Re: smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies?
John Beck <jbeck@eng.sun.com> Tue, 01 August 2000 02:47 UTC
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To: Gregory Neil Shapiro <gshapiro@gshapiro.net>
cc: drums@cs.utk.edu
Subject: Re: smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies?
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In-reply-to: Your message of "Sun, 30 Jul 2000 21:43:29 PDT." <14725.1009.660906.108929@monkeyboy.gshapiro.net>
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Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 22:46:39 -0400
From: John Beck <jbeck@eng.sun.com>
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Gregory> Section 4.2.1 states, "In many cases the SMTP client then simply Gregory> needs to search for the reply code followed by <SP> at the beginning Gregory> of a line." Gregory> Earlier in section 4.2, the document claims the <SP> part of the text Gregory> portion of the reply and is therefore optional (the ABNF backs up Gregory> this fact). The quoted text from 4.2.1 conflicts with this. I agree that there are some minor inconsistencies here which should be resolved. 4.2 says: --- An SMTP reply consists of a three digit number (transmitted as three numeric characters) followed by some text unless specified otherwise in this document. ... Formally, a reply is defined to be the sequence: a three-digit code, <SP>, one line of text, and <CRLF>, or a multiline reply (as defined in section 4.2.1). Since, in violation of this specification, the text is sometimes not sent, clients which do not receive it SHOULD be prepared to process the code alone (with or without a trailing space character). ... In ABNF, server responses are: Greeting = "220 " Domain [ SP text ] CRLF Reply-line = Reply-code [ SP text ] CRLF --- and 4.2.1 says: --- The format for multiline replies requires that every line, except the last, begin with the reply code, followed immediately by a hyphen, "-" (also known as minus), followed by text. The last line will begin with the reply code, followed immediately by <SP>, optionally some text, and <CRLF>. As noted above, servers SHOULD send the <SP> if subsequent text is not sent, but clients MUST be prepared for it to be omitted. For example: 123-First line 123-Second line 123-234 text beginning with numbers 123 The last line In many cases the SMTP client then simply needs to search for the reply code followed by <SP> at the beginning of a line, and ignore all preceding lines. ... --- If omitting the text is in violation of this spec, doesn't that mean that servers MUST send the <SP> and that the [] indicating optional don't belong? Furthermore, why does 4.2 say clients SHOULD be prepared to do one thing yet 4.2.1 say clients MUST be prepared to do something similar? I would personally favor tightening the spec, but consistency is the main thing. If we can reach consensus on what to say, I'll volunteer to come up with some text to say it. -- John
- smtpupd-12: Four letter command verbs Gregory Neil Shapiro
- smtpupd-12: MAIL resets state tables and buffers Gregory Neil Shapiro
- smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies? Gregory Neil Shapiro
- Re: smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies? John Beck
- Re: smtpupd-12: MAIL resets state tables and buff… Gregory Neil Shapiro
- Re: smtpupd-12: MAIL resets state tables and buff… John Beck
- Re: smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies? Eric Allman
- Re: smtpupd-12: MAIL resets state tables and buff… Eric Allman
- Re: smtpupd-12: Four letter command verbs Eric Allman
- Re: smtpupd-12: Four letter command verbs John Beck
- Re: smtpupd-12: MAIL resets state tables and buff… Philip Hazel
- Re: smtpupd-12: Four letter command verbs Philip Hazel
- Re: smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies? Philip Hazel
- Re: smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies? Eric Allman
- Re: smtpupd-12: Four letter command verbs Bart Schaefer
- Re: smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies? Bart Schaefer
- Re: smtpupd-12: MAIL resets state tables and buff… Keith Moore
- Re: smtpupd-12: Four letter command verbs Keith Moore
- Re: smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies? Keith Moore
- Re: smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies? Dave Sill
- Re: smtpupd-12: Four letter command verbs Dave Sill
- Re: smtpupd-12: MAIL resets state tables and buff… Russ Allbery
- Re: smtpupd-12: Four letter command verbs Lee Thompson
- Re: smtpupd-12: MAIL resets state tables and buff… Lee Thompson
- Re: smtpupd-12: <SP> optional in replies? Lee Thompson