zlacker

[return to "What's up with all those equals signs anyway?"]
1. tibors+Qa[view] [source] 2026-02-03 11:09:26
>>todsac+(OP)
> We see that that’s a quite a long line. Mail servers don’t like that

Why do mail server care about how long a line is? Why don't they just let the client reading the mail worry about wrapping the lines?

◧◩
2. liveon+Om[view] [source] 2026-02-03 12:27:20
>>tibors+Qa
This is how email work(ed) over smtp. When each command was sent it would get a '200'-class message (success) or 400/500-class message (failure). Sound familiar?

telnet smtp.mailserver.com 25

HELO

MAIL FROM: me@foo.com

RCPT TO: you@bar.com

DATA

blah blah blah

how's it going?

talk to you later!

.

QUIT

◧◩◪
3. 171862+Pz[view] [source] 2026-02-03 13:53:15
>>liveon+Om
For anyone who wants to try this against a modern server:

    openssl s_client -connect smtp.mailserver.com:smtps -crlf
    220 smtp.mailserver.com ESMTP Postfix (Debian/GNU)
    EHLO example.com
    250-smtp.mailserver.com
    250-PIPELINING
    250-SIZE 10240000
    250-VRFY
    250-ETRN
    250-AUTH PLAIN LOGIN
    250-ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES
    250-8BITMIME
    250-DSN
    250-SMTPUTF8
    250 CHUNKING

    MAIL FROM:me@example.com
    250 2.1.0 Ok

    RCPT TO:postmaster
    250 2.1.5 Ok

    DATA
    354 End data with <CR><LF>.<CR><LF>

    Hi
    .
    250 2.0.0 Ok: queued as BADA579CCB

    QUIT
    221 2.0.0 Bye
[go to top]