Difference between revisions of "Mail server"

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A [[mail server]] (alternatively known as [[message transfer agent]], [[mail transfer agent]] or [[MTA]]; particularly known as [[mail relay]], [[mail exchanger]] or [[MX]], and [[MX host]]; hereinafter, the ''Server'') is any software instance that transfers electronic mail messages from one computer to another using the [[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol]] ([[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol|SMTP]]).
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A [[mail server]] (hereinafter, the ''Server'') is any software instance that transfers electronic mail messages from one computer to another using the [[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol]] ([[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol|SMTP]]). Usually, the ''Servers'' use other protocols such as [[POP3]] and [[IMAP]] to communicate with [[mail user agent]]s (or [[mail user agent|MUA]]s), which end-users usually utilize.  
  
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Usually, the ''Servers'' use other protocols such as [[POP3]] and [[IMAP]] to communicate with [[mail user agent]]s (or [[mail user agent|MUA]]s), which end-users usually utilize. Common senders submit their electronic mail messages to their [[mail user agent|MUA]], which transfers the message to the sender's ''Server'', which transfers the message to either the receiver's ''Server'' or [[mail relay]] between the two. Finally, the receiver's ''Server'' transfers the message to receiver's [[mail user agent|MUA]].
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The ''Server'' can also refer to [[mail server software]] or, more broadly, to [[email software]] used to setup the ''Server''.
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==Categories==
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The ''Server'' may be one of the following four:
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#[[Mail submission agent]] (also known as [[outgoing mail server]], [[message submission agent]] or by its acronym [[MSA]];
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#[[Mail transfer agent]] (also known as [[message transfer agent]] or by its acronym [[MTA]];
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#[[Mail exchanger]] (also known as [[mail relay]], [[message exchanger]] or [[MX]], and [[MX host]];
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#[[Mail delivery agent]] (also known as [[incoming mail server]], [[message delivery agent]] or by its acronym [[MDA]].
  
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The ''Server'' can also refer to [[mail server software]] or, more broadly, to [[email software]] used to setup the ''Server''.  
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Common senders submit their electronic mail messages to their [[mail user agent|MUA]], which transfers the message to the [[mail submission server]], which transfers the message to either [[mail delivery agent]] or [[mail exchanger]] between the two. Finally, the [[mail delivery server]] transfers the message to receiver's [[mail user agent|MUA]].
  
 
==Best practices==
 
==Best practices==

Revision as of 01:31, 19 June 2019

A mail server (hereinafter, the Server) is any software instance that transfers electronic mail messages from one computer to another using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Usually, the Servers use other protocols such as POP3 and IMAP to communicate with mail user agents (or MUAs), which end-users usually utilize.

The Server can also refer to mail server software or, more broadly, to email software used to setup the Server.


Categories

The Server may be one of the following four:

  1. Mail submission agent (also known as outgoing mail server, message submission agent or by its acronym MSA;
  2. Mail transfer agent (also known as message transfer agent or by its acronym MTA;
  3. Mail exchanger (also known as mail relay, message exchanger or MX, and MX host;
  4. Mail delivery agent (also known as incoming mail server, message delivery agent or by its acronym MDA.

Common senders submit their electronic mail messages to their MUA, which transfers the message to the mail submission server, which transfers the message to either mail delivery agent or mail exchanger between the two. Finally, the mail delivery server transfers the message to receiver's MUA.

Best practices

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