is located in a computer network under its distinguishable [[hostname]] in order to accept, analyze, adjust, clarify, and transfer [[email|electronic mail message]]s (or, simply, [[email]]s) from [[mail client]]s to [[mail exchanger]]s ([[mail exchanger|MX host]]s) and vice versa.
  
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The ''Server'' can also refer to [[mail server software]]. More broadly, [[email software]] may refer to all the software utilized for [[mail user agent|MUA]]s, the ''Servers'', or [[mail exchanger]]s.  
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The ''Server'' can also refer to [[mail server software]]. More broadly, [[email software]] may refer to all the software utilized for [[mail client]]s, the ''Servers'', or [[mail exchanger]]s.  
  
  
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:To communicate with:
 
:To communicate with:
 
#[[Mail exchanger]]s, all the ''Servers'' use the [[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol]] ([[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol|SMTP]]).
 
#[[Mail exchanger]]s, all the ''Servers'' use the [[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol]] ([[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol|SMTP]]).
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#[[Mail user agent]]s ([[mail user agent|MUA]]s), the ''Servers'' use a variety of protocols, most commonly, [[POP3]] and/or [[IMAP]].
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#[[Mail client]]s, the ''Servers'' use a variety of protocols, most commonly, [[POP3]] and/or [[IMAP]].
  
 
===Functions===
 
===Functions===
 
:With regard to:
 
:With regard to:
 
:*'''Outgoing''' messages, the ''Servers'' may be designed to:
 
:*'''Outgoing''' messages, the ''Servers'' may be designed to:
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:*#Accept messages from [[mail user agent]]s.
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:*#Accept messages from [[mail client]]s.
 
:*#Analyze messages looking for their inconsistencies and/or missing data.
 
:*#Analyze messages looking for their inconsistencies and/or missing data.
 
:*#Adjust messages while correcting inconsistencies and/or adding the missing data.
 
:*#Adjust messages while correcting inconsistencies and/or adding the missing data.
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:*#Analyze messages looking for their inconsistencies and/or missing data.
 
:*#Analyze messages looking for their inconsistencies and/or missing data.
 
:*#Add information about the found inconsistencies and/or missing data to the messages.
 
:*#Add information about the found inconsistencies and/or missing data to the messages.
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:*#Transfer messages to [[mail user agent]]s.
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:*#Transfer messages to [[mail client]]s.
  
 
===Hosting===
 
===Hosting===
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:To communicate with [[mail user agent|MUA]]s and [[mail exchanger]]s, the ''Servers'' shall be located between those two.
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:To communicate with [[mail client]]s and [[mail exchanger]]s, the ''Servers'' shall be located between those two.
  
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:#'''[[Mail user agent|MUA]]s''' are hosted at either:
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:#'''[[Mail client]]s''' are hosted at either:
 
:#*End-user devices such as a mail app on a cell phone; or
 
:#*End-user devices such as a mail app on a cell phone; or
 
:#*Mail service provider such as [[Gmail]] locations.
 
:#*Mail service provider such as [[Gmail]] locations.
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:#'''The ''Servers''''' are hosted by local computing devices that are connected to the [[Internet]]. On the one side, they can be colocated with [[Mail user agent|MUA]]s, especially if the [[Mail user agent|MUA]] is hosted by a mail service provider. On another side, the ''Server'' can can colocated with [[mail exchanger]]s when the mail service provider is an [[Internet service provider]] ([[Internet service provider|ISP]]). [[Unix]]-based [[operating system]]s include the ''Server'' in their bundles, so do some [[end-user application]]s such as [[MediaWiki]], [[Moodle]], and [[Redmine]]. At the same time, the ''Servers'' can also be hosted separately from [[Mail user agent|MUA]]s and [[mail exchanger]]s.
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:#'''The ''Servers''''' are hosted by local computing devices that are connected to the [[Internet]]. On the one side, they can be colocated with [[mail client]]s, especially if the [[mail client]] is hosted by a mail service provider. On another side, the ''Server'' can can colocated with [[mail exchanger]]s when the mail service provider is an [[Internet service provider]] ([[Internet service provider|ISP]]). [[Unix]]-based [[operating system]]s include the ''Server'' in their bundles, so do some [[end-user application]]s such as [[MediaWiki]], [[Moodle]], and [[Redmine]]. At the same time, the ''Servers'' can also be hosted separately from [[mail client]]s and [[mail exchanger]]s.
 
