RFC 937 (rfc937) - Page 1 of 24

Post Office Protocol: Version 2

Alternative Format: Original Text Document
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Network Working Group                                          M. Butler
Request for Comments: 937                                      J. Postel
                                                                D. Chase
                                                           J. Goldberger
                                                          J. K. Reynolds
Obsoletes: RFC 918                                                   ISI
                                                           February 1985


                    POST OFFICE PROTOCOL - VERSION 2


Status of this Memo

   This RFC suggests a simple method for workstations to dynamically
   access mail from a mailbox server.  This RFC specifies a proposed
   protocol for the ARPA-Internet community, and requests discussion and
   suggestions for improvement.  This memo is a revision of RFC 918.
   Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Introduction

   The intent of the Post Office Protocol Version 2 (POP2) is to allow a
   user's workstation to access mail from a mailbox server.  It is
   expected that mail will be posted from the workstation to the mailbox
   server via the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).  For further
   information see RFC-821 [1] and RFC-822 [2].

   This protocol assumes a reliable data stream such as provided by TCP
   or any similar protocol.  When TCP is used, the POP2 server listens
   on port 109 [4].

System Model and Philosophy

   While we view the workstation as an Internet host in the sense that
   it implements IP, we do not expect the workstation to contain the
   user's mailbox.  We expect the mailbox to be on a server machine.

   We believe it is important for the mailbox to be on an "always up"
   machine and that a workstation may be frequently powered down, or
   otherwise unavailable as an SMTP server.

   POP2 is designed for an environment of workstations and servers on a
   low-delay, high-throughput, local networks (such as Ethernets).  POP2
   may be useful in other environments as well, but if the environment
   is substantially different, a different division of labor between the
   client and server may be appropriate, and a different protocol
   required.

   Suppose the user's real name is John Smith, the user's machine is
   called FIDO, and that the mailbox server is called DOG-HOUSE.  Then



Butler, et. al.
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