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diff --git a/doc/rfc/rfc3463.txt b/doc/rfc/rfc3463.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5544b2c --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/rfc/rfc3463.txt @@ -0,0 +1,899 @@ + + + + + + +Network Working Group G. Vaudreuil +Request for Comments: 3463 Lucent Technologies +Obsoletes: 1893 January 2003 +Category: Standards Track + + + Enhanced Mail System Status Codes + +Status of this Memo + + This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the + Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for + improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet + Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state + and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. + +Copyright Notice + + Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2003). All Rights Reserved. + +Abstract + + This document defines a set of extended status codes for use within + the mail system for delivery status reports, tracking, and improved + diagnostics. In combination with other information provided in the + Delivery Status Notification (DSN) delivery report, these codes + facilitate media and language independent rendering of message + delivery status. + +Table of Contents + + 1. Overview ......................................................2 + 2. Status Code Structure .........................................3 + 3. Enumerated Status Codes .......................................5 + 3.1 Other or Undefined Status ...................................6 + 3.2 Address Status ..............................................6 + 3.3 Mailbox Status ..............................................7 + 3.4 Mail system status ..........................................8 + 3.5 Network and Routing Status ..................................9 + 3.6 Mail Delivery Protocol Status ..............................10 + 3.7 Message Content or Message Media Status ....................11 + 3.8 Security or Policy Status ..................................12 + 4. References ...................................................13 + 5. Security Considerations ......................................13 + Appendix A - Collected Status Codes ..........................14 + Appendix B - Changes from RFC1893 ............................15 + Author's Address .............................................15 + Full Copyright Statement .....................................16 + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 1] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + +1. Overview + + There is a need for a standard mechanism for the reporting of mail + system errors richer than the limited set offered by SMTP and the + system specific text descriptions sent in mail messages. There is a + pressing need for a rich machine-readable, human language independent + status code for use in delivery status notifications [DSN]. This + document proposes a new set of status codes for this purpose. + + SMTP [SMTP] error codes have historically been used for reporting + mail system errors. Because of limitations in the SMTP code design, + these are not suitable for use in delivery status notifications. + SMTP provides about 12 useful codes for delivery reports. The + majority of the codes are protocol specific response codes such as + the 354 response to the SMTP data command. Each of the 12 useful + codes are overloaded to indicate several error conditions. SMTP + suffers some scars from history, most notably the unfortunate damage + to the reply code extension mechanism by uncontrolled use. This + proposal facilitates future extensibility by requiring the client to + interpret unknown error codes according to the theory of codes while + requiring servers to register new response codes. + + The SMTP theory of reply codes are partitioned in the number space in + such a manner that the remaining available codes will not provide the + space needed. The most critical example is the existence of only 5 + remaining codes for mail system errors. The mail system + classification includes both host and mailbox error conditions. The + remaining third digit space would be completely consumed as needed to + indicate MIME and media conversion errors and security system errors. + + A revision to the SMTP theory of reply codes to better distribute the + error conditions in the number space will necessarily be incompatible + with SMTP. Further, consumption of the remaining reply-code number + space for delivery notification reporting will reduce the available + codes for new ESMTP extensions. + + The following status code set is based on the SMTP theory of reply + codes. It adopts the success, permanent error, and transient error + semantics of the first value, with a further description and + classification in the second. This proposal re-distributes the + classifications to better distribute the error conditions, such as + separating mailbox from host errors. + + Document Conventions + + The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", + "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this + document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14 [RFC2119]. + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 2] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + +2. Status Code Structure + + This document defines a new set of status codes to report mail system + conditions. These status codes are used for media and language + independent status reporting. They are not intended for system + specific diagnostics. + + The syntax of the new status codes is defined as: + + status-code = class "." subject "." detail + + class = "2"/"4"/"5" + + subject = 1*3digit + + detail = 1*3digit + + White-space