:#'''[[Mail exchanger]]s''' are hosted by [[Internet service provider]]s ([[Internet service provider|ISP]]s), who also run [[DNS resolver]]s, which provide [[mail exchanger]]s with [[DNS record]]s.
 
:#'''[[Mail exchanger]]s''' are hosted by [[Internet service provider]]s ([[Internet service provider|ISP]]s), who also run [[DNS resolver]]s, which provide [[mail exchanger]]s with [[DNS record]]s.
  
 
===Agents===
 
===Agents===
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:*'''[[Mail submission agent]]''' (also known as [[outgoing mail server]], [[message submission agent]] or by its acronym [[MSA]]), which is a [[computer application]] used to accept, analyze, correct, and send [[email]]s that end-users enter into their [[mail user agent|MUA]]s;
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:*'''[[Mail submission agent]]''' (also known as [[outgoing mail server]], [[message submission agent]] or by its acronym [[MSA]]), which is a [[computer application]] used to accept, analyze, correct, and send [[email]]s that end-users enter into their [[mail client]]s;
 
:*'''[[Mail transfer agent]]''' (also known as [[message transfer agent]] or by its acronym [[MTA]]), which is a [[computer application]] used to transfer [[email]]s between computers;
 
:*'''[[Mail transfer agent]]''' (also known as [[message transfer agent]] or by its acronym [[MTA]]), which is a [[computer application]] used to transfer [[email]]s between computers;
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:*'''[[Mail delivery agent]]''' (also known as [[incoming mail server]], [[message delivery agent]] or by its acronym [[MDA]]), which is a [[computer application]] used to deliver an [[email]] to its recipient's [[mail user agent|MUA]].
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:*'''[[Mail delivery agent]]''' (also known as [[incoming mail server]], [[message delivery agent]] or by its acronym [[MDA]]), which is a [[computer application]] used to deliver an [[email]] to its recipient's [[mail client]].
  
 
==Best practices==
 
==Best practices==

Revision as of 06:44, 23 June 2019

A mail server (hereinafter, the Server) is any digital construct that is located in a computer network under its distinguishable hostname in order to accept, analyze, adjust, clarify, and transfer electronic mail messages (or, simply, emails) from mail clients to mail exchangers (MX hosts) and vice versa.

The Server can also refer to mail server software. More broadly, email software may refer to all the software utilized for mail clients, the Servers, or mail exchangers.


Features

Protocols

To communicate with:
  1. Mail exchangers, all the Servers use the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
  2. Mail clients, the Servers use a variety of protocols, most commonly, POP3 and/or IMAP.

Functions

With regard to:
  • Outgoing messages, the Servers may be designed to:
    1. Accept messages from mail clients.
    2. Analyze messages looking for their inconsistencies and/or missing data.
    3. Adjust messages while correcting inconsistencies and/or adding the missing data.
    4. Transfer messages to mail exchangers.
  • Incoming messages, the Servers may be designed to:
    1. Accept messages from mail exchangers.
    2. Analyze messages looking for their inconsistencies and/or missing data.
    3. Add information about the found inconsistencies and/or missing data to the messages.
    4. Transfer messages to mail clients.

Hosting

To communicate with mail clients and mail exchangers, the Servers shall be located between those two.
  1. Mail clients are hosted at either:
    • End-user devices such as a mail app on a cell phone; or
    • Mail service provider such as Gmail locations.
  2. The Servers are hosted by local computing devices that are connected to the Internet. On the one side, they can be colocated with mail clients, especially if the mail client is hosted by a mail service provider. On another side, the Server can can colocated with mail exchangers when the mail service provider is an Internet service provider (ISP). Unix-based operating systems include the Server in their bundles, so do some end-user applications such as MediaWiki, Moodle, and Redmine. At the same time, the Servers can also be hosted separately from mail clients and mail exchangers.
  3. Mail exchangers are hosted by Internet service providers (ISPs), who also run DNS resolvers, which provide mail exchangers with DNS records.

Agents

Best practices

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