DavidLewis

I have a rough idea, but how does an eMail get from 1 PC to another.........

ChristianR

iTrader: (1)

via a protocol called smtp!

IanW

http://www.howstuffworks.com/email.htm

DavidLewis

Well this is what I think happens, so can someone add some detail, fill-in any gaps or tell me that I don't have a clue

You are a subscriber to a mail server. The intended recipient of the email is also a subscriber to a mail server and you both have a mailbox and a mail address.
When you open Outlook (or any other mail software) it connects with your mailbox on your mail server.
You type in a mail message with an address of subscriber@mail_server and send it. Your mail server takes control, identifies the destination domain and ensures it arrives there via a single or multiple network routes. (direct or via other routers)
The recipients mail server has now received the email and checks that the recipients address is registered. If so, the mail server places the mail message in the recipients mailbox, if not, you receive a Non delivery notification.
Once the recipient opens his/her mailbox, the mail server passess the message to Outlook (or whatever) for display.

DavidLewis

Blimey, 2 replies while I wrote that last post. Better check how correct I am (or not)

kimera

thats all bollox, what actually happens is:

When you press send an electron pixie runs around your hard disk and collects all the parts of the email in his little satchel. He then gets on the ethernet bus waiting at the nic port and travels to the nearest hub. When he arrives at the SMTP depot he puts it in the recipients pigeon hole. Shortly after that another pixie cycles to the POP3 warehouse where he has a cuppa before catching the next ethernet bus to the recipients PC, removing the mail from his bulging sack and throwing it right onto your desktop.

Hope this clears things up, and ill have no talk of silly protocols and mail relay and TCP/Ip etc. You lot are bonkers.

Cheers

beemerboy

LOL at Kimera;_)

V5

PMSLROFLMAO @ Kimera!

Edit cos I was laughing too much to type properly.

[Edited by V5 - 10/18/2002 11:52:40 AM]

Denzil_Dog

heheheeheh Perfect Mate

LanCat

LOL

You only forgot the bit where the pixie get's held up on the way by the aol.com pixie who forces him to take messages offering viagra animal sex videos and the chance to consolidate all your debts as well.

DavidLewis

kimera

glad you like,we always blame the electron pixies at work so i thought id use it on here, if theres any other things you would like me to explain let me know

DavidLewis

Are electron pixies used to transfer data to/from hard drives and if so, will you explain how they stand on a spinning disk while filling their satchels with data?

DavidLewis

P.S. I hope this question doesn't come up in my interview on Monday otherwise I shall struggle to remember to remove the pixie bit.

Imagine:

Interviewer: "So, can you explain, briefly, how eMail works"
Me: "Oh, yes, its all down to the electron pixies"

stevencotton

I'd give you the job if you said that to me

kimera

Are electron pixies used to transfer data to/from hard drives and if so, will you explain how they stand on a spinning disk while filling their satchels with data?

answer: they have rollerboots


[Edited by kimera - 10/20/2002 6:22:11 PM]