characters and comments are NOT allowed within a status- + code. Each numeric sub-code within the status-code MUST be expressed + without leading zero digits. + + Status codes consist of three numerical fields separated by ".". The + first sub-code indicates whether the delivery attempt was successful. + The second sub-code indicates the probable source of any delivery + anomalies, and the third sub-code indicates a precise error + condition. + + Example: 2.1.23 + + The code space defined is intended to be extensible only by standards + track documents. Mail system specific status codes should be mapped + as close as possible to the standard status codes. Servers should + send only defined, registered status codes. System specific errors + and diagnostics should be carried by means other than status codes. + + New subject and detail codes will be added over time. Because the + number space is large, it is not intended that published status codes + will ever be redefined or eliminated. Clients should preserve the + extensibility of the code space by reporting the general error + described in the subject sub-code when the specific detail is + unrecognized. + + + + + + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 3] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + + The class sub-code provides a broad classification of the status. + The enumerated values for each class are defined as: + + 2.XXX.XXX Success + + Success specifies that the DSN is reporting a positive delivery + action. Detail sub-codes may provide notification of + transformations required for delivery. + + 4.XXX.XXX Persistent Transient Failure + + A persistent transient failure is one in which the message as + sent is valid, but persistence of some temporary condition has + caused abandonment or delay of attempts to send the message. + If this code accompanies a delivery failure report, sending in + the future may be successful. + + 5.XXX.XXX Permanent Failure + + A permanent failure is one which is not likely to be resolved + by resending the message in the current form. Some change to + the message or the destination must be made for successful + delivery. + + A client must recognize and report class sub-code even where + subsequent subject sub-codes are unrecognized. + + The subject sub-code classifies the status. This value applies to + each of the three classifications. The subject sub-code, if + recognized, must be reported even if the additional detail provided + by the detail sub-code is not recognized. The enumerated values for + the subject sub-code are: + + X.0.XXX Other or Undefined Status + + There is no additional subject information available. + + X.1.XXX Addressing Status + + The address status reports on the originator or destination + address. It may include address syntax or validity. These + errors can generally be corrected by the sender and retried. + + X.2.XXX Mailbox Status + + Mailbox status indicates that something having to do with the + mailbox has caused this DSN. Mailbox issues are assumed to be + under the general control of the recipient. + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 4] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + + X.3.XXX Mail System Status + + Mail system status indicates that something having to do with + the destination system has caused this DSN. System issues are + assumed to be under the general control of the destination + system administrator. + + X.4.XXX Network and Routing Status + + The networking or routing codes report status about the + delivery system itself. These system components include any + necessary infrastructure such as directory and routing + services. Network issues are assumed to be under the control + of the destination or intermediate system administrator. + + X.5.XXX Mail Delivery Protocol Status + + The mail delivery protocol status codes report failures + involving the message delivery protocol. These failures + include the full range of problems resulting from + implementation errors or an unreliable connection. + + X.6.XXX Message Content or Media Status + + The message content or media status codes report failures + involving the content of the message. These codes report + failures due to translation, transcoding, or otherwise + unsupported message media. Message content or media issues are + under the control of both the sender and the receiver, both of + which must support a common set of supported content-types. + + X.7.XXX Security or Policy Status + + The security or policy status codes report failures involving + policies such as per-recipient or per-host filtering and + cryptographic operations. Security and policy status issues + are assumed to be under the control of either or both the + sender and recipient. Both the sender and recipient must + permit the exchange of messages and arrange the exchange of + necessary keys and certificates for cryptographic operations. + +3. Enumerated Status Codes + + The following section defines and describes the detail sub-code. The + detail value provides more information about the status and is + defined relative to the subject of the status. + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 5] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + +3.1 Other or Undefined Status + + X.0.0 Other undefined Status + + Other undefined status is the only undefined error code. It + should be used for all errors for which only the class of the + error is known. + +3.2 Address Status + + X.1.0 Other address status + + Something about the address specified in the message caused + this DSN. + + X.1.1 Bad destination mailbox address + + The mailbox specified in the address does not exist. For + Internet mail names, this means