Cron based e-mail sending
 

As of 24 Nov 2017 this modification has been withdrawn.

In default vBulletin, if you send a large number of e-mails, vbulletin either puts them in it's queue and attempts to send them as each user visits a page, or just simply tries to send them straight away (as is the case when you use the Administrators email users inteface).

The result of this can be that your server can gets seriously overloaded very quickly - or on many hosts, you get banned for exceeding their e-mail sending limits. This can make sending several thousand e-mails (like a newsletter) very difficult.

This modification does two things ;

1. The processing of the mail queue is set-up as a vbulletin cron item.

2. Allows you to add a small delay before each e-mail is sent (between 1 and 9 seconds).

3. E-mails from the ACP inteface are sent to the mail queue, not straight to the mail system.

Use option 2 carefully, otherwise you will slow your e-mail system right down.

For this to work, you must turn on e-mail queuing in the ACP options - set 'Use Mailqueue System' to 'Yes', and 'Number of Emails to Send Per Batch' to a realistic value (based on the cron setting, as below).

There are two options for the cron job, you can either set it to run every minute, and set the items to be processed to something small (like 10), or you can do what this modification does by default and set it to run every 10 minutes, and set the items to be processed to something larger (like 100).

Remember, 10 per minute = 600 per hour, 100 per 10 minutes is also 600 per hour. The numbers really depend on how quick you want large queues processed, and how much your mail server can handle in one go.

Once working, when using the ACP mail users inteface, remember you can set it to process 9999 at once (not 500 or whatever) as the mails will now go into the queue, not be sent directly.

Note: This modification will affect any queued e-mails such as subscription e-mails. It will not affect registration e-mails as they bypass queuing anyway.

This modification includes the code by Antivirus that displays the current size of the mail queue.


History:

v3.8.001 : First Release for vB 3.8.

Finally I need this addon since my forum is getting more and more members. ;)

The cron isn't working for some reason. I had it set at every minute and now it's at the default every 10 and it isn't running according to the logs. I have about 200k mails in the quene.

Have you tried to run it manually ?

there is an admin/stats panel for that version?

Thank you , moved t oa new host and they have a 200 emails per hour limit

how do we set up the cron for this there is no intructions???

Wait, how does the quene work? I heard you need visitors? What do you mean by manually? If I click run now it says processing etc.

nevermind i see it already sets it up for you.

When you send an email shouldnt it send the first batch right then, then the next bath at the tim you input. As of right now it doesnt send any when you first send it waits for the first que time to come around.

Anyway to change that?

Yes, the vb cron system requires that you actually have people visit your site.

Its working correctly, thats what a cron job is, it runs every 10 mins.

i need mine to run every 1 hours as i can only email 200 times per hour

No you dont. Please actually read the notes.

i have a 800 limit, but my webhost told me to use a 200 queue per hour, i'll try to set this up, awesome idea, must be part of vb 4.0 :D

i have a proplem
i have to forums in my server the firs forum its sendeing aotumatic good
the secund forum when i doing send hes not send only manually and i update to 3.8 and the proplem its strel hes not send auto like the first form

Sorry, not really sure what you are asking.

for example in admincp the queue its 60000 user its not changed auto only Manuel
But in other site in same server its workinge good and i cheake the confige for email and evry tink

???

Hi all, for first, this mod is GREAT.....i've clicked installed!
I'm not expert ,
and i don't understand well the en language,
my forum can send 400 emails in 1 hour , for send 300 mails in 1 hour,
is correct if i go in my AdminCP/Vb Options/Email Options/
and set the Number of emails to send per batch at 5?
Without touch the delay option (set to "0" like default)?

Thats correct?

Please help me.

Thanks

Set it to 50, not 5.

Thanks Paul,
only this?

The default number of that option is 10, but when i send (without your hack) i riceive "400 is the max email that i can to send" error,
if i increase this value , i will send more of 400 emails in one hour?

please help me,
without your mod i can't use my newsletter.

now im uprdage other forum to 3.8.1
and the cron its send auto

please i want send to the information in pm o cheake on this

Sorry, but I dont really understand either of you.

sair the cron hes now send auto i have to send him Manuel only so i want send to you in privet meesage the login for my forums to cheake on this :)

thank you.

Ok, finally installed... and i have a question, is it ok to set the Use Mailqueue System as "Yes with locking"? o.o

If you want, that has no bearing on this mod.

Cool, well, i sent my first newsletter, this is a little site, so i set a really low number to test.

I'll search for the logs. Thanks :D

Hmm... well, i see there is a log as "Process Mail Queue for vBulletin 3.7"

But where cani see the mail queue or any chance to see how many mails were sent on each run? Oo

What would the settings look like to send 400 - 450 emails an hour. I was pretty sure I set it right at 75 emails every 10 min.

I tried it and must have done something wrong cause I am currently getting my suspension lifted for sending 1000's of emails.

I'm sorry I don't really understand how to know what numbers to set the batch and processing times to.... My webhost allows me 100 emails per hour. What should I set everything to???

Thanks, and I'm sorry if this was answered already, I can't decipher some of this computer lingo...i'm no programmer!!

Thanks for a great mod!!

Also, how do I view the mail queue, and see how many emails are currently queued for sending??

Where? How to access it?

OK i see it in the ACP!! Nevermind!

Awesome Mod!

I think that would be toset the batch around 15

where, where? Oo

Can't figure out where to see it x_x

After you've installed, it shows up with the quick stats in the admin cp.

If you just installed, you may need to reload the admin cp (by actually hitting reload or logging out and logging back in).

Take a look at my screenshot attached...

OMG! the last place I'd ever search x_x

thanks :D

God, this mod has been needed for way to long! It truly should be a default in VB. Thx a lot for making this Paul!!

Paul
Installed & clicked :)
One thought - maybe short help or some kind of how-to for setting a proper number of mails sent per batch, as this single setting is actually top important for proper batch mailing.

heyy,

how can i start?

like sending 100 msj per hr and then activate it? or wt

Huh ?