How to use the command 'rspamc' (with examples)

Rspamc is a command-line client designed to interact with rspamd servers. Rspamd, a fast and highly efficient spam filtering system, analyzes emails and performs a variety of filtering actions to determine their likelihood of being spam. Rspamc serves as the interface to train rspamd’s spam filtering capabilities, generate reports, and collect statistics from the rspamd server, making it an essential tool for system administrators and email security professionals.

Train the Bayesian Filter to Recognize an Email as Spam

Code:

rspamc learn_spam path/to/email_file

Motivation:

Training the Bayesian filter to recognize spam is an integral part of maintaining an accurate and effective spam filtering system. By learning from actual spam emails, rspamd can improve its ability to correctly identify spam messages and reduce false negatives. This example is particularly useful for systems administrators who aim to optimize email security and reduce the number of unwanted emails reaching users’ inboxes.

Explanation:

• rspamc: This is the command-line client that communicates with the rspamd server.
• learn_spam: This argument tells rspamc that the email file specified should be learned as spam to enhance the Bayesian filter’s accuracy in identifying spam.
• path/to/email_file: This is the path to the email file that you want to train the Bayesian filter with. The file should be structured like a standard email.

Example Output:

Results for file: path/to/email_file
Success: true

The output indicates that the email file was successfully used to train the Bayesian filter for identifying spam.

Train the Bayesian Filter to Recognize an Email as Ham

Code:

rspamc learn_ham path/to/email_file

Motivation:

In contrast to spam, “ham” refers to legitimate emails that should not be flagged as spam. Training the Bayesian filter to recognize such emails prevents false positives, ensuring that important emails land in users’ inboxes rather than being mistakenly marked as spam. This use case is essential for preserving the integrity and reliability of email communication within an organization.

Explanation:

• rspamc: The command-line client used to send requests to the rspamd server.
• learn_ham: This argument instructs rspamc to treat the specified email file as non-spam, or “ham,” thereby improving the Bayesian filter’s ability to distinguish between spam and legitimate emails.
• path/to/email_file: The path to the email file formatted according to standard email conventions, which you want the system to recognize as ham.

Example Output:

Results for file: path/to/email_file
Success: true

The output confirms that the email file was successfully learned as ham by the Bayesian filter.

Generate a Manual Report on an Email

Code:

rspamc symbols path/to/email_file

Motivation:

Generating a manual report on an email provides detailed insights into why a particular email was classified as spam or ham. This report highlights the various symbols and scores involved in the decision-making process of rspamd. It is especially valuable for troubleshooting and understanding the filters’ behavior, helping to fine-tune and adjust filter rules effectively.

Explanation:

• rspamc: The tool that interfaces with the rspamd server to perform operations.
• symbols: This argument requests rspamd to generate and return a symbolic analysis report of the specified email file, detailing the reasons behind its classification.
• path/to/email_file: The route to the email file you want analyzed. It should conform to email standards to ensure accurate processing.

Example Output:

Results for file: path/to/email_file
Metric: default
Action: rewrite subject
Score: 7.50 / 15.00
Symbol: BAYES_SPAM (3.00)[95.00%]
Symbol: R_SPF_FAIL (1.50)[-all]
Symbol: MIME_HEADER_CTYPE_ONLY (1.00)
Symbol: FROM_EQ_ENVFROM (0.00)
Symbol: R_DKIM_REJECT (2.00)

The report shows a breakdown of scores for each symbol, clarifying the classification of the email and making it easier to adjust filter settings.

Show Server Statistics

Code:

rspamc stat

Motivation:

Monitoring server performance is crucial for maintaining an effective spam filtering system. By viewing rspamd server statistics, administrators can understand the overall health and activity levels of the filtering processes. This information aids in identifying trends, diagnosing issues, and ensuring the smooth operation of the spam filtering infrastructure.

Explanation:

• rspamc: The client program that connects to the rspamd server.
• stat: This option instructs rspamc to retrieve and display current statistics from the rspamd server, including information such as uptime, total processed emails, and other server metrics.

Example Output:

Rspamd 2.7
Uptime: 1d 12h
Total learns: 5000
Total scanned: 12000
Spam actions: 3000
Greylist actions: 200
Ham actions: 9000
Connections: 1024
Control connections: 25

The output displays various metrics that provide a snapshot of server performance and activity, enabling an informed analysis of the spam filtering system’s efficiency.

Conclusion:

Rspamc is a versatile tool that empowers administrators to enhance and optimize rspamd’s spam filtering capabilities. By mastering the command’s various use cases, including training filters, generating reports, and monitoring server statistics, users can significantly improve their email security and reliability. Understanding rspamc’s functions ultimately leads to a more robust and accurate spam detection system that effectively keeps unwanted emails at bay.