Setting Server wide Spam Assassin settings

[martin MHC]

I apologise for ths question being seemingly easy to answer, but I can't find the info. I'm lookin for.

I have been reading about Spam Assassin on here and across the web for the last few days, and I'm sure I've already come across the info. I'm looking for (but I didn't want it before), and I now I do want it, I can't find it!!

Anyhow; I want to do three things:

1) I want to set Apache Spam Assassin (3.4.1) rules to effect all accounts on my server. Which file in the spamassassin folder (I believe /var/lib/spamassassin/ but not certain) do I edit for this, I think it's local.cf but am not sure and can't find any clarification. FIXED

2) Can someone please provide a quick syntax example of setting custom rules in the local.cf file (or whichever file is appropriate). The local.cf itself doesn't give examples given on the documentation ( Apache SpamAssassin - Documentation - cPanel Documentation ) only relates to the CPanel interface, as far as I can see. FIXED

3) Is there a way for the SpamAssassin to delete/remove/ingore previously set account-specific rules in one fell swoop? Such as deleting account specific files (even better, if you can direct me to these account specific files I can then use the syntax (if valid) to update the server-wide rule set.

Many thanks, and sorry for the probable obviousness of this question, I can't see the info and have been going round in circles looking!

Cheers

 

[martin MHC]

UPDATE:

I have found This page ( SpamAssassin: Tests Performed: v3.3.x ) which lists Spam Assassin Rules as well as this Config file details about how to update ( Mail::SpamAssassin::Conf - SpamAssassin configuration file )

the conclusion I reach from these is:

- 1) Log in to your server and find /etc/mail/spamassassin/local.cf and download,
- 2) Edit the file to add/adjust the scores needed
- 3) Reupload the file
- 4) On the command line run: /scripts/restartsrv_spamd

This *should* update and restart Apache Spam Assassin on the server, and apply the scores/rules specified in the links above to all accounts on the server.

I have not yet found a neat way of clearing all account-specific rules.

 

[cPanelMichael]

the conclusion I reach from these is:

- 1) Log in to your server and find /etc/mail/spamassassin/local.cf and download,
- 2) Edit the file to add/adjust the scores needed
- 3) Reupload the file
- 4) On the command line run: /scripts/restartsrv_spamd

This *should* update and restart Apache Spam Assassin on the server, and apply the scores/rules specified in the links above to all accounts on the server.

Hello,

This is the correct method of modifying the default SpamAssassin rules/configuration values. To clear the custom configuration values implemented in an individual account, you'd need to manually remove the following file:

/home/$username/.spamassassin/user_prefs

Thank you.

 

[Monto]

Hello,

Changing the score required in local.cf doesn't change the value in existing accounts, not for me anyway. Does this mean that because of the user_prefs files that lock in the default, that essentially the score cannot be changed server-wide, but needs to be done per account?

 

[cPanelMichael]

Hello,

Yes, the values in the user_prefs file for individual accounts takes precedence over the global values. You'd have to remove or modify the existing "/home/$username/.spamassassin/user_prefs" files for each account to ensure they are using the default global values.

Thank you.

 

[cPanelMichael]

Hello @martin MHC,

I've re-opened this thread per your direct request. Feel free to post your question here.

Thank you.

 

[martin MHC]

Many thanks @cPanelMichael

Re your response above; you state a very important qualifier - Please can you clarify what files/rules are actually used in a process: for example If I set a /account/.spamassassin/.user_prefs file to contain a set of SCORE adjustments; does the presence of this file also overwrite (ie clear) any BLACKLIST set addresses (or any other NON-SCORE default values) in the server-wide /etc/mail/spamassassin/local.cf file?

Cheers

 

[martin MHC]

Hello @cPanelMichael - is there any feedback on this hiarachy structure? Thanks!

 

[cPanelMichael]

Hello @martin MHC,

It depends on the configuration value. SpamAssassin documents how this works at:

Mail::SpamAssassin::Conf - SpamAssassin configuration file

Additionally, check out the "Where To Add Them" section on the SpamAssassin document linked below for more information about when/how user_prefs rules are utilized:

WritingRules - Spamassassin Wiki

Thank you.

 

[martin MHC]

Thanks @cPanelMichael , I was under an erroneous belief that the layering of Spam Assassin (Server wide vs Account wide) rule implementations was a WHM/CPanel construct.

However, thank you for the links.