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

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by TraumTeam

i checked them ...
Is there an entry when "private messages" are sent in the log ?
I have a member with 40 bounces but nothing changed until now for him, although i activate automatic mode , Bounce limit 30, 7 days, pm activated ...

What does the vbouncer_clean cron log show?

[TraumTeam]

oh thats works ...
I did not know, that these sending runs with the clean ...
So that pm sending just runs every week ... right ?

Would that be good to also run it every day, but check befor if someone got an warning pm before ?

thanks for your help
rob

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by TraumTeam

oh thats works ...
I did not know, that these sending runs with the clean ...
So that pm sending just runs every week ... right ?

Would that be good to also run it every day, but check befor if someone got an warning pm before ?

It's best to make it run at intervals equal to the warning period interval. Otherwise, it may send more PM's than it should, where each time it will send a PM, and next day another, even if the member has not bounced any more emails.

[TraumTeam]

thats why i though of the poss. to make an entry to the database when pm is sent.
And check it @every cleanup run ...
So the cleanup can run every day, but pms are sent not more than they have to been sent

But very nice plugin so ...
I love it

best regards
rob

[version2]

Originally Posted by TraumTeam

thats why i though of the poss. to make an entry to the database when pm is sent.
And check it @every cleanup run ...
So the cleanup can run every day, but pms are sent not more than they have to been sent

But very nice plugin so ...
I love it

best regards
rob

Hola! When I try to import the product I get:

"Invalid File Specified"

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by version2

Hola! When I try to import the product I get:

"Invalid File Specified"

vBouncer was released before product manager became avaialable, so the plugin file need to be imported from the plugin manager, not the product manager. This will change in a future release to a product file.

[version2]

Originally Posted by tamarian

vBouncer was released before product manager became avaialable, so the plugin file need to be imported from the plugin manager, not the product manager. This will change in a future release to a product file.

I still get a "Invalid File Specified" when using the 'Download / Upload Plugin' option.

[mcyates]

This isn't working. It says i've got had one bounced email but i'm still getting emails sent to my main email account webmaster "at" myfootballforum.com. I'm sure they should be going to vbounce "at" myfootballforum.com!!! I just don't know what the problem is.

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by version2

I still get a "Invalid File Specified" when using the 'Download / Upload Plugin' option.

Not sure, you may havetried to import the wrong file? It's the vbulletin-vbouncer-plugins.xml file. I just tried it, and it imports without errors.

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by mcyates

This isn't working. It says i've got had one bounced email but i'm still getting emails sent to my main email account webmaster "at" myfootballforum.com. I'm sure they should be going to vbounce "at" myfootballforum.com!!! I just don't know what the problem is.

Make sure the plugins are activated.