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Re: [spf-discuss] Mail System Terminology

2008-01-24 16:46:57
**********  Models for Mail Handling Systems ****** Rev.1  24-Jan-08

A/B Roles A and B both played by the same Actor
--> Direction of mail flow (no relationship implied)
==> Direct relationship between Actors (e.g. a contract)
~~> Indirect relationship (e.g. both directly related to Recipient)

Simple Setup with four Actors:

|---- Sender's Network -----|           |-- Recipient's Network -|
                                   /
Sender(s) ==> MSA/Transmitter --> / --> Receiver/MDA ==> Recipient
                                 /
                              Border
          
Simple Forwarding is quite common:

          |-------- Recipient's Network ---------|
     /
--> / --> Receiver/Forwarder ~~> MDA ==> Recipient
   /
 Border

Chain Forwarding should be discouraged:

          |------------ Recipient's Network ------------|
     /
--> / --> Receiver ~~> Forwarder(s) ~~> MDA ==> Recipient
   /
 Border

Open Forwarding must be banned:
         
     /                   /    |-- Recipient's Network -|
--> / --> Forwarder --> / --> Receiver/MDA ==> Recipient
   /                   /
 Border              Border

******************************************************************

Responsibilities assigned to each role  -  Rev. 0

Sender
- Originate messages
- Provide a password or other means of authentication

MSA - Mail Submission Agent
- Authenticate the Sender
- Manage Sender accounts

Transmitter
- Spam Prevention
  - rate limits, content analysis, alerts
  - respond to spam reports
  - maintain reputation
- Authentication
  - RFC compliance
  - IP authorization (SPF, SID, CSV, ...)
  - signatures & key management (DKIM ...)

Receiver
- Block DoS
- Authenticate Transmitter|Sender
  - HELO, Return Address, Headers, Signature
  - reject forgeries
- Assess reputation
  - whitelist reputable Senders
- Filter spam
- Add authentication headers
- Manage Recipient accounts/options
  - whitelisting, blacklisting, filtering, blocking, forwarding
- Process spam reports

Forwarder
- Authenticate upstream Agent
- Set up forwarding to downstream Agent
  - check RFC compliance
  - set up authentication records
  - submit forwarding request, wait for approval
- Manage Recipient accounts
  - maintain database of forwarding addresses
  - suspend account when a message is rejected
  - communicate w Recipient re  "      "
- Maintain reputation as a trusted Forwarder
  - certifications

MDA - Mail storage and Distribution Agent
- Authenticate upstream Agent
- Sort and store messages
- Provide access for Recipients
  - POP3, IMAP, Webmail
- Manage Recipient accounts/options
- Relay spam reports to Receiver (or don't accept them)

Recipient
- Set up accounts with each Agent in the MRN
- Select options in each account
- Report spam to Receiver

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