NNTP Gateway for Usenet ( Newsgroups ), Mailing Lists

The latest version: V3.5.0Alpha 1 (21 Jul 2005)

What is it?

This hack provides a gateway from vBulletin forums to the USENET. It allows forum members to read newsgroup messages as well as to send posts to the newsgroups. In a nutshell, it turns vBulletin forums into a basic function news reader.

For an added bonus, this package also supports mailing list archive and forum to mailing list gateway. The software retrieves messages from a pop3 account and import them into the forums threaded. It also allows a forums user to send messages to the mailing list by the forum posting interface.

Why?

The gateway will be appreciated by forum members who do not know how to set up a news reader, or people who do not have port 119 open in their network. A forum interface to read and post news are often considered to be better than a news reader.

The gateway adds more contents to your forums and allows the members to interact with wider audience. It is common to see new users signing up to use this feature.

History

This hack was originally coded by Gilby for vB2. I modified the hack to work with vB3 and have been maintaining and improving the hack. I have now done the modification for this to work with vB3.5.

The very original hack by Gilby can be found here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...7&page=1&pp=15

The vB3 version can be found here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=65152

Features

Some of the features and improvement include:

• Handles both newsgroup posts and mailing lists.
• Handles MIME encoded messages and attachment.
• Handles UUEncoded messages.
• Two Admin Control Panels for all settings.
• Automated installation.
• Correct thread implementation. All imported messages and posts sent to newsgroups will be threaded correctly according to References and Message-ID headers.
• Optional setting to thread by subject for mailing lists that strip references header.
• Imported messages will be searchable just like normal forum posts.
• Similar threads are built when the messages are imported if the system setting is on.
• Multiple attachments importing.
• Save attachment to database or file according to vB setting.
• Thumbnail created while importing image files.
• Multiple attachment post to newsgroup is also supported.
• Selectable X-No-Archive header honouring system.
• Light on system resources.
• Global Killfile to filter out unwanted messages. Killfiles can have OR and AND effectiveness.
• Strip footer by setting for incoming messages. Strips out repeated message footers.
• Built options to disable signatures and footers for out going messages.

Future development

• Traditional "> " lead posting interface.

What do you need and do not need?

You do not need to edit vB php files.
No need to manually run SQL.

Installation

Basically the AdminCP interfaces take care of installation as well as upgrade in the background. Back up your database first. The scripts can modify your database without alerting you!

Please follow the instructions in the readme.txt file for more details.

It is not a must to click "INSTALL" for this hack if you use it, I do try better answering the questions from people who do.

Support

Please post your support questions to this thread. Please check the FAQ in the second post within this thread first. It may be surprising, but it is possible your question is answered in the adminCP NNTP settings.

Please always provide more details about your problem. Examples and debug messages will certainly help. Well, if you don't even try to have some effort to compose your question, the answer you get may also not include much effort.

================== UPDATES ======================
Jul 21 2005 (release version 3.5.0 Alpha 1)

AdminCP xml file is written by Kadence.

• Ported to work with vB3.5.
• Existing bug fixes.
• Debug message can be sent by email or logged in vB Tast Scheduler.
• Known problem: image attachment thumb nail creation still needs work.
• Needs to be done: Documentation.

Quick installation instruction:
1) Upload files to their correct directory
2) Enter AdminCP, click on NNTP Settings once to install/upgrade. Change settings to your like.
3) Click on NNTP Groups once to install/upgrade.
3a) For new install. Run once
http://www.yourdomain.com/setlastmsg.php

Delete this file afterwards.
If you are upgrading from an older version. There is no need to upload this file. Actually this file should not be there except brand new install.

4)
Manually run in debug mode: http://forums.yourdomain.com/gateway.php?debug=1

[deejayh]

Thanks for that - I was wondering the same!

Contacted my hosts:

you cannot import these feeds directly to your vbulleting installation on the server. You may need to setup a local copy and then import the mysql to the server.

Damn it!

Anyone know how to setup a local copy and then import the mysql to the server?

thanks,
Dave

[deejayh]

Thinking about it, do I realy need my hosts server to have port 119 open?

Surely I am connecting to the selected SERVER - news server port 119!!

A general newsreader does not use 119 on your own PC -just connects to the news servers port 119?

or am I getting it wrong??

But.... I have tried loads of servers even the microsoft one suggested - still no connection!! maybe I am wrong!

Help.....

[deejayh]

bummpppp!

Thinking about it, do I really need my hosts server to have port 119 open?

Surely I am connecting to the selected SERVER - news server port 119!!

A general newsreader does not use 119 on your own PC -just connects to the news servers port 119?

or am I getting it wrong??

How does this script connect to the newserver?

thanks,
Dave

[TMM-TT]

Originally Posted by deejayh

How does this script connect to the newserver?

As a client connects to a server.


There's some read-only servers to try with. Or are you looking for servers that allows both read and post?

[deejayh]

Thanks for the reply TMM-TT,

I would prefer to recieve and send - but at the moment I just need to be able to connect and download news - to ensure this add-on works - before I pay for a newsfeed.

I have tried a number of newsfeeds but it keeps coming up with:

Gateway version 2.3.2 1 group(s) gatewayed.
Could not connect to NNTP-server. (Connection timed out (110))

Not connected
Not connected

Then ubuntu-geek said:

You might make sure your server has the nntp port open. It appears that could be the issue.

So I spoke with my host who said that port 119 is blocked.
Then I thought, surely this add-on is not talking thro my host servers port 119 - but connecting to the selected new servers port 119. So I would not need to have port 119 open on my host? Maybe I am wrong?

Just need to get it working!

Thanks again TMM-TT

Regards,
Dave

[TMM-TT]

Originally Posted by deejayh

Thanks for the reply TMM-TT,

I would prefer to recieve and send - but at the moment I just need to be able to connect and download news - to ensure this add-on works - before I pay for a newsfeed.

[...]

So I spoke with my host who said that port 119 is blocked.

Then I thought, surely this add-on is not talking thro my host servers port 119 - but connecting to the selected new servers port 119. So I would not need to have port 119 open on my host? Maybe I am wrong?

No, as long as the outgoing port 119 is not blocked, it should work fine. Try connect to news.tornevall.net at that port and see what answer you get.

By the way - buying accounts can be a bit "bad", so be careful with the choice there.
Normally newsproviders only allows one user per account which means that sharing such account with others may not be allowed.

[deejayh]

Thanks TMM-TT,

What newsgroup shall I add?

regards,
Dave

[deejayh]

tried:
server: news.tornevall.net
Forum: testing
newsgroup:uk.news
Last Message: 0
left everything else blank

got:

Gateway version 2.3.2 2 group(s) gatewayed.
Could not connect to NNTP-server. (Connection timed out (110))

Not connected
Not connected
Could not connect to NNTP-server. (Connection timed out (110))

Not connected
Not connected

[Aylwin]

Originally Posted by srpompon

Now the attachs work in my 3.5.3, for this i copy a functions_image.php file from another old vb instalation to my includes.

And i comment some lines in the file incliudes/functions_nntp.php


// if (!$forumperms)
// {
// logging("This forum does not allow attachments, therefore attachment ignored.");
// }
// else
// {
$forumperms2 = true;
// }

Does anyone know if attachments work with mailing lists?

Also, can someone please attach functions_image.php? I'd like to try to get this working. Thanks!

[theaonline]

My outgoing emails have their extra carraige returns/line breaks snipped. Does anybody know where I can fix this?