Exam-style question
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Explain the roles of an email server when a user sends an email and when a user retrieves an email. Name the relevant application layer protocols.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- When sending an email, the email server handles the sending process using SMTP.
- When retrieving an email, the email server provides the stored email to the user using POP3.
- SMTP is therefore associated with sending email, while POP3 is associated with retrieving email.
Explanation
Why this works
A complete answer distinguishes the two directions of email activity. SMTP is the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol used for sending email, and POP3 is the Post Office Protocol (v3) used for retrieving email.
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