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

[patvdv]

Hi,

I am running vb3.5.3 and have the problem of empty Return Path which has popped up before in this thread. I am using the spool file method and my bounce emails are being collected correctly in the bouce mailbox. However, all mails end up with an empty Return-Path setting:

Subject: Undelivered Mail Returned to Sender
Return-Path: <>

Even if manually modify the Return-Path value in the mailbox file, the vbouncer Stats still does not pick up these emails.

Any idea what is going wrong? I am using postfix as mail system by the way.

Regards,

Pat.

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by patvdv

Hi,

I am running vb3.5.3 and have the problem of empty Return Path which has popped up before in this thread. I am using the spool file method and my bounce emails are being collected correctly in the bouce mailbox. However, all mails end up with an empty Return-Path setting:

Subject: Undelivered Mail Returned to Sender
Return-Path: <>

Even if manually modify the Return-Path value in the mailbox file, the vbouncer Stats still does not pick up these emails.

Any idea what is going wrong? I am using postfix as mail system by the way.

Regards,

Pat.

What does the diagnoastics results show? Make sure you enter the bouncer email in the settings. If you use smtp, switch to PHP and see if this makes a difference.

[patvdv]

Hi Tamarian,

The diagnostics screen show all PASSED except for the IMAP/POP settings which I do intend to use. The bouncer email address is filled in. I am also using PHP's mail() function rather than SMTP.

Regards,

Pat.

[joefitz]

Just wanted to say everything worked just fine for me... 3.5.3 windows installation with remote POP mailbox. No hiccups at all! Fantastic!

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by patvdv

The diagnostics screen show all PASSED except for the IMAP/POP settings which I do intend to use. The bouncer email address is filled in. I am also using PHP's mail() function rather than SMTP.

Make sure the plugin is active. When testing, make sure to test with a thread notification, and inspect the header.

[guvner]

Hi tamarian - great idea, nice hack and thanks for the effort !

Mine's installed on 3.5 (patched to 3.52) and all seems fine - but for some reason I now get a parse error when emails are sent:

Parse error: parse error, unexpected '<' in /home/XXXXX/public_html/community/includes/class_mail.php(254) : eval()'d code on line 10

The emails go through OK - I'm using IMAP/POP and get green lights on the diagnostics:

vbouncer.inc file exists Passed
vbouncer.inc file is readable Passed
Your PHP installation supports IMAP/POP Passed
Your IMAP/POP settings can connect Passed

If I disable the plugin the error stops - any ideas?

Thanks - Mike

[kau]

I run PLESK and can't get this to work. I get:

Warning: imap_close(): supplied argument is not a valid imap resource in /includes/cron/vbouncer-collect.php on line 162

[GNDI]

Originally Posted by TraumTeam

A short help from me for users with the problems of imap/pop access:

I the access does not work and all settings are correct try:
{127.0.0.1:110/pop3/notls}INBOX

There could be a certificate failure with the internal IMAP Access on the server.

Perhaps its interesting for the FAQ ...

Rob

Thanks This did it

[bada_bing]

This sounds like a cool hack and much needed on my site. Has this been verified for vb 3.5.3 or will it be updated to work on that version?

[GNDI]

Originally Posted by bada_bing

This sounds like a cool hack and much needed on my site. Has this been verified for vb 3.5.3 or will it be updated to work on that version?

I just installed it on my 3.5.3 and it seems to run perfectly, now I'm just waiting to see some ++++ing rats fall into the trap