Hello Abhi,
e-mail is normally provided through one of many different e-mail server
applications, usually using the SMTP and POP3 protocols. For this reason,
e-mail server software is usually called SMTP Servers or POP3 Servers.
The mailboxes themselves are provided in POP3 servers. (POP means Post
Office Protocol. We are on version 3). SMTP servers are the software
systems that forward the mails themselves. If POP3 is the post office,
then SMTP is the letter carrier.
Fortunately, the POP3 protocol makes it fairly easy for different kinds of
software to communicate with each other. It is a fairly simple protocol,
as most of the Internet protocols are. Unfortunately, different POP3
software will handle the system administration tasks in different ways...
completely different ways. What you want to do is add a mail box, and
that is a system admin function.
Some POP3 servers store the list of mail boxes in a file. Others use a
simple database. With at least one that I ran across, you have to use a
call from the command line to create the mail box. It depends on the
software you are running.
So, if you have domain SNAFU.COM and you want to create the e-mail address
(e-mail address removed), then you need talk to the particular bit of POP3 software
that is running on snafu.com. For us to help you , you have to do a good
bit of homework. Call up the system administrators for snafu.com and ask
them what POP3 software they are using to provide e-mail, and if they will
let you create mail boxes. Then, when they tell you the software, get in
touch with the software vendor to find out how that software package
'finds' or 'knows about' a mailbox.
If the system administrators say "We do not want you to be able to create
a mailbox from your code" then, for the most part, we cannot help you.
Very few systems have gaps wide enough to allow someone to create a
mailbox if the security is set up to prevent it.
Assuming that they cooperate and you get more information, bring that
information to this newsgroup. We can help you to write data in
particular formats, or turn off and on services, and even give you some
pointers. What we cannot do, with the information you have given, is
write a book giving you every possible answer to your question.
Do your homework, then come back with information. We will help you then.
--
--- Nick Malik [Microsoft]
MCSD, CFPS, Certified Scrummaster
http://blogs.msdn.com/nickmalik
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this forum are my own, and not
representative of my employer.
I do not answer questions on behalf of my employer. I'm just a
programmer helping programmers.