the address portion to the left + of the "@" sign is invalid. This code is only useful for + permanent failures. + + X.1.2 Bad destination system address + + The destination system specified in the address does not exist + or is incapable of accepting mail. For Internet mail names, + this means the address portion to the right of the "@" is + invalid for mail. This code is only useful for permanent + failures. + + X.1.3 Bad destination mailbox address syntax + + The destination address was syntactically invalid. This can + apply to any field in the address. This code is only useful + for permanent failures. + + X.1.4 Destination mailbox address ambiguous + + The mailbox address as specified matches one or more recipients + on the destination system. This may result if a heuristic + address mapping algorithm is used to map the specified address + to a local mailbox name. + + X.1.5 Destination address valid + + This mailbox address as specified was valid. This status code + should be used for positive delivery reports. + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 6] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + + X.1.6 Destination mailbox has moved, No forwarding address + + The mailbox address provided was at one time valid, but mail is + no longer being accepted for that address. This code is only + useful for permanent failures. + + X.1.7 Bad sender's mailbox address syntax + + The sender's address was syntactically invalid. This can apply + to any field in the address. + + X.1.8 Bad sender's system address + + The sender's system specified in the address does not exist or + is incapable of accepting return mail. For domain names, this + means the address portion to the right of the "@" is invalid + for mail. + +3.3 Mailbox Status + + X.2.0 Other or undefined mailbox status + + The mailbox exists, but something about the destination mailbox + has caused the sending of this DSN. + + X.2.1 Mailbox disabled, not accepting messages + + The mailbox exists, but is not accepting messages. This may be + a permanent error if the mailbox will never be re-enabled or a + transient error if the mailbox is only temporarily disabled. + + X.2.2 Mailbox full + + The mailbox is full because the user has exceeded a per-mailbox + administrative quota or physical capacity. The general + semantics implies that the recipient can delete messages to + make more space available. This code should be used as a + persistent transient failure. + + X.2.3 Message length exceeds administrative limit + + A per-mailbox administrative message length limit has been + exceeded. This status code should be used when the per-mailbox + message length limit is less than the general system limit. + This code should be used as a permanent failure. + + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 7] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + + X.2.4 Mailing list expansion problem + + The mailbox is a mailing list address and the mailing list was + unable to be expanded. This code may represent a permanent + failure or a persistent transient failure. + +3.4 Mail system status + + X.3.0 Other or undefined mail system status + + The destination system exists and normally accepts mail, but + something about the system has caused the generation of this + DSN. + + X.3.1 Mail system full + + Mail system storage has been exceeded. The general semantics + imply that the individual recipient may not be able to delete + material to make room for additional messages. This is useful + only as a persistent transient error. + + X.3.2 System not accepting network messages + + The host on which the mailbox is resident is not accepting + messages. Examples of such conditions include an immanent + shutdown, excessive load, or system maintenance. This is + useful for both permanent and persistent transient errors. + + X.3.3 System not capable of selected features + + Selected features specified for the message are not supported + by the destination system. This can occur in gateways when + features from one domain cannot be mapped onto the supported + feature in another. + + X.3.4 Message too big for system + + The message is larger than per-message size limit. This limit + may either be for physical or administrative reasons. This is + useful only as a permanent error. + + X.3.5 System incorrectly configured + + The system is not configured in a manner that will permit it to + accept this message. + + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 8] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + +3.5 Network and Routing Status + + X.4.0 Other or undefined network or routing status + + Something went wrong with the networking, but it is not clear + what the problem is, or the problem cannot be well expressed + with any of the other provided detail codes. + + X.4.1 No answer from host + + The outbound connection attempt was not answered, because + either the remote system was busy, or was unable to take a + call. This is useful only as a persistent transient error. + + X.4.2 Bad connection + + The outbound connection was established, but was unable to + complete the message transaction, either because of time-out, + or inadequate connection quality. This is useful only as a + persistent transient error. + + X.4.3 Directory server failure + + The network system was unable to forward the message, because a + directory server was unavailable. This is useful only as a + persistent transient error. + + The inability to connect to an Internet DNS server is one + example of the directory server failure error. + + X.4.4 Unable to route + + The mail system was unable to determine the next hop for the + message because the necessary routing information was + unavailable