About

Email (ie message) are received via the SMTP protocol:

• by the Mail Exchange SMTP server.
• from a MTA Smtp Server

Note that a client on the same Mail Exchange SMTP server can also send email for local reception.

Process

Once received, the SMTP server:

• adds headers tracing information with:
  • the received with the actual date
  • the return-path: with the sender
  • the Delivered-To: with the recipient
• then deliver the envelope

How does email reception work?

Check these pages:

• how the email system works: How does the email system work? SMTP, POP, IMAP explained
• how the SMTP protocol works: How to send an email at the command line with SMTP? Email transaction explained