vBouncer (PHP): reduce server load by unsubscribing bouncing members from threads

There's also a vB 3.5 version: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...threadid=83486

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. This was initially released for vB 2.x and vB 3.0.x as a Perl script, and is now fully integrated with vB as scheduled tasks with admin panel control.

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:
Manual or auto processing option
Collect logs via IMAP/POP or mail spool file
Uses vB's cron files (Scheduled tasks)
Custom filters to match patterns in bounced emails
Encryption header to authenticate bounces.
Stats on members with bouncing emails, and error codes
Tuning options
Verbose cron logs for diagnostics
Option to send PM warning prior to reaching the limit
Option to send PM notifications after reaching the limit
Option to change the member's subscription default
Option to all thread subscriptions to "no email"
Option to all forum subscriptions to "no email"
Option to move offenders to a different primary usergroup
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/cron => includes/cron)
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. Edit includes/mail.php
Find:

PHP Code:

if ($minusf)
        {
            $this->success = @mail($toemail, $subject, $message, trim($headers), "-f $fromemail");
        }
        else
        {
            $this->success = @mail($toemail, $subject, $message, trim($headers));
        } 


Replace with:

PHP Code:

global $vboptions;
                if (is_valid_email($vboptions['vbouncer_spool_account'])) {
                        if ($vboptions['vbouncer_header_return_key'])
                                $headers .= 'X-Return-ID: ' . md5($vboptions['vbouncer_header_return_key'] . $toemail) . "\n";
                        $this->success = @mail($toemail, $subject, $message, trim($headers), '-f' . $vboptions['vbouncer_spool_account']);
                }
                else
                        $this->success = @mail($toemail, $subject, $message, trim($headers), "-f $fromemail"); 


In admincp/index.php, find:

PHP Code:

                                  if (can_administer('canadmincron')) 


Add before::

PHP Code:

                          if (can_administer('canadmincron'))
    {
        construct_nav_option('vBouncer Settings', 'options.php?do=options&dogroup=vBouncer', '|');
        construct_nav_option('Stats', 'vbouncer.php?do=stats', '<br />' );
        construct_nav_option('Diagnostics', 'vbouncer.php?do=diag', '<br />');
        construct_nav_group('vBouncer');
    } 


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)

Change log:

- 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 added 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 v0.51 for 3.0.7 Corrected installer file.

- June 27, 2005 v0.5 for 3.0.7 Add setting for custom header strings.

- June 26, 2005 v0.2 for 3.0.7 Initial release No changes, just removed the plugin

Screenshots from 3.5 beta, but it looks the same on 3.0.7...

[ImportPassion]

ok, got it work. i ran the cron and it said this

Processed 292 emails No bounced emails found.

They are all bounced emails in there.

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by 7thgenCivic.Com

ok, got it work. i ran the cron and it said this

Processed 292 emails No bounced emails found.

They are all bounced emails in there.

This would mean either:

1. Those emails don't belong to any of your forum members, or
2. They do not match any of the patterns defined in vbouncer.inc

Check the emails to confirm they are forum notification bounces. If they are, then you will need to define a pattern in vbouncer.inc to capture them. If you're not familiar with ReEx patterns, post samples of those emails here or send me a copy.

[ImportPassion]

they are the exact same ones in the zip i posted above earlier.

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by 7thgenCivic.Com

they are the exact same ones in the zip i posted above earlier.

And you have uploaded the vbouncer.inc to includes/cron? Is the stats page empty?

If you want, send me the subscriber_notify POP access info by PM, and I'll test them to see why the patterns don't work on them, or if a new pattern is needed.

[ImportPassion]

yes, it is there and yes the stats is empty.

Sending the info now.

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by 7thgenCivic.Com

yes, it is there and yes the stats is empty.

Sending the info now.

Got the info, and found a bug

Open vbouncer-collect.php and find:

PHP Code:

CombThrough($Header, $Body); 


Replace with:

PHP Code:

CombThrough($eMailHdr, $eMailBody); 


[ImportPassion]

working now!

I had to change this

$imgpath = '../' . $stylevars['imgdir_poll'];

to this

$imgpath = $stylevars['imgdir_poll'];

for the images to show up. that cause I have the full path in my images

[tamarian]

- July 4, 2005 v1.0 Added encrypted header for authentication (suggested by Paul M).

To upgrade, uninstall, then re-install, and re-upload all files.

[jb605]

Does this hack support secure pop? Is yes, how should I configure it?

Thanks a lot

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by jb605

Does this hack support secure pop? Is yes, how should I configure it?

Yes. Just configure the connection string in the settings menu.

Here's a link with differnt setups:

http://ca.php.net/manual/en/function.imap-open.php

It from the PHP manual, so ignore the code, just look at the example strings like:

{localhost:993/imap/ssl}INBOX
{localhost:995/pop3/ssl/novalidate-cert}