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

[TalkVirginia]

Actually I'm currently working on adding this functionality to my Email Reminders addon. I have permission as well.

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Originally Posted by TalkVirginia
Hi Tamarian,

I hope this note finds you doing well. I wanted to thank you for providing your vBouncer addon to the vBulletin community and the work you put into it. I've been working on the "Email Reminders for Inactive Users" addon and I've had several PMs asking for similar functionality as what you have in vBouncer. I was wondering if you would mind if I updated your vBouncer code for vBulletin 4 and incorporate it into my addon?
Thank you again,

Don't mind at all, go for it.
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[SeanE]

Yeah, I'll use this also when it's ready - thanks (again) Eric -

//sse

[MrD]

Hi,
any News about an VB 4.1.x Version?

[Daniel26]

I'm also interrested.

[Divokymuz]

me too.

[SlackerAPM]

I too am looking forward to this.

[mawby]

Originally Posted by Eric

I have permission from tamarian to update & release a version of this mod for both vB3.8 and vB4.x - I'll release it asap.

Did anything come of this?

[Manoel J?nior]

News?

[DarkSoroush]

I ported it to vb 3.8 and here is patched files for any one that want to use this amazing addon on vb3.8,

Just remember that this files are not official and from author of mod, so there is no warranty to work. But it works for me.

[dirkji]

Any news about a version for 4.x?