Very Computer

Section 4.1.2 "COMMAND SYNTAX" of RFC 821

defines:

        MAIL <SP> FROM:<reverse-path> <CRLF>

where (BNF notation):

        <reverse-path> ::= <path>
        <path> ::= "<" [ <a-d-l> ":" ] <mailbox> ">"

        <local-part> ::= <dot-string> | <quoted-string>
        <dot-string> ::= <string> | <string> "." <dot-string>
        <domain> ::=  <element> | <element> "." <domain>              

The implication here is that the argument to the "MAIl FROM:" command
*MUST* be enclosed in "<" ">" (from the definition of <path>).

I know that anything between "<" ">" is considered the address, as in

but I've not (until now) come across a version of sendmail that
*insists* on "<" ">" surrounding the address when passed via "MAIl
FROM:".

For example:

        Command Reply received : 501 Syntax error in originator address.

So, my questions are:

1. Is "<" ">" strictly required?
2. If so then does make versions of sendmail that don't enforce this
   non-compliant with RFC 821?

Any views?

Thanks, Jonathan

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Jonathan George - Hewlett-Packard Ltd, Pinewood

I guess its a sign of the times when someone would worry that
something was non-conformant if it accepted a wider range of input.

-wolfgang
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"Be generous in what you accept and conservative in what you generate."

Yes, the RFC requires the <...> around the address in a MAIL FROM
command.  But there's really no harm in a particular SMTP
implementation not requiring it; it doesn't break anything, and it's
"generous."  So I don't see anything wrong with it (but anyone who
writes SMTP delivery software which doesn't include the <...> should be
chastised and made to fix their software so it's RFC-conformant :-).

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