Major Additions - vBMS : vBulletin Mail System

vBulletin Mail System

Finally, for vBulletin 3.6, there is a port from filburt1's original hack. For those of you who aren't aware, he essentially declared it open source, and it's been a bit of a wait for someone to fix it up... I've wanted it for my site, too, so I finally sat down and just did it.

What is this?
The vBulletin Mail System is a way to give your users webmail access from your site. They can have a name@yourwebsite.com address, send and receive emails and attachments, etc. Options such as mailbox quotas, limits on numbers/types of attachments, a message trailer ("Free mail at yourwebsite.com!") at the end of each message, etc. are all available as well.

Please note: this is a pre-final version. As far as I have seen, it is working so far for me, but I have not tested it completely and thoroughly and it's very likely there'll be a number of bugs popping up. However, I have successfully been able to install this on a clean board, exchange emails regularly (including attachments), go through all the basic options/etc. without any errors popping up, so it should be fine. Still, make sure you back up your database before installing this, just due to the nature of its "beta"-ness.

To install: upload all files from the "upload" directory to your server in the proper directories. Then, navigate to admincp/vbms_install.php on your server and run the installer. It will make several template additions. If your navbar or header templates hav been modified, it will not be able to do it automatically, and you'll have to add these edits yourself.

In template navbar, find:

<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="usercp.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[user_cp]</a></td>

Add after:

			<if condition="$show['popups']">
				<td class="vbmenu_control" id="navbar_vbms">
					<a href="vbms.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[email]</a>
			
					<if condition="$vbms_newmessages['newcount'] > 0">
						<span style="font-weight: normal; padding: 1px 1px 1px 2px; margin: 0px 3px 0px 2px; border: 1px inset" class="alt1">
							<phrase 1="$vbms_newmessages[newcount]">$vbphrase[x_new]</phrase>
						</span>
					</if>
				
					<script type="text/javascript">
						<!--
							vbmenu_register("navbar_vbms");
						// -->
					</script>
				</td>
			<else />
				<td class="vbmenu_control" id="navbar_vbms">
					<a href="vbms.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[email]</a>
				
					<if condition="$vbms_newmessages['newcount'] > 0">
						<span style="font-weight: normal; padding: 1px 1px 1px 2px; margin: 0px 3px 0px 2px; border: 1px inset" class="alt1">
							<phrase 1="$vbms_newmessages[newcount]">$vbphrase[x_new]</phrase>
						</span>
					</if>
				</td>
			</if>

Find:

<!-- / header quick search form -->
	</if>

	<if condition="$show['member']">

Add after:

		<div class="vbmenu_popup" id="navbar_vbms_menu" style="display: none">
			<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
				<tr><td class="thead">vBulletin Mail System</td></tr>
				<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="vbms.php?$session[sessionurl]">$vbphrase[navbar_inbox]</a></td></tr>
				<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="vbms_new.php?$session[sessionurl]">$vbphrase[navbar_write_message]</a></td></tr>
				<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="vbms_ab.php?$session[sessionurl]">$vbphrase[navbar_address_book]</a></td></tr>
				<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="vbms_folders.php?$session[sessionurl]">$vbphrase[navbar_folders]</a></td></tr>
				<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="vbms_filters.php?$session[sessionurl]">$vbphrase[navbar_filters]</a></td></tr>
				<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="vbms_options.php?$session[sessionurl]">$vbphrase[navbar_options]</a></td></tr>
				<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="faq.php?$session[sessionurl]faq=faq_vbms">$vbphrase[navbar_help]</a></td></tr>
			</table>
		</div>

In your ACP, there should be a new set of options in a "vBulletin Mail System" category. That set of options is your main set of management stuff, and is pretty straightforward.

Feel free to post with any bugs or questions you find, etc. I'm trying to get this working again thoroughly, for all of us.

FAQ

• Is POP support available for my users?
  No, this is similar to a webmail system.
• What is a catch-all email address, and how do I set it up?
  A catch-all address is an email address that any mail sent to your server that isn't picked up by another account will go to. For example, if someone sends an email to randomgibberish@yoursite.com and you do not have a "randomgibberish" account defined, it would forward to your catch-all account that you have set up, such as all@yoursite.com.
• Can I run this if my server doesn't let me have a catch-all mail account?
  Yes, but it's not recommended. As has been suggested by a few members, you can set up one mail account to the be "catch-all" and have vBMS connect to that, then set up mail accounts for each member who wants one and have it forward to the catch-all. All this has to be set up manually with your web host, and takes a great deal of willpower and availability from the website administrator, and is thus not recommended.
• I'm receiving the following error:
  

  Fatal error: Call to undefined function: imap_open()...

