Computer networksLesson 3 of 5 in the course Application layer protocols

SMTP: Mail Transport, Transactions, Extensions, and Security

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

Save course
Lesson progress
0 / 5

Your progress is kept in this browser only.Sign up to save it

Summary

SMTP is the Internet protocol used to transmit email between mail systems and to submit outgoing messages from email clients. This lesson introduces SMTP’s purpose, its relationship to other mail protocols, and how it developed from early network messaging.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is a standard communication protocol for electronic mail transmission. Mail transfer agents (MTAs) use it to send and receive messages across networks. A user’s mail client, also called a mail user agent (MUA), commonly uses SMTP to submit outgoing mail to a provider’s server.

All flashcards

What is SMTP?
The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is an Internet standard used to submit, transmit, and relay electronic mail between mail systems.
What is the main difference between SMTP and IMAP or POP?
SMTP sends and relays mail. IMAP and POP are commonly used by end-user clients to retrieve messages from a mailbox.
What is store-and-forward mail delivery?
A mail server accepts a message, may keep it in a queue, and forwards it to the next server when delivery can proceed.
What was an important 1971 ARPANET mail development?
Ray Tomlinson adapted SNDMSG to send messages across two ARPANET computers, building on earlier electronic-mail ideas.
Why was ESMTP introduced?
ESMTP provided a consistent framework for identifying supported extensions, allowing SMTP to gain capabilities such as authentication, encryption, and richer data support.

Quiz questions

  1. What does an MX record identify for a recipient domain?Answer: A mail server responsible for receiving mail for that domain
  2. What is the primary role of a mail submission agent (MSA)?Answer: Accept outgoing mail submitted by a client
  3. In SMTP, what information does the transport envelope provide?Answer: Sender and recipient information used to route the message
  4. How does dot-stuffing protect message data during SMTP transmission?Answer: The sender adds a period to lines that begin with a period
  5. What does a positive SMTP response after message data has been sent indicate?Answer: The receiving server has accepted responsibility for the message

Based on the Wikipedia article Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

More in Computer networks

All Computer networks lessons
Computer networksWi-Fi: Standards, Network Operation, Applications, and Security5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Computer networksComputer Networking Foundations: Media, Protocols, Topologies, and Security5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Computer networksBorder Gateway Protocol: Routing, Sessions, Policy, and Operations5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Computer networksPacket Switching: Forwarding, Service Models, and Internet Development5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Computer networksOSI Model: Layer Functions, Encapsulation, and TCP/IP Comparison5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Computer networksARP: Address Resolution, Caching, and Related Protocols5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →