ietf-smtp
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Re: Improved straw man for retry scenarios

2008-08-09 22:52:37

Glenn Anderson wrote:

That is not what 2821/2821bis says in 4.2.5:

   When an SMTP server returns a permanent error status (5yz) code
   after the DATA command is completed with <CRLF>.<CRLF>, it MUST
   NOT make any subsequent attempt to deliver the message.

It says "message", not transaction. All that is saying that if you get a 5XX response to the DATA command, you shouldn't send the message body.

Glenn,

But doesn't it clearly say?

    "after the DATA command is completed with <CRLF>.<CRLF>"

which means the body was already sent and the server response code applies to it?

A 5yz means - don't expect the server to deliver this message and that had always implied for any of the RCPT recipients accepted, temporarily or permanently rejected.

Further it says:

   ....... As with temporary
   error status codes, the SMTP client retains responsibility for the
   message, but SHOULD not again attempt delivery to the same server
   without user review of the message and response and appropriate
   intervention.

That is a clear cut statement that clients SHOULD not try again without some special human review - completely outside the automated process the state machine provides.


--
Sincerely

Hector Santos, CTO
http://www.santronics.com
http://santronics.blogspot.com