RFC 1664 (rfc1664) - Page 1 of 23

Using the Internet DNS to Distribute RFC1327 Mail Address Mapping Tables

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Network Working Group                                       C. Allocchio
Request for Comments: 1664                                     A. Bonito
Category: Experimental                                        GARR-Italy
                                                                 B. Cole
                                                      Cisco Systems Inc.
                                                             S. Giordano
                                     Centro Svizzero Calcolo Scientifico
                                                               R. Hagens
                                             Advanced Network & Services
                                                             August 1994


                 Using the Internet DNS to Distribute
                  RFC 1327 Mail Address Mapping Tables

Status of this Memo

   This memo defines an Experimental Protocol for the Internet
   community.  This memo does not specify an Internet standard of any
   kind.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Abstract

   This memo defines how to store in the Internet Domain Name System the
   mapping information needed by e-mail gateways and other tools to map
   RFC 822 domain names into X.400 O/R names and vice versa.  Mapping
   information can be managed in a distributed rather than a centralised
   way. Gateways located on Internet hosts can retrieve the mapping
   information querying the DNS instead of having fixed tables which
   need to be centrally updated and distributed.  This memo is a joint
   effort of X400 operation working group (x400ops) and RARE Mail and
   Messaging working group (WG-MSG).

1. Introduction

   The connectivity between the Internet SMTP mail and other mail
   services, including the Internet X.400 mail and the commercial X.400
   service providers, is assured by the Mail eXchanger (MX) record
   information distributed via the Internet Domain Name System (DNS). A
   number of documents then specify in details how to convert or encode
   addresses from/to RFC 822 style to the other mail system syntax.
   However, only conversion methods provide, via some algorithm or a set
   of mapping rules, a smooth translation, resulting in addresses
   indistinguishable from the native ones in both RFC 822 and foreign
   world.

   RFC 1327 describes a set of mappings which will enable interworking
   between systems operating the CCITT X.400 (1984/88) Recommendations



Allocchio, Bonito, Cole, Giordano & Hagens
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