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

[GNDI]

Is it fit for vb 3.6.1? Cos I used it on 3.5.4 and it was very good

[GrendelKhan{TSU]

Originally Posted by Marco van Herwaarden

In vB 3.6 there has been a chang in the "phrase" & "phrasetype" tables. The previous primary key "phrasetypeid" is remove. Only "fieldname" is now serving to identify the phrasetype (or group).

Attached is a modified installer that will work on 3.6 (only tested install).

Will post later if vBouncer itself works on vB3.6 Beta1

PS Maybe this can easily turned into a product, so there will not be this kind of problems with future releases.

Edit: Seems to work on 3.6 Beta 1

any update word on this ?

[Eagle Creek]

I hope so

[rix]

recently cpanel made some changes to its mail data store, where instead of using single inbox file. it uses maildir format, which has cur, new, and tmp folder. In this case, does it work?

[GNDI]

Thanks to the poster of this php to make vbouncer work under vb 3.6.1.

I have collected his script with the original script, for ease of use to the unexspiriense users of vb. I'll hope you all understand my motive.

I with this I'll say it is working with Vbulletin 3.6.1 updated

[Eagle Creek]

Nice! Very nice, thanks!

But beta. Why isn't there a real version ?

[GNDI]

ask Tamarian

[pspcrazy]

Does anyone know what he means by the :

6. If you are using vB's SMTP email option, make sure to also enable the "-f" option.

Becuase i really need to know about that badly.

[Eagle Creek]

You can find that setting at your e-mail options (vboptions in your ACP).

The F parameter can prevent rare cases when E-mails aren't being send.

[pspcrazy]

Thanks, i was wondering if i used the vb php call instead of the smtp should i leave it as is?