Message Transfer Agent Meaning
The actual mail transfer is done through message transfer agent. To send mail, a system must have the client MTA and to receive mail, a system must have server MTA. The MTA is used to transfer the message send by the user agent to the destination. MTA client sends and MTA server at destination MTA server receives. The received mails are stored in destination server system. The destination server system contains a module called mail access agent MAA. The user site will have MAA client. The user uses the MAA client to send request to MAA server to send the messages. In return the MAA server sends the messages to the client MAA. This whole operation is called push-pull operation. The protocol that defines MTA client and MTA server in the Internet is SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). MAA client and MAA server uses POP2 (Post office protocol version3) or IMAP4 (Internet Mail Access protocol version 4).
Message Transfer Agent Functions
The major functions of an MTA are:
Accepting messages originating from the user agent and forwarding them to their destination (other user agents).
Receiving all messages that are transmitted from other user agents for further transmission.
Keeping track of every and each activity and analyzing and storing the recipient list to perform future routing functions.
Sending auto-responses about nondelivery when a message doesn't reach its intended destination.
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