[Info-vax] bizarre SMTP problem

[Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply]

I just noticed that an email address like foo.bla at bar.doo.da works fine
but foo.bla+xxx at bar.doo.da doesn't, giving

   %MAIL-E-NOSUCHUSR, no such user foo.bla

In other words, something happens with the parsing when the + sign is 
reached.  The problem can be demonstrated with fantasy addresses, i.e. 
whether or not they are "real" in some sense doesn't matter; it's all a 
matter of parsing in syntax.

Fortunately, SMTP%"foo.bla+xxx at bar.doo.da" DOES work.  Since this is an 
address I would almost never type in manually, but rather reply to, use 
in a distribution list etc, this isn't a problem.  However, is this a 
bug or a feature?

  HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS Alpha Version V5.4 - ECO 7
  on a DEC 3000 - M600 running OpenVMS V7.3-2

  Compaq TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS VAX Version V5.3 - ECO 4
  on a VAX 4000-105A running OpenVMS V7.3

(Same error with both architectures/VMS versions/TCPIP versions.)

---------8<-------------------------------------------------------------------

MAIL> send
To:     foo.bla at bar.doo.da
CC:
 Cancel

%TCPIP-E-SMTP_ABORT, SMTP session aborted

MAIL> send
To:     foo.bla+xxx at bar.doo.da
%MAIL-E-NOSUCHUSR, no such user FOO.BLA
Do you want to send anyway (Y/N, default is N)? n
%TCPIP-E-SMTP_ABORT, SMTP session aborted

MAIL> send
To:     SMTP%"foo.bla+xxx at bar.doo.da"
CC:
 Cancel

%TCPIP-E-SMTP_ABORT, SMTP session aborted

MAIL>