CBL Download Usage Policy

NEW/URGENT! Please note, the DNS name for the CBL download has changed from rsync.cbl.abuseat.org to rsync.abuseat.org.

This is a general outline of usage policy for downloading the CBL zone via rsync.

If you find your rsync downloads result in a very small file that contains a statement about "misuse", this document probably includes the reason why it was disabled, and how to correct it.

Policies

Rsync downloads of the CBL zone MUST be registered - see our registration page.

Spam filter and spam filter service providers MUST obtain a paid-for feed from Spamhaus.

Very large ISPs should obtain a paid-for feed from Spamhaus.

The CBL zone file updates at most twice per hour. You MUST NOT rsync more frequently than four times per hour. Sites using the download for filtering should rsync at least 4-6 times per day. Preferred schedule: once or twice per hour, please try to avoid on the hour or half past.

Each organization should only rsync one copy, not have each mail server rsyncing their own copy.

Rsync works by transferring the difference between the current copy of the CBL zone, and the previous file you have retrieved from the CBL. This means that you should leave the file where rsync leaves it, and copy, if necessary, elsewhere. It is even safe to have rsync transfer the file directly to where rbldnsd or bind reads it from. You MUST NOT move the transferred file elsewhere. If you do, rsync has to transfer the whole file every time you rsync it, and this consumes MUCH more bandwidth and CPU.

Good:

		rsync rsync://rsync.abuseat.org/cbl/list.txt file
		cp file [somewhere else]

                rsync rsync://rsync.abuseat.org/cbl/list.txt file
		[rbldnsd reads it directly from "file"]
	

Bad:

		rsync rsync://rsync.abuseat.org/cbl/list.txt file
		mv file [somewhere else]