  If you're getting an error similar to this, you do not have IMAP functionality available in PHP. Find your php.ini file on your server (usually /usr/local/lib/php.ini on Linux, C:\Windows\php.ini on Windows), and find the extensions section. Uncomment the line ";extension=php_imap.dll" (that is, remove the semicolon at the beginning) and restart your web server. If you don't have access to your web server to do this, contact your web host about installing IMAP support for PHP. If they won't do it, then this hack is not for you.
• I can't connect to the mail server, with this error:
  

  Warning: imap_open() [function.imap-open]: Couldn't open stream {localhost:110/pop3}INBOX in /includes/vbms_class_installer.php on line 791

  First, make sure that your port number and server information are right. Some mail servers are on non-default ports (this is common), and some you may have to connect to a different host besides localhost (this is very rare). Also, try using the "Force no-TLS connection" option in the vBMS Options in the ACP.
• I can connect to the server just fine, but it won't get any email!
  Check the "Mail checking logs" in your ACP (under the vBulletin Mail System area). If there are no logs, then the cronjob probably isn't running. If there are logs, see if there are any errors in there. If it's checking the mail account fine and simply says there are no messages, check with a webmail to see if the catch-all account is even receiving mails. If the webmail shows that the account has mail stuck in it and vBMS isn't picking them up, but vBMS is saying it's checking the account alright and finding 0 messages, then you're likely connecting to the wrong account. By doing these steps, you should at least be able to figure out where the problem is occurring.

Install clicks, donations and HotM nominations are always welcome.

[StarBuG]

Hi

So far this hack reads very good.
One thing however is not totaly clear for me.

Is this hack colecting all emails send to my domain that don't have a pop3 to a catchall adress and this hack then accesses this email account and provides users access to their mail only?

Or is this hack creating email adresses on my server for every user?

The method is not realy described anywhere but would be an important information to have

[scan-pa]

Originally Posted by Krofh

I'm just gonna be completely honest... I thought I'd have time to work on this, but it's not working out. I've got some exams in the middle of May, and after that I'm mostly done with school for the summer and should then be able to spend the time on this. I don't honestly expect to be able to get anything done before then though. Sorry for the long delays on this.

Krofh,

I am sure most of us completely understand. You take care of getting those exams passed, and we will gladly wait for the next beta or RC version.

Thanks for the update.

[Deska]

Originally Posted by StarBuG

Is this hack colecting all emails send to my domain that don't have a pop3 to a catchall adress and this hack then accesses this email account and provides users access to their mail only?

Or is this hack creating email adresses on my server for every user?

The method is not realy described anywhere but would be an important information to have

Basicly this hack only download email from user account and stored to your forum DB, its not create any email address on your server.

[GizmoPhreak]

hello..I have my forums installed on pulzi.com but i want to give members id like username@pulzimail.com ... is it possible?

[PoetJA-1975]

Originally Posted by encryption

I cant get this to install for squat..... I've tried catchall addresses, created new addresses and set them as catchall in CPanel and install, try local host, mail.mysite.com, nothing works, I CONSISTENTLY get the error

I've tried installing this and get the same exact thing as above.
I've looked through this thread and haven't seen anyone address this issue.
Anyone have any clues as how to remedy this?

Thanx,

Jacquii.

[EragonSN]

Same issue as PoetJA-1975, tried with all the things that have been suggested in this thread.

Settings have been set properly, I'd even ask my host to be completely sure about it, mail.mydomain.com, default port, user and PW all set right.

sent two test emails to my personal email addy, with vbmail() and mail(), both received, and no errors.

But when I try to send an email to someone else on the forum, yes, the other account has been setup, I can send, but not receive... and the catchall email does receive the emails without problems.

I've also checked the logs, I get these error when I try to run the cron, which seams not to be working properly:

A mail check lock was already acquired on 05-02-2007 at 07:53 PM

Warning 05-02-2007 06:52 PM Running mail check despite there being 0 seconds minimum until next scheduled run
Debug 05-02-2007 06:52 PM Connecting to mail server
Debug 05-02-2007 06:52 PM Retrieving message count...
Information 05-02-2007 06:52 PM There are 0 messages on the POP3 server that need to be downloaded
Debug 05-02-2007 06:52 PM Closing connection
Information 05-02-2007 06:52 PM vBMS mail checking completed

Debug 05-02-2007 06:10 PM Connecting to mail server
Error 05-02-2007 06:10 PM PHP error: imap_open() [<a href='function.imap-open'>function.imap-open</a>]: Couldn't open stream {mail.sunrise-networkz.com:110/pop3/notls}INBOX (/home/sunrzcom/public_html/forums/vbms_checkmail.php:95)

Any suggestions ?

[maxicep]

<a href="https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/member.php?u=109971" target="_blank">Krofh</a> ,when you will release mail system final version ?

[thincom2000]

Well, I finally got the cryptic error messages to stop and it to check my mail correctly again without deleting them for no reason. It did require massive file edits to the checkmail script and its functions.

[Misiektt]

Originally Posted by Krofh

bluechris: I'm still working on the issue with the foreign characters, haven't quite figured that one out yet.
To those of you having connection problems: try upgrading to the newer uploaded version, then use the "Force no-TLS connection" option in the ACP.
To the rest of you: I'm going out of town for a few days, hopefully I'll be able to get more of this fixed up when I get back.

I have the same issue i can help resolving it, because my emails have

=?windows-1250?Q?Wiadomo=9C=E6_testowa?= and in content i have also problem with encoding

[scan-pa]

Originally Posted by GizmoPhreak

hello..I have my forums installed on pulzi.com but i want to give members id like username@pulzimail.com ... is it possible?

Do you own the domain pulzimail.com?

if not, then you need to create & purchase that domain, and add it to your hosting account that pulzi.com is on. this will allow you to setup a catchall mailbox for pulzimail.com


or you can go the sub-domain route and create a sub-domain of pulzi.com

example: pulzimail.pulzi.com and create a catchall for the sub-domain.