ietf-mta-filters
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RE: mostly open issues

1998-11-11 15:12:26
| > | 3.  Request: forward adds Resent-* headers.
| >
| > This should be context dependent.  If the Sieve filter is run
| by the system
| > administrator, and forwarding is caused for site administrative reasons,
| > then the Resent headers probably should not be inserted.
| >
| > On the other hand, if the Sieve filter is run by a user, causing a
| > forwarding, then the Resent headers should be added.
|
| I don't understand the difference.  Typically Sieve scripts are run by
| the system at time of mail delivery, which falls into neither of the
| above cases.

Many ISPs run filters on all incoming mail.  Sometimes, forwarding takes
place because of infrastructure changes, system changes, etc., on a
per-domain basis, especially in a managed messaging environment.  Resent
headers should not be inserted because of these system-wide, system-imposed
filtering rules.

On the other hand, when a user forwards a piece of mail, unconditionally or
not, Resent often should be added.

As I said, it depends on the context.

I think defining a "Resend" action with the additional semantics of
inserting headers is better than imposing the headers on "forward".

| I believe the right thing to do is to always add Resent headers, despite
| the possible efficiency gains of not doing so.  I believe the benefit of
| trace informaton outweighs the benefits of efficiency gains, especially
| given that forward is going to cause mail loop headaches.

I view Resent- headers as informational only.  Tracing should rely on
Received headers, not Resent headers.

--
Alan K. Stebbens <alan(_dot_)stebbens(_at_)software(_dot_)com>


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