vBouncer (PHP): reduce server load by unsubscribing bouncing members from threads

There's also a vB 3.5 version: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...threadid=83486

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. This was initially released for vB 2.x and vB 3.0.x as a Perl script, and is now fully integrated with vB as scheduled tasks with admin panel control.

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:
Manual or auto processing option
Collect logs via IMAP/POP or mail spool file
Uses vB's cron files (Scheduled tasks)
Custom filters to match patterns in bounced emails
Encryption header to authenticate bounces.
Stats on members with bouncing emails, and error codes
Tuning options
Verbose cron logs for diagnostics
Option to send PM warning prior to reaching the limit
Option to send PM notifications after reaching the limit
Option to change the member's subscription default
Option to all thread subscriptions to "no email"
Option to all forum subscriptions to "no email"
Option to move offenders to a different primary usergroup
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/cron => includes/cron)
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. Edit includes/mail.php
Find:

PHP Code:

if ($minusf)
        {
            $this->success = @mail($toemail, $subject, $message, trim($headers), "-f $fromemail");
        }
        else
        {
            $this->success = @mail($toemail, $subject, $message, trim($headers));
        } 


Replace with:

PHP Code:

global $vboptions;
                if (is_valid_email($vboptions['vbouncer_spool_account'])) {
                        if ($vboptions['vbouncer_header_return_key'])
                                $headers .= 'X-Return-ID: ' . md5($vboptions['vbouncer_header_return_key'] . $toemail) . "\n";
                        $this->success = @mail($toemail, $subject, $message, trim($headers), '-f' . $vboptions['vbouncer_spool_account']);
                }
                else
                        $this->success = @mail($toemail, $subject, $message, trim($headers), "-f $fromemail"); 


In admincp/index.php, find:

PHP Code:

                                  if (can_administer('canadmincron')) 


Add before::

PHP Code:

                          if (can_administer('canadmincron'))
    {
        construct_nav_option('vBouncer Settings', 'options.php?do=options&dogroup=vBouncer', '|');
        construct_nav_option('Stats', 'vbouncer.php?do=stats', '<br />' );
        construct_nav_option('Diagnostics', 'vbouncer.php?do=diag', '<br />');
        construct_nav_group('vBouncer');
    } 


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)

Change log:

- 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 added 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 v0.51 for 3.0.7 Corrected installer file.

- June 27, 2005 v0.5 for 3.0.7 Add setting for custom header strings.

- June 26, 2005 v0.2 for 3.0.7 Initial release No changes, just removed the plugin

Screenshots from 3.5 beta, but it looks the same on 3.0.7...

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by buro9

The symlink didn't work. I set the permission for both the file and the link as 666. Diagnostics still failed.

I've also tried disabling the open_basedir setting for PHP within httpd.conf but that fails.

How much effort do you reckon for creating a PHP POP3 variant of this hack for those who have trouble reaching the spool file?

I'd consider that option, but first we need to know why the file can't be read. What are the apache error logs showing?

[buro9]

Originally Posted by tamarian

I'd consider that option, but first we need to know why the file can't be read. What are the apache error logs showing?

Not a thing unfortunately. It's not logged as an error in Apache.

The vBulletin scheduled task log says this for the Collect task though:

Status: Mail spool file not found, exiting.

[tamarian]

version 0.5 released: Option to use custom header strings to identify bouncers. (Example, some Exim users may need to enter 'X-Failed-Recipients:'.

To upgrade: uninstall, then re-install

[tamarian]

I posted this in the 3.5 thread, but maybe soemone here can test it:

---

I would like someone using Exim+Cpanel to test the .forward (dot-forward) file method

Here's how it works:

1. Create a file somewhere in your public_html directory /path/to/forum/admincp/subscriber_notify
this file should be readable/writable (666)

2.In your (subscriebr_notify) user home directory, create a .forward file. The .forward file should have one line in it:
/path/to/forum/admincp/subscriber_notify

The theory is that Exim will start forwarding emails to that file.

Not sure what Exim considers "home" directory, so you may need to try creating it in different directories for that user account (subscriber_notify) to test which directory is the right place for .forward

Send an email to subscriber_notify, and check if it was copied to that file. Exim manual states that this should work, so let's keep our fingers crossed.

[tamarian]

Another request for Cpanel+Exim users. I'm writing a POP maodule as an option instead of reading files. I'll need to test my code (from my home server) with your bouncer email box. If you'd like to volunteer please PM me the new account's (subscriber_notify) POP username and password.

[psico]

- June 27, 2005 v0.5 for 3.0.7 Add setting for custom header strings.

I don?t see that option...

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by psico

I don?t see that option...

My bad. Updated zip 0.51 should have it.

[ImportPassion]

i am moving servers, so I am going to wait. but it will still be cpanel.

[|Jordan|]

When i run the install file it says:

Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in **********/public_html/forums/admin_cp/vbouncer_install.php on line 20

And line 20 is $vbulletin->input->clean_array_gpc('r', array(

And when i uncomment that line i get an error; Any ideas what's wrong?

And im using 3.0.6 with security fix from 3.0.7

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by MyIS_Jordan

When i run the install file it says:

Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in **********/public_html/forums/admin_cp/vbouncer_install.php on line 20

And line 20 is $vbulletin->input->clean_array_gpc('r', array(

And when i uncomment that line i get an error; Any ideas what's wrong?

And im using 3.0.6 with security fix from 3.0.7

I made the 0.51 update, but forgot to upload the file. Get the new zip, and let me know how it goes.