RFC 2033 (rfc2033) - Page 1 of 7

Local Mail Transfer Protocol

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Network Working Group                                           J. Myers
Request for Comments: 2033                               Carnegie Mellon
Category: Informational                                     October 1996


                      Local Mail Transfer Protocol

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  This memo
   does not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of
   this memo is unlimited.

1.  Abstract

   SMTP [SMTP] [HOST-REQ] and its service extensions [ESMTP] provide a
   mechanism for transferring mail reliably and efficiently.  The design
   of the SMTP protocol effectively requires the server to manage a mail
   delivery queue.

   In some limited circumstances, outside the area of mail exchange
   between independent hosts on public networks, it is desirable to
   implement a system where a mail receiver does not manage a queue.
   This document describes the LMTP protocol for transporting mail into
   such systems.

   Although LMTP is an alternative protocol to ESMTP, it uses (with a
   few changes) the syntax and semantics of ESMTP.  This design permits
   LMTP to utilize the extensions defined for ESMTP.  LMTP should be
   used only by specific prior arrangement and configuration, and it
   MUST NOT be used on TCP port 25.

Table of Contents

   1.   Abstract ................................................    1
   2.   Conventions Used in this Document .......................    2
   3.   Introduction and Overview ...............................    2
   4.   The LMTP protocol .......................................    3
   4.1. The LHLO, HELO and EHLO commands ........................    4
   4.2. The DATA command ........................................    4
   4.3. The BDAT command ........................................    5
   5.   Implementation requirements .............................    6
   6.   Acknowledgments .........................................    6
   7.   References ..............................................    7
   8.   Security Considerations .................................    7
   9.   Author's Address ........................................    7





Myers                        Informational
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