vBouncer: reduce server load by unsubscribing bouncing members from threads

vBouncer is a handy tool for busy forums (or those that do not require email verification) to control the amounts of bogus emails sent from and to your server.

What vBouncer does: vBouncer monitors your mail spool file, and identifies members responsible for large amounts of bounced emails. It then issues a PM warning, and when the unsubscribe threshold is met, it will will unsubscribe them for all threads, and sets them to the "no email" subscription level.

After a couple of runs, this should significantly reduce your server load.

Features:
o Manual or auto processing option
o Collect logs via IMAP/POP or mail spool file
o Custom filters to match patterns in bounced emails
o Uses vB's cron files (Scheduled tasks)
o Uses encrypted header for authentication (suggested by Paul M).
o Stats on members with bouncing emails, and error codes
o Tuning options
o Verbose cron logs for diagnostics
o Option to send PM warning prior to reaching the limit
o Option to send PM notifications after reaching the limit
o Option to change the member's subscription default
o Option to all thread subscriptions to "no email"
o Option to all forum subscriptions to "no email"
o Option to move offenders to a different primary usergroup
o Option to process 5.0.0/550 errors (email unknown) upon a single email, isntead of observing the bounce limit

Installation:
1. Extract the files into the corresponding directories (admincp => admincp, includes => includes)
2. Run the installation script in the admincp
3. Fill out the settings menu in the vBouncer section of the admin panel (see the how-to post below)
4. Import and activate the plugin file through the plugin manager.
5. Once ready, add the cron scripts to your scheduled tasks: vbouncer-collect.php (should be run daily, or more frequently) and vbouncer-clean.php (weekly, equal to Bounce limit period)
6. If you are using vB's SMTP email option, make sure to also enable the "-f" option.

Change log:

- August 12, 2005 v1.3 Update to the cron files to match new changes in vB's cron/tasks. To upgrade, just re-upload the contents of includes/cron.

- July 11, 2005 v1.2 Bug fix for some server/PHP setups; resolve aliases for return keys, otherwise some aliases would be considered forged.

- July 5, 2005 v1.1 Bug fix in standard report pattern matching

- July 4, 2005 v1.0 Added encrypted header for authentication (suggested by Paul M).

- July 3, 2005 v0.9.1 fixed a bug preventing IMAP/POP log collection.

- July 2, 2005 v0.9 added IMAP/POP option and custom filters file vbouncer.ini

- June 27, 2005 v0.5 Added custom header setting option, for re-written headers.

- June 26, 2005 v0.4 Found a way to make it work as a plugin, without code edits (thanks to Paul M)

- June 26, 2005 v0.3 No changes, just removed the plugin

- June 25, 2005 v0.2 Added NDR/Reply code errors to stats, and option to act upon 5.0.0/550 (user unknown)

- June 21, 2005: v 0.1 Initial release. Marked beta, but it's working fine on PostFix and SendMail. Need to hear from those who tried on QMail and Exim

[dutchbb]

This isn going to work, too bad

fyi

{dutchbodybuilding.com:110/pop3}INBOX didnt work password is there...

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by Triple_T

didnt work

What is the output of the diagnostic menu option?

[dutchbb]

not sure what menu

but this comes out after the task:

vbouncer Collect

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: imap_close() in /home/xch1295/domains/dutchbodybuilding.com/public_html/forum/includes/cron/vbouncer-collect.php on line 162

[G-man]

Tamarian,

I have recompiled Apache with the imap setting on for php but am still getting the error. Here is a snip from the compiles:

configure php-4.3.11...(--prefix=/usr --with-xml --enable-bcmath --enable-calendar --enable-ftp --with-gd --with-jpeg-dir=/usr/local --with-png-dir=/usr --with-xpm-dir=/usr/X11R6 --with-imap --with-imap-ssl --with-kerberos --enable-magic-quotes --with-mysql=/usr --enable-discard-path --with-pear --enable-sockets --enable-track-vars --enable-versioning --with-zlib).... . . . . . . . . . . . . . Done

Do I need to turn something on in php.ini?

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by G-man

I have recompiled Apache with the imap setting on for php but am still getting the error. Here is a snip from the compiles:

I don't think php.ini needs any modifications. What is the output if you click on the vBouncer menu -> Diagnostics ?

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by Triple_T

not sure what menu

From the admincp -> vBounder menu -> Diagnostics

[dutchbb]

Ok

* Valid vBouncer email account (subscriber_notify@dutchbodybuilding.com) Passed
* vBouncer email account (subscriber_notify@dutchbodybuilding.com) differs from webmaster account Passed

*vBouncer email spool file () exists Failed
*vBouncer email spool file () is writable Failed
*vBouncer email spool file () is readable Failed

*vbouncer.inc file exists Passed
*vbouncer.inc file is readable Passed

*Your PHP installation supports IMAP/POP Failed

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by Triple_T

Ok

* Valid vBouncer email account (subscriber_notify@dutchbodybuilding.com) Passed
* vBouncer email account (subscriber_notify@dutchbodybuilding.com) differs from webmaster account Passed

*vBouncer email spool file () exists Failed
*vBouncer email spool file () is writable Failed
*vBouncer email spool file () is readable Failed

*vbouncer.inc file exists Passed
*vbouncer.inc file is readable Passed

*Your PHP installation supports IMAP/POP Failed

O.k., so this diagnostic indicate that your server PHP was no configured with IMAP. You will need to recompile it with IMAP support (or have your host do it), or use the file spool method, as described in the first 3 posts.

[ImportPassion]

I am upgrading from the 3.0 version. Since I already have it installed, I assume I don't have to go through that again?

So I went to add the plugin and it says Invalid File Specified.

Any ideas?

Edit: thats for the CPNav one.

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by 7thgenCivic.Com

I am upgrading from the 3.0 version. Since I already have it installed, I assume I don't have to go through that again?

So I went to add the plugin and it says Invalid File Specified.

Any ideas?

Edit: thats for the CPNav one.

For the cpnav xml file, you just upload it to /includes/xml directory. You just need to import one plugin file, from the plugin diretory.

Let me know if this works smoothly without the install script, so I can add a note to those upgrading