Network Working Group R. Nelson
Request for Comments: 1957 Crynwr Software
Updates: 1939 June 1996
Category: Informational
Some Observations on Implementations
of the Post Office Protocol (POP3)
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. This memo
does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of
this memo is unlimited.
Observations
Sometimes an implementation is mistaken for a standard. POP3 servers
and clients are no exception. The widely-used UCB POP3 server,
popper, which has been further developed by Qualcomm, always has
additional information following the status indicator. So, the
status indicator always has a space following it. Two POP3 clients
have been observed to expect that space, and fail when it has not
been found. The RFC does not require the space, hence this memo.
These clients are the freely copyable Unix "popclient" and the
proprietary "netApp Systems Internet Series". The authors of both of
these have been contacted, and new releases will not expect the
space, but old versions should be supported.
In addition, two popular clients require optional parts of the RFC.
Netscape requires UIDL, and Eudora requires TOP.
The optional APOP authentication command has not achieved wide
penetration yet. Newer versions of the Qualcomm POP server implement
it. Known client implementations of APOP include GNU Emacs VM client
and Eudora Lite and Eudora Pro.
Security Considerations
Security issues are not discussed in this memo.
References
[1] Myers, J., and M. Rose, "Post Office Protocol - Version 3",
STD 53, RFC 1939, May 1996.
Author's Address
Russell Nelson
Crynwr Software
521 Pleasant Valley Rd.
Potsdam, NY 13676
Phone: +1.315.268.1925
FAX: +1.315.268.9201
EMail: nelson@crynwr.com