[comp.mail.headers] UNIX <-> VMS Mail Transfer

alg@btnix.axion.bt.co.uk (Andy Gray) (04/21/87)

--- /\oo/\ ---

Many people may have broached this subject already, but here goes ....

Is there any reasonably reliable method of transferring mail that is in UNIX
format to a VMS system that is running VMS mail and/or All-In-One mail and
vice versa, apart from the obvious suggestion that all the various parties
standardise on a single mail system.

As an extra, I would like to know the format of the VMS envelope 

I would appreciate replies via E-Mail or via the pages of this hallowed organ
if useful to the masses.

	Thanks

		Andy Gray

dave@garfield.UUCP (05/04/87)

In article <257@btnix.axion.bt.co.uk> 
	   alg@btnix.axion.bt.co.uk (Andy Gray) writes:
| Is there any reasonably reliable method of transferring mail that is in UNIX
| format to a VMS system that is running VMS mail and/or All-In-One mail and
| vice versa, apart from the obvious suggestion that all the various parties
| standardise on a single mail system.

Try looking on the 1985 DECUS symposium tape.
They have a nice SMTP system that will send messages between
a UNIX and VMS site over a serial line or ethernet. I can dredge up
more details for you if you need them, since I don't happen to have them 
handy at this moment.

| As an extra, I would like to know the format of the VMS envelope 

In the mailer negotionations, the only things that don't get sent
as pure (uninterpeted) text are the SENDER and the ADDRESSEEs.
I can give you a better decription of this protocol if you really
need it since (I think) it is in the public domain. HOWEVER,
VMS 5.x is changing the mail protocols so this probably won't be much 
use to you.

| 		Andy Gray

Feel free to mail me for details.

dave
--
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CDNNET: David Janes <dave@garfield.mun.cdn>
BITNET:	dave@mun

dww@stl.UUCP (05/15/87)

In article <3625@garfield.UUCP> dave@garfield.UUCP (David Janes) writes:
> .... HOWEVER, VMS 5.x is changing the mail protocols ...

Is this true?   We use a version of Kevin Carruso's mail server interface
for various purposes, and although I know that we cannot expect DEC to
guarantee to continue an undocumented interface unchanged, I hope we don't
really have to replace that mail interface.    If we have to, would someone
from DEC (or otherwise 'in the know') please tell us what the new interface
is so that we can be ready when VMS 5 comes out.  Otherwise we will not
be able to use VMS 5!      Thanks.
-- 
Regards,
        David Wright          STL, London Road, Harlow, Essex  CM17 9NA, U.K.
dww@stl.stc.co.uk <or> ...seismo!mcvax!ukc!stl!dww <or> PSI%234237100122::DWW

kvc@scgvaxd.UUCP (Kevin Carosso) (05/19/87)

In article <542@acer.stl.stc.co.uk> dww@stl.UUCP (David Wright) writes:
>In article <3625@garfield.UUCP> dave@garfield.UUCP (David Janes) writes:
>> .... HOWEVER, VMS 5.x is changing the mail protocols ...
>
>Is this true?   We use a version of Kevin Carruso's mail server interface
>for various purposes, and although I know that we cannot expect DEC to
>guarantee to continue an undocumented interface unchanged, I hope we don't
>really have to replace that mail interface.

Since the VMS MAIL foreign protocol mechanism is currently undocumented and
unsupported, there is certainly no guarantee that Digital will continue to
provide the interface with VMS V5.  However, the current mechanism is used
quite extensively by many things, including several DEC products.  I have
been following VMS V5 developments as best I can (DEC will not talk much
"on the record" about future development efforts).  My sources indicate
that there is some hope for a documented callable interface to MAIL.  If
that does not come about, then the thing should remain about the same as
it is now.  In summary it appears that things will either remain the same
or change for the better.

If someone has a firm basis for believing that "VMS 5.x is changing the
mail protocols ..." then I'd be extremely interested in any followup
information.

You can bet that I've got an intense interest in tracking the thing, whatever
happens.  I'll provide information or an updated interface if necessary
and if it remains at all possible.

	/Kevin Carosso                 kvc%engvax@oberon.usc.edu
	 Hughes Aircraft Co.            scgvaxd!engvax!kvc