(defvar sasl-mechanisms)
;;;###autoload
-(defvar smtp-open-connection-function #'open-network-stream)
+(defvar smtp-open-connection-function #'open-network-stream
+ "*Function used for connecting to a SMTP server.
+The function will be called with the same four arguments as
+`open-network-stream' and should return a process object.
+Here is an example:
+
+\(setq smtp-open-connection-function
+ #'(lambda (name buffer host service)
+ (let ((process-connection-type nil))
+ (start-process name buffer \"ssh\" \"-C\" host
+ \"nc\" host service))))
+
+It connects to a SMTP server using \"ssh\" before actually connecting
+to the SMTP port. Where the command \"nc\" is the netcat executable;
+see http://www.atstake.com/research/tools/index.html#network_utilities
+for details. In addition, you will have to modify the value for
+`smtp-end-of-line' to \"\\n\" if you use \"telnet\" instead of \"nc\".")
(defvar smtp-read-point nil)
(defvar smtp-submit-package-function #'smtp-submit-package)
(defvar smtp-end-of-line "\r\n"
- "*String to use on the end of lines when talking to the SMTP server.
-This is \"\\r\\n\" by default, but should be \"\\n\" when using and
-indirect connection method, e.g. bind `smtp-open-connection-function'
-to a custom function as shown below:
-
-\(setq smtp-open-connection-function
- (lambda (name buffer host service)
- (start-process name buffer \"ssh\" \"-C\" host
- \"telnet\" \"-8\" host service)))")
+ "*String to use as end-of-line marker when talking to a SMTP server.
+This is \"\\r\\n\" by default, but it may have to be \"\\n\" when using a non
+native connection function. See also `smtp-open-connection-function'.")
;;; @ SMTP package
;;; A package contains a mail message, an envelope sender address,