RFC 1711 (rfc1711) - Page 1 of 19
Classifications in E-mail Routing
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group J. Houttuin
Request for Comments: 1711 RARE
Category: Informational October 1994
Classifications in E-mail Routing
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. This memo
does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of
this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
This paper presents a classification for e-mail routing issues. It
clearly defines commonly used terminology such as static routing,
store-and-forward routing, source routing and others. Real life
examples show which routing options are used in existing projects.
The goal is to define all terminology in one reference paper. This
will also help relatively new mail system managers to understand the
issues and make the right choices. The reader is expected to already
have a solid understanding of general networking terminology.
In this paper, the word Message Transfer Agent (MTA) is used to
describe a routing entity, which can be an X.400 MTA, a UNIX mailer,
or any other piece of software performing mail routing functions. An
MTA processes the so called envelope information of a message. The
term User Agent (UA) is used to describe a piece of software
performing user related mail functions. It processes the contents of
a message's envelope, i.e., the header fields and body parts.
Table of Contents
1. Naming, addressing and routing 2
2. Static versus dynamic 4
3. Direct versus indirect 5
3.1. Firewalls 5
3.2. Default versus rule based 6
4. Routing at user level 7
4.1. Distributed domains 7
4.2. Shared MTA 8
5. Routing control 9
6. Bulk routing 9
7. Source routing 11
8. Poor man's routing 12
9. Routing communities 12
Houttuin
