Re: [exim4] mixed up about terminology
On 10/8/2014 1:41 PM, Brian wrote:
> On Wed 08 Oct 2014 at 13:00:46 -0400, Jerry Stuckle wrote:
>
>> On 10/8/2014 7:55 AM, Brian wrote:
>>>
>>> By definition an MTA will transport mail. It will do this for whatever
>>> talks nicely to it (telnet or netcat would do). Exim has no idea whether
>>> it is communicating with an MUA or an MTA and doesn't care. In fact, it
>>> will happily listen on ports 25 and 587 at the same time.
>>>
>>> Mail submitted on either of these ports can require authentication or be
>>> restricted to being allowed only from designated networks, such as a LAN.
>>> Neither of these mechanisms is known to lead to an inherent insecurity.
>>
>> Yes, I know all of that, Brian. But you missed the entire meaning of
>> the word "smarthost" as it applies to MTAs.
>
> Nope. A smarthost *is* an MTA. My ISP has one; I have one; both talk to
> netcat in fluent SMTP.
>
That was the whole point of my post above.
>> And yes, there are many possible insecurities in an MTA configuration.
>
> Indeed. Just as there are many ways to get run over crossing a busy road.
> The trick is to avoid it happening.
>
Which is not as easy to do as some people claim.
>> Does the term "open relay" mean anything?
>
> I thought you knew what one is. Please see my other posts in this thread.
>
>
Jerry
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