from the directory server. This is useful for both + permanent and persistent transient errors. + + A DNS lookup returning only an SOA (Start of Administration) + record for a domain name is one example of the unable to route + error. + + X.4.5 Mail system congestion + + The mail system was unable to deliver the message because the + mail system was congested. This is useful only as a persistent + transient error. + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 9] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + + X.4.6 Routing loop detected + + A routing loop caused the message to be forwarded too many + times, either because of incorrect routing tables or a user- + forwarding loop. This is useful only as a persistent transient + error. + + X.4.7 Delivery time expired + + The message was considered too old by the rejecting system, + either because it remained on that host too long or because the + time-to-live value specified by the sender of the message was + exceeded. If possible, the code for the actual problem found + when delivery was attempted should be returned rather than this + code. + +3.6 Mail Delivery Protocol Status + + X.5.0 Other or undefined protocol status + + Something was wrong with the protocol necessary to deliver the + message to the next hop and the problem cannot be well + expressed with any of the other provided detail codes. + + X.5.1 Invalid command + + A mail transaction protocol command was issued which was either + out of sequence or unsupported. This is useful only as a + permanent error. + + X.5.2 Syntax error + + A mail transaction protocol command was issued which could not + be interpreted, either because the syntax was wrong or the + command is unrecognized. This is useful only as a permanent + error. + + X.5.3 Too many recipients + + More recipients were specified for the message than could have + been delivered by the protocol. This error should normally + result in the segmentation of the message into two, the + remainder of the recipients to be delivered on a subsequent + delivery attempt. It is included in this list in the event + that such segmentation is not possible. + + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 10] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + + X.5.4 Invalid command arguments + + A valid mail transaction protocol command was issued with + invalid arguments, either because the arguments were out of + range or represented unrecognized features. This is useful + only as a permanent error. + + X.5.5 Wrong protocol version + + A protocol version mis-match existed which could not be + automatically resolved by the communicating parties. + +3.7 Message Content or Message Media Status + + X.6.0 Other or undefined media error + + Something about the content of a message caused it to be + considered undeliverable and the problem cannot be well + expressed with any of the other provided detail codes. + + X.6.1 Media not supported + + The media of the message is not supported by either the + delivery protocol or the next system in the forwarding path. + This is useful only as a permanent error. + + X.6.2 Conversion required and prohibited + + The content of the message must be converted before it can be + delivered and such conversion is not permitted. Such + prohibitions may be the expression of the sender in the message + itself or the policy of the sending host. + + X.6.3 Conversion required but not supported + + The message content must be converted in order to be forwarded + but such conversion is not possible or is not practical by a + host in the forwarding path. This condition may result when an + ESMTP gateway supports 8bit transport but is not able to + downgrade the message to 7 bit as required for the next hop. + + X.6.4 Conversion with loss performed + + This is a warning sent to the sender when message delivery was + successfully but when the delivery required a conversion in + which some data was lost. This may also be a permanent error + if the sender has indicated that conversion with loss is + prohibited for the message. + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 11] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + + X.6.5 Conversion Failed + + A conversion was required but was unsuccessful. This may be + useful as a permanent or persistent temporary notification. + +3.8 Security or Policy Status + + X.7.0 Other or undefined security status + + Something related to security caused the message to be + returned, and the problem cannot be well expressed with any of + the other provided detail codes. This status code may also be + used when the condition cannot be further described because of + security policies in force. + + X.7.1 Delivery not authorized, message refused + + The sender is not authorized to send to the destination. This + can be the result of per-host or per-recipient filtering. This + memo does not discuss the merits of any such filtering, but + provides a mechanism to report such. This is useful only as a + permanent error. + + X.7.2 Mailing list expansion prohibited + + The sender is not authorized to send a message to the intended + mailing list. This is useful only as a permanent error. + + X.7.3 Security conversion required but not possible + + A conversion from one secure messaging protocol to another was + required for delivery and such conversion was not possible. + This is useful only as a permanent error. + + X.7.4 Security features not supported + + A message contained security features such as secure + authentication that could not be supported on the delivery + protocol. This is useful only as a permanent error. + + X.7.5 Cryptographic failure + + A transport system otherwise authorized to