RFC 1082 (rfc1082) - Page 1 of 11

Post Office Protocol: Version 3: Extended service offerings

Network Working Group                                            M. Rose
Request for Comments: 1082                                           TWG
                                                           November 1988



                    Post Office Protocol - Version 3
                       Extended Service Offerings

Status of This Memo

   This memo suggests a simple method for workstations to dynamically
   access mail from a discussion group server, as an extension to an
   earlier memo which dealt with dynamically accessing mail from a
   mailbox server using the Post Office Protocol -  Version 3 (POP3).
   This RFC specifies a proposed protocol for the Internet community,
   and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements.  All of the
   extensions described in this memo to the POP3 are OPTIONAL.
   Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Introduction and Motivation

   It is assumed that the reader is familiar with RFC 1081 that
   discusses the Post Office Protocol - Version 3 (POP3) [RFC 1081].
   This memo describes extensions to the POP3 which enhance the service
   it offers to clients.  This additional service permits a client host
   to access discussion group mail, which is often kept in a separate
   spool area, using the general POP3 facilities.

   The next section describes the evolution of discussion groups and the
   technologies currently used to implement them.  To summarize:

       o An exploder is used to map from a single address to
       a list of addresses which subscribe to the list, and redirects
       any subsequent error reports associated with the delivery of
       each message.  This has two primary advantages:
             - Subscribers need know only a single address
             - Responsible parties get the error reports and not
               the subscribers












Rose