Introduction.
The POP3 protocol is used to transfer e-mail from the server to the client. It is not the ideal way, however, since passwords are sent in clear text most of the time. The client sends commands such as STAT or LIST to the server, followed by a CrLf, and the server sends a response to the command, with a plus or a minus at the beginning of the response. If the command is performed successfully, a + is sent at the beginning of the response. If the command is sent at the wrong time, or is not done successfully, a - is at the beginning of the response. Basic commands are USER, PASS, STAT, LIST, RETR, and DELE.
POP 3 Commands
USER Command
Syntax: USER <username> (without <>'s)
Returns: + for correct username, - for bad username.
Sample:
USER mark_boyle2002
+OK mark_boyle2002 is welcome on this server.
PASS Command
Syntax: PASS <password> (without <>'s)
Returns: + for correct password, - for bad password.
Sample:
PASS *****
+OK mark_boyle2002 logged in at 19:04
STAT Command
Syntax: STAT
Returns: total messages and octets
Sample:
STAT
+OK 1 3805
LIST Command
Syntax: LIST
Returns: list of messages and individual sizes
Sample:
LIST
+OK 2 7610
1 3805
2 3805
RETR Command
Syntax: RETR <message number> (without <>'s)
Returns: + for success, - for error
Sample:
RETR 1
+OK 1 3805
<message body>
DELE Command
Syntax: DELE <message number> (without <>'s)
Returns: + for success, - for error
Sample:
DELE 1
+OK 1 Deleted
QUIT Command
Syntax: QUIT
Returns: nothing
Sample:
QUIT
+GOODBYE
A Basic POP3 Session
+OK VOPmail POP3 Server-NOTF 4.6.189.0 Ready ***********************@*******.com
USER **********
+OK USER ********** is welcome here.
PASS ****
+OK USER ********** logged in at 19:04
STAT
+OK 1 xxxx
LIST
+OK 2 messages (xxxx octets)
1 xxxx
2 xxxx
.
RETR 1
+OK xxxx octets
<msg data>
.
DELE 1
+OK 1 deleted
QUIT
+GOODBYE
NOTE: There is a CRLF at the end of each of these lines.
Since every server sends different text with the +'s and -'s, everything but the +'s and -'s should be ignored, except on STAT and LIST commands, when you can use the Left$ and Right$ commands to get the numbers.
:) Enjoy
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Some Feedback
how is this a tutorial, you just posted your own session, and didnt explain the commands at all
- You have contacted this user about this assignment.
Nice to see someone who doesn't read the tutorial properly and assigns negative points. then doesn't even have the courtesy to reply to my message.
The whole second part of this tutorial explains the POP3 commands or didn't you notice because it didn't have a heading.
