Chapter 3: Addressing and Naming Conventions

Chapter 3: Addressing and Naming Conventions

Overview

In previous chapters in this book, I covered the way in which different protocols are used to read and send messages over a network. However, these protocols require two vital pieces of information before they can operate effectively: the recipient?s address and the way that it is stored in a global address book.

Introduction to Addressing Schemes

Each mail system uses a different method of formatting and storing user addresses. For example, some systems (such as X.400) use a central database that contains a hierarchical representation of the way each user is linked to servers within the network. This makes the job of delivering mail simple?the delivery system has to look up the recipient?s name in the database and trace the route. In contrast, other mail systems (such as SMTP) use a ?try-or-move-on? method. The delivery system asks the current mail server if it looks after the destination domain and, if not, is directed to another computer that might help.

In this chapter, I cover the ways in which the two most popular nonproprietary message systems format their mail addresses. In tandem with this chapter, I cover directory services in Chapter 4 , the method of organizing names and addresses over a network.

Naming Conventions

A requirement for any mailbox is that it have a unique identifier; without this, the delivery software would be unable to differentiate who?s who. In a small e-mail setup of a dozen users, this poses few problems: give...

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Integrating E-mail: From the Intranet to the Internet

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Chapter 3: Addressing and Naming Conventions

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