Lesson 1

Internet email is as pervasive as the World Wide Web. Almost everyone on the Internet has an email address. Consequently, there is a high demand for email, which requires a substantial infrastructure to maintain.
Most of the Internet's email capability comes from UNIX-like systems running specialized email handling programs. This module introduces you to the Linux versions of these programs, classifying them and describing their individual purposes. Also, you will learn about SPAM^[1], and how Linux systems combat this problem.

After completing this module, you will be able to:

1. Explain how the Internet transfers email
2. Define the roles of the three email system agents
3. Describe the purpose of Linux's MTAs and MDAs
4. Describe the purpose of Linux's MUAs
5. Identify the traits of email SPAM
6. List tools that combat email SPAM

The next lesson explains how the Internet transfers email.

[1]SPAM: A common name for unsolicited email, named after a Monty Python sketch.