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Re: 2821 5yz Typo - Client Retry Gaffe (fixed in 2821bis)

2008-08-10 09:20:25

At 11:23 am -0400 10/8/2008, Hector Santos wrote:
And I'll quote it again:

  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.

It clearly says the client "SHOULD NOT again attempt to delivery.."

I'm not sure what you are quoting there, looks like you have a mix of temporary and permanent, and does not appear to be a quote from 2821bis. Section 4.2.5 of 2821bis says this for temporary:
   When an SMTP server returns a temporary error status (4yz) code after
   the DATA command is completed with <CRLF>.<CRLF>, it MUST NOT make a
   subsequent attempt to deliver that message.  The SMTP client retains
   responsibility for delivery of that message and may either return it
   to the user or requeue it for a subsequent attempt (see
   Section 4.5.4.1).

and this for permanent:
   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.  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.

I'll reiterate that those two paragraphs only refer to delivery of a "message", not just the "mail data" or "message content" that comes after a DATA command (as per section 2.3.9). I certainly see nothing prohibiting the re-transmission of the same "mail data" to a recipient that hasn't been previously refused.

Glenn.

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