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

[Barteh]

Again, it *does* work on 3.8.4. Maybe a screenshot helps prove the point
Notice my vB version and the last run date of the cron job. And the intercepted bounces of course, heh. Annoyingly enough hotmail cries wolf frequently.



If vBouncer isn't working, you should probably try reinstalling it. Make sure you follow the instructions to the letter, who knows you may have missed something important at the first attempt
Don't forget to tick 'overwrite' when importing the product again, otherwise nothing changes.

[cgway.net]

is this work in vb 3.84

please help

[SpankMe]

Originally Posted by cgway.net

is this work in vb 3.84

please help

YES!!!!!

[Alfa1]

Originally Posted by SpankMe

YES!!!!!

Awesome.

[GTX2]

AWESOME MOD!!

Anyone could make this full compatible with 3.6.X or 3.8.X ?
Script install fails in first step, MySQL Error: Unknown column 'phrasetypeid' in 'field list', which is normal since phrasetypeid belongs to 3.5.X only....

[emath]

upgrade to vb4?

[final kaoss]

the last post he made was in 2006.

[Adam H]

I know this thread hasnt been looked at for 5 years now but this would truly be a huge modification for big boards..........in fact any board after the recent hacking of the reCaptca and loads of spam accounts being made all over the place , this could be used to clean up the accounts after the mess has been made.

I see this mod failed after 3.7 and 3.8 so if anyone has this working on VB4 then please feel free to share

[Kwikms]

Would be awesome if someone can fix the phrases. I guess the rest will work.

[SpankMe]

Works fine for me in vB 4.1.2