Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
Simple Mail Transfer mechanism (SMTP) is a mechanism for exchanging email messages between
servers. It is an essential component of the email communication process and operates at the application
layer of the TCP/IP protocol stack. SMTP is a protocol for transmitting and receiving email messages.
What is Simple Mail Transfer Protocol?
SMTP is an Application Layer Protocol. The client who wants to send the mail opens a TCP
connection to the SMTP server and then sends the mail across the connection. The SMTP server is an
always-on listening mode. As soon as it listens for a TCP connection from any client, the SMTP process
initiates a connection through port 25. After successfully establishing a TCP connection the client
process sends the mail instantly.
SMTP
SMTP Protocol: The SMTP model is of two types:
End-to-End Method
Store-and-Forward Method
The end-to-end model is used to communicate between different organizations whereas the store and
forward method is used within an organization. An SMTP client who wants to send the mail will contact
the destination’s host SMTP directly, to send the mail to the destination. The SMTP server will keep
the mail to itself until it is successfully copied to the receiver’s SMTP.
The client SMTP is the one that initiates the session so let us call it the client-SMTP and the server
SMTP is the one that responds to the session request so let us call it receiver-SMTP. The client-SMTP
will start the session and the receiver SMTP will respond to the request.
Model of SMTP System
In the SMTP model user deals with the user agent (UA), for example, Microsoft Outlook, Netscape,
Mozilla, etc. To exchange the mail using TCP, MTA is used. The user sending the mail doesn’t have to
deal with MTA as it is the responsibility of the system admin to set up a local MTA. The MTA maintains
a small queue of mail so that it can schedule repeat delivery of mail in case the receiver is not available.
The MTA delivers the mail to the mailboxes and the information can later be downloaded by the user
agents.
SMTP Model
Components of SMTP
Mail User Agent (MUA): It is a computer application that helps you in sending and retrieving
mail. It is responsible for creating email messages for transfer to the mail transfer agent(MTA).
Mail Submission Agent (MSA): It is a computer program that receives mail from a Mail User
Agent(MUA) and interacts with the Mail Transfer Agent(MTA) for the transfer of the mail.
Mail Transfer Agent (MTA): It is software that has the work to transfer mail from one system to
another with the help of SMTP.
Mail Delivery Agent (MDA): A mail Delivery agent or Local Delivery Agent is basically a system
that helps in the delivery of mail to the local system.
How does SMTP Work?
Communication between the sender and the receiver: The sender’s user agent prepares the
message and sends it to the MTA. The MTA’s responsibility is to transfer the mail across the
network to the receiver’s MTA. To send mail, a system must have a client MTA, and to receive
mail, a system must have a server MTA.
Sending Emails: Mail is sent by a series of request and response messages between the client and
the server. The message which is sent across consists of a header and a body. A null line is used to
terminate the mail header and everything after the null line is considered the body of the message,
which is a sequence of ASCII characters. The message body contains the actual information read
by the receipt.
Receiving Emails: The user agent on the server-side checks the mailboxes at a particular time of
intervals. If any information is received, it informs the user about the mail. When the user tries to
read the mail it displays a list of emails with a short description of each mail in the mailbox. By
selecting any of the mail users can view its contents on the terminal.
Working of SMTP
What is an SMTP Envelope?
Purpose
o The SMTP envelope contains information that guides email delivery between servers.
o It is distinct from the email headers and body and is not visible to the email recipient.
Contents of the SMTP Envelope
o Sender Address: Specifies where the email originates.
o Recipient Addresses: Indicates where the email should be delivered.
o Routing Information: Helps servers determine the path for email delivery.
Comparison to Regular Mail
o Think of the SMTP envelope as the address on a physical envelope for regular mail.
o Just like an envelope guides postal delivery, the SMTP envelope directs email servers
on where to send the email.
What are SMTP Commands?
S.No. Keywor Command form Description Usage
It provides the identification of
1. HELO HELO<SP><domain><CRLF> Mandatory
the sender i.e. the host name.
MAIL<SP>FROM : <reverse- It specifies the originator of the
2. MAIL Mandatory
path><CRLF> mail.
RCPT<SP>TO : <forward-
3. RCPT It specifies the recipient of mail. Mandatory
path><CRLF>
It specifies the beginning of the
4. DATA DATA<CRLF> Mandatory
mail.
5. QUIT QUIT<CRLF> It closes the TCP connection. Mandatory
It aborts the current mail
Highly
6. RSET RSET<CRLF> transaction but the TCP
recommended
connection remains open.
It is use to confirm or verify the Highly
7. VRFY VRFY<SP><string><CRLF>
user name. recommended
Highly
8. NOOP NOOP<CRLF> No operation
recommended
It reverses the role of sender and
9. TURN TURN<CRLF> Seldom used
receiver.
It specifies the mailing list to be
10. EXPN EXPN<SP><string><CRLF> Seldom used
expanded.
It send some specific
11. HELP HELP<SP><string><CRLF> Seldom used
documentation to the system.
SEND<SP>FROM : <reverse-
12. SEND It send mail to the terminal. Seldom used
path><CRLF>
SOML<SP>FROM : <reverse- It send mail to the terminal if
13. SOML Seldom used
path><CRLF> possible; otherwise to mailbox.
SAML<SP>FROM : <reverse- It send mail to the terminal and
14. SAML Seldom used
path><CRLF> mailbox.
What port does SMTP use?
The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) commonly uses port 587 for secure transmission via TLS.
While port 465 was previously supported by many providers, it is no longer an accepted standard.
Additionally, port 25 is mainly used for SMTP relay, not for SMTP submission. Although port 2525 is
not an official SMTP port, it can serve as a good alternative
Difference Between SMTP and Extended SMTP
SMTP Extended SMTP
Users were not verified in SMTP as a result In Extended SMTP, authentication of the sender
of massive-scale scam emails being sent. is done.
We cannot attach a Multimedia file in SMTP We can directly attach Multimedia File in
directly without the help of MMIE. ESMTP.
We cannot reduce the size of the email in We can reduce the size of the email in Extended
SMTP. SMTP.
The main identification feature for ESMTP
SMTP clients open transmission with the
clients is to open a transmission with the
command HELO.
command EHLO (Extended HELLO).
Advantages of SMTP
If necessary, the users can have a dedicated server.
It allows for bulk mailing.
Low cost and wide coverage area.
Offer choices for email tracking.
Reliable and prompt email delivery.
Disadvantages of SMTP
SMTP’s common port can be blocked by several firewalls.
SMTP security is a bigger problem.
Its simplicity restricts how useful it can be.
Just 7-bit ASCII characters can be used.
If a message is longer than a certain length, SMTP servers may reject the entire message.
Delivering your message will typically involve additional back-and-forth processing between
servers, which will delay sending and raise the likelihood that it won’t be sent.
