Sun Java System Communications Services 6 2005Q4 Deployment Planning Guide

Message Path Through the Simplified Messaging Server System

Incoming messages from the Internet or local clients are received by the MTA through the Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP). If the address is internal, that is, within the Messaging Server domain, the MTA delivers the message to the Message Store. If the message is external, that is, addressed to a domain outside of Messaging Server control, the MTA relays the message to another MTA on the Internet.

Although it is possible to deliver mail to the /var/mail file system (UNIX systems only), local messages are usually delivered to the more optimized Messaging Server Message Store. Messages are then retrieved by IMAP4, POP3, or HTTP mail client programs.

Outgoing messages from mail clients go directly to the MTA, which sends the message to the appropriate server on the Internet. If the address is local, the MTA sends the message to the Message Store.

New users and groups are created by adding user and group entries to the directory. Entries can be created or modified by using the Communications Services Delegated Administrator utility or by modifying the directory using LDAP.

Messaging Server components can be administered by the Administration Server console. In addition, Messaging Server provides a set of command-line interfaces and configuration files. Some of the more common administrative tasks are adding, modifying, and removing users and groups to the mail system, and configuring the operation of the MTA, directory server, and Message Store.