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

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by Paul M

What or who would I set the owner to ? I have fixed it on my test server by changing one line in the exim.conf file - but this may not be possible if you are not on a dedicated server.

Change it to the apache user apache:apache (or if apache runs as nobody, then nobody:nobody).

Note that I'm not recommending people do this But it's worth it just to see if that's the culprit.

[tamarian]

Version 0.9 is out. New features added:

o Collect logs via IMAP/POP or mail spool file
o Custom filters to match patterns in bounced emails

To upgrade, uninstall, then reinstall through the installation script.

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by tamarian

Change it to the apache user apache:apache (or if apache runs as nobody, then nobody:nobody).

Note that I'm not recommending people do this But it's worth it just to see if that's the culprit.

Nope, exim still manages to change it back to 666 - but with the exim config change, it works for me - so I'm happy.

There is always the pop method if people cannot do this.


Btw, there is an error in the vbouncer-clean.php ;

PHP Code:

                elseif ($DemoteUg) $db->query_write("UPDATE  " . TABLE_PREFIX . "user 
                        set usergroupid = " . $vbulletin->options['vbouncer_auto_ug_destination'] . " where userid='$stats[uid]"); 


There is a stray quote after where userid=

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by Paul M

There is a stray quote after where userid=

Thanks, fixed and uploaded.

Can you write a summary for what cPanel+Exim config needs to be changed, so the spool becomes readable/writable? I'll just add it to the how-to with your name, for those who can (and want to) change their Exim config.

[Christine]

Originally Posted by tamarian

cPanel access is not needed, but would love to test the POP module on an Exim. So if you have a POP account that has bounced emails (or empty and not being used), please PM me the access info

Will do.

I have not installed this on my new server that is now serving as my test site (as of Sunday) and I am still getting it set up.

What all do I need to do to set this up -- just apply the hack, or do I need to do any of Paul's addons?

[Christine]

Paul,

Are you running exiscan-clamav or clamav connector or anything similar?

Thanks!

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by tamarian

Can you write a summary for what cPanel+Exim config needs to be changed, so the spool becomes readable/writable? I'll just add it to the how-to with your name, for those who can (and want to) change their Exim config.

In the exim config file ( /etc/exim.conf ), near the bottom is a section that begins with virtual_userdelivery: - in that section is a line which says mode = 0660 - change this to mode = 0666 . Then chmod the inbox file to 666 as I previously mentioned (and the directory structure leading to it as previously described).

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by Christine

Paul,

Are you running exiscan-clamav or clamav connector or anything similar?

Thanks!

Never heard of it, so I guess not.

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by Christine

Will do.

I have not installed this on my new server that is now serving as my test site (as of Sunday) and I am still getting it set up.

What all do I need to do to set this up -- just apply the hack, or do I need to do any of Paul's addons?

Yes, just install the new vBouncer (0.9), and wait it for it to collect some bounced emails. You can test the POP yourself first. If there are problems with th ePOP method, I'll take a look.

[tamarian]

Originally Posted by Paul M

In the exim config file ( /etc/exim.conf ), near the bottom is a section that begins with virtual_userdelivery: - in that section is a line which says mode = 0660 - change this to mode = 0666 . Then chmod the inbox file to 666 as I previously mentioned (and the directory structure leading to it as previously described).

Cool, the how-to is updated. Let me know if I messed it up