RFC 2554 (rfc2554) - Page 1 of 11

SMTP Service Extension for Authentication

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Network Working Group                                           J. Myers
Request for Comments: 2554                       Netscape Communications
Category: Standards Track                                     March 1999


                         SMTP Service Extension
                           for Authentication

Status of this Memo

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

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999).  All Rights Reserved.


1. Introduction

   This document defines an SMTP service extension [ESMTP] whereby an
   SMTP client may indicate an authentication mechanism to the server,
   perform an authentication protocol exchange, and optionally negotiate
   a security layer for subsequent protocol interactions.  This
   extension is a profile of the Simple Authentication and Security
   Layer [SASL].


2. Conventions Used in this Document

   In examples, "C:" and "S:" indicate lines sent by the client and
   server respectively.

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", and "MAY"
   in this document are to be interpreted as defined in "Key words for
   use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels" [KEYWORDS].


3. The Authentication service extension


   (1) the name of the SMTP service extension is "Authentication"

   (2) the EHLO keyword value associated with this extension is "AUTH"




Myers                       Standards Track
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