Funny, but only if you know RFC-822

* * * * *

Funny, but only if you know RFC-822

I'm trying to reach some people at a particular ISP (Internet Service
Provider), and since I haven't heard from them in some time, sent email to
noc@XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, postmaster@XXXXXXXXXXXXXX and root@XXXXXXXXXXXXXX just to
make sure that maybe, just maybe, someone there would notice.

I just got this back:

>
> ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
> postmaster@XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
>
> ----- Transcript of session follows -----
> ... while talking to mail.XXXXXXXXXXXXXX.:
> >>> RCPT To:<postmaster@XXXXXXXXXXXXXX>
> <<< 550 <postmaster@XXXXXXXXXXXXXX>... User unknown
> 550 postmaster@XXXXXXXXXXXXXX... User unknown
>
>

Um … RFC-822 [1] has this to say about postmaster:

>
> 6.3. RESERVED ADDRESS
>
> It often is necessary to send mail to a site, without know-
> ing any of its valid addresses. For example, there may be mail
> system dysfunctions, or a user may wish to find out a person's
> correct address, at that site.
>
> This standard specifies a single, reserved mailbox address
> (local-part) which is to be valid at each site. Mail sent to
> that address is to be routed to a person responsible for the
> site's mail system or to a person with responsibility for general
> site operation. The name of the reserved local-part address is:
>
> Postmaster
>
> so that "Postmaster@domain" is required to be valid.
>
> Note: This reserved local-part must be matched without sensi-
> tivity to alphabetic case, so that "POSTMASTER", "postmas-
> ter", and even "poStmASteR" is to be accepted.
>
>
>

§6.3 of RFC-822 [2]

It's a requirement that postamster exist as a valid email address for any
domain accepting email. So the ISP in question is violating an RFC (Request
for Comment). Tsk tsk tsk.

[1] http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/cgi-bin/rfc/rfc0822.html
[2] http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/cgi-bin/rfc/rfc0822.html

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