Fortunately these same procedures are likely to be the ones most desirable for the implementation of the campus E-mail system, so easy access to the Internet will be very simple to implement. F. Flexibility in support of various desktops and features. In such a system server machines provide basic support for such things as transportation of mail messages through the network and storing them until they can be read, and providing the directory service discussed above. Client machines provide a customizable user interface consistent with that of other applications on the desktop. The clients format and send messages to, and receive messages from, mailbox server machines.
Clients interpret the body of messages to implement such features as message attachments.
The success of such a distributed design is the support of a standard set of procedures by which all its component clients and servers accomplish their tasks. Such standards ensure that the various components work together successfully. The standards selected should be widely supported by the industry so that components with the desired capabilities can be found on the market. For the most part, user features are implemented by client systems. Simple features such as the look and feel of other applications on the desktop should be provided by all supported clients.