validate or decrypt + a message in transport was unable to do so because necessary + information such as key was not available or such information + was invalid. + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 12] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + + X.7.6 Cryptographic algorithm not supported + + A transport system otherwise authorized to validate or decrypt + a message was unable to do so because the necessary algorithm + was not supported. + + X.7.7 Message integrity failure + + A transport system otherwise authorized to validate a message + was unable to do so because the message was corrupted or + altered. This may be useful as a permanent, transient + persistent, or successful delivery code. + +4. Normative References + + [RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate + Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997. + + [SMTP] Postel, J., "Simple Mail Transfer Protocol", STD 10, RFC + 821, August 1982. + + [DSN] Moore, K. and G. Vaudreuil, "An Extensible Message Format + for Delivery Status Notifications", RFC 3464, January 2003. + +5. Security Considerations + + This document describes a status code system with increased + precision. Use of these status codes may disclose additional + information about how an internal mail system is implemented beyond + that currently available. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 13] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + +Appendix A - Collected Status Codes + + X.1.0 Other address status + X.1.1 Bad destination mailbox address + X.1.2 Bad destination system address + X.1.3 Bad destination mailbox address syntax + X.1.4 Destination mailbox address ambiguous + X.1.5 Destination mailbox address valid + X.1.6 Mailbox has moved + X.1.7 Bad sender's mailbox address syntax + X.1.8 Bad sender's system address + + X.2.0 Other or undefined mailbox status + X.2.1 Mailbox disabled, not accepting messages + X.2.2 Mailbox full + X.2.3 Message length exceeds administrative limit. + X.2.4 Mailing list expansion problem + + X.3.0 Other or undefined mail system status + X.3.1 Mail system full + X.3.2 System not accepting network messages + X.3.3 System not capable of selected features + X.3.4 Message too big for system + + X.4.0 Other or undefined network or routing status + X.4.1 No answer from host + X.4.2 Bad connection + X.4.3 Routing server failure + X.4.4 Unable to route + X.4.5 Network congestion + X.4.6 Routing loop detected + X.4.7 Delivery time expired + + X.5.0 Other or undefined protocol status + X.5.1 Invalid command + X.5.2 Syntax error + X.5.3 Too many recipients + X.5.4 Invalid command arguments + X.5.5 Wrong protocol version + + X.6.0 Other or undefined media error + X.6.1 Media not supported + X.6.2 Conversion required and prohibited + X.6.3 Conversion required but not supported + X.6.4 Conversion with loss performed + X.6.5 Conversion failed + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 14] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + + X.7.0 Other or undefined security status + X.7.1 Delivery not authorized, message refused + X.7.2 Mailing list expansion prohibited + X.7.3 Security conversion required but not possible + X.7.4 Security features not supported + X.7.5 Cryptographic failure + X.7.6 Cryptographic algorithm not supported + X.7.7 Message integrity failure + +Appendix B - Changes from RFC1893 + + Changed Authors contact information. + + Updated required standards boilerplate. + + Edited the text to make it spell-checker and grammar checker + compliant. + + Modified the text describing the persistent transient failure to more + closely reflect current practice and understanding. + + Eliminated the restriction on the X.4.7 codes limiting them to + persistent transient errors. + +Author's Address + + Gregory M. Vaudreuil + Lucent Technologies + 7291 Williamson Rd + Dallas, Tx. 75214 + + Phone: +1 214 823 9325 + EMail: GregV@ieee.org + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 15] + +RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes January 2003 + + +Full Copyright Statement + + Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2003). All Rights Reserved. + + This document and translations of it may be copied and furnished to + others, and derivative works that comment on or otherwise explain it + or assist in its implementation may be prepared, copied, published + and distributed, in whole or in part, without restriction of any + kind, provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph are + included on all such copies and derivative works. However, this + document itself may not be modified in any way, such as by removing + the copyright notice or references to the Internet Society or other + Internet organizations, except as needed for the purpose of + developing Internet standards in which case the procedures for + copyrights defined in the Internet Standards process must be + followed, or as required to translate it into languages other than + English. + + The limited permissions granted above are perpetual and will not be + revoked by the Internet Society or its successors or assigns. + + This document and the information contained herein is provided on an + "AS IS" basis and THE INTERNET SOCIETY AND THE INTERNET ENGINEERING + TASK FORCE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING + BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE INFORMATION + HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF + MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Acknowledgement + + Funding for the RFC Editor function is currently provided by the + Internet Society. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Vaudreuil Standards Track [Page 16] + |