Because that is its main job.
It is a server too though.
A mail relay is an SMTP server and also an SMTP client. If it also provides a local (in the connectivity rather than geographical sense) mail service then it will have, or share data with, a POP3 or IMAP (or proprietary eg MS) server.
Oh dear. Relaying mail is its 'primary function'. Not serving mail.
Doublethink is strong in this one
Exactly.
But mail *relays* do NOT, and have not since pretty much the days when the internet took off, because the primary meed for a mail *server* is massive storage and resilience, whereas a mail relay is the ability to handle many connections and good connectivity and anti-spam security.
Very different hardware and software requirements.
>
Of the 8 providers that I'm configured to pick up mail from or send it to, 6 have the same IP address for POP and SMTP. The two that don't are gmail and yahoo.
gmail is the only one with an IPv6 address.
Not my fault if you deal with shonky little outfits :-)
And no guarantee that that neans they are on the same machine either.
NAT isnt just used in domestic or end user setups
You seem to be trying to contort into a semantic oozlum bird, and I think you are close to succeeding.
No, I have basically got people to admit that the term 'server' is not used when the primray function is not serving.
The proimaryu fimction of a mail relay is not serving it is relaying. Thats why we never called them servers, but relays,
Why would people want to "admit" to something that is not true?
The terms "Mail Server", "SMTP server", "POP3 Server", "IMAP Server", "Exchange Server" are in widespread current usage, and the terms accurately describe applications that have a server architecture, and function as servers from the client applications perspective.
You do talk a load of c*ck...
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
"Section 2.3 provides definitions of terms specific to this document. Except when the historical terminology is necessary for clarity, this document uses the current 'client' and 'server' terminology to identify the sending and receiving SMTP processes, respectively."
7.9. Scope of Operation of SMTP Servers"It is a well-established principle that an SMTP server may refuse to accept mail for any operational or technical reason that makes sense to the site providing the server."
Happy Christmas!
A SMTP server is not quite the same as a SMTP relay.
An SMTP server is a machine that accpets mail via mSMTP for the end user to collect via e.g. POP or IMAP. An SMTP relay is a machine that accpets mail FROM the end users to dispatch to other servers on the internet
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