| Sun ONE Messaging Server 6.0 MTA Programmer's Reference Manual |
Glossary
ALFA_SIZE The upper limit on the length of an address file.
BIGALFA_SIZE The length of the maximum size message line; also, the maximum length of a channel option value.
blocking A routine prevents the routine that called it from continuing until it returns. For example, the mtaDequeueStart() blocks the thread that called it until it has processed all queued messages.
body An optional part of a mail message containing the message content.
CHANLENGTH The maximum allowable length of a text string containing the name of an MTA channel. The actual number is defined in the include files.
channel programs A broad class of programs that typically interface Messaging Server to other networks, mail systems (MTAs), and user agents (UAs).
channel queue A channel specific message queue.
context The state information necessary to manage multiple, sequential calls to SDK routines. Specifically, the opaque data structure containing the state information (context variables).
context variables Units of state information held in opaque structures called contexts.
deferred messages Messages for which all recipients have a deferred disposition.
deferred recipients If a processing program is unable to process the recipient address due to some temporary problem. Delivery will be retried as determined by the channel configuration.
delay notifications An RFC 1892 - 1894 conformant delay DSN issued for mail that has remained undelivered or unsuccessfully processed in the MTA queues for a prescribed period of time. (See also, return job)
delivery status notification (DSN) An RFC 1892 - 1894 conformant notification issued to provide information about the status of a message that is either in transit, has been delivered, or that can’t be delivered.
dequeue To remove a message from a queue. Master channel programs running under the Job Controller, which interface to other networks and mail systems, and intermediate processing programs such as document converters dequeue messages.
enqueue To submit a message to a message queue. Messages are enqueued by user interfaces originating new mail messages, servers receiving mail from remote sources, and intermediate processing programs such as document converters (which also dequeue messages).
envelope MTA specific portion of a message containing transport information that isn’t part of the message’s RFC 822 header.
envelope recipient addresses Active transport recipient addresses found in the message envelope.
global context A context used to pass information pertinent to all threads generated by a subroutine call.
header One of the two required parts of a mail message, containing the required RFC 822 style header lines From:, Date:, and at least one recipient header line, such as To:, Cc:, Bcc:.
item code An integer valued code passed as arguments to SDK routines used to specify optional behavior of the routine. Programmers must refer to each routine’s specification to know which item codes are accepted by that routine.
item list An array with elements of type mta_item_list_t.
master channel A channel program that transports mail out of Messaging Server.
message body See body.
message envelope See envelope.
message header See header.
non-delivery notification (NDN) A notification sent out when a message is undeliverable.
per-thread context A context a subroutine uses to save data across multiple calls to itself by a single thread.
return job A special MTA process that generates delay notifications for messages that have experienced a temporary processing problem, or have otherwise remained undeliverable for a period of time.
slave channels A channel program that transports mail into the Messaging Server.
thread ID A unique number identifier assigned to each processing thread by mtaDequeueStart().
