Authenticating against MySQL (Joomla)

[micoots]

Hi,

I've search the forums but still don't quite understand how I can configure PFC to authenticate against users in a MySQL database.

The MySQL database (a Joomla database) has the jos_users table which contains the usernames and the md5 hashes of their passwords.

How do I tell phpFreeChat to query that table and the username field within that table to get the username of the user?

Thanks.

Michael.

[youngcalihottie]

you make your own code to query your login system. once they have been authenticated, you set the param:

params["nick"] = iconv("ISO-8859-1", "UTF-8", $YOURARRAY['YOURVARIABLE']);

params["nick"] is how you tell phpfreechat that you want to manually set the nick.

hope this helps

[aidejoomla]

what is your array in french ?
thanks

[micoots]

Hi,

I'm glad I just got through installing the stable release. Now for integrating into Joomla, I re-read this forum post:

you make your own code to query your login system. once they have been authenticated, you set the param:

params["nick"] = iconv("ISO-8859-1", "UTF-8", $YOURARRAY['YOURVARIABLE']);

params["nick"] is how you tell phpfreechat that you want to manually set the nick.

hope this helps

Hmm.. it does help I guess, but I'm not a php programmer so wouldn't know how to start with coding my own query to the login system.

For joomla, all users are contained in the table jos_users, where they have md5 hash passwords.

Any advice how I can start this code? (noting I have never programmed php before).

Thanks.

Michael.

[madmumbler]

I also use Joomla. I use CB though with Joomla -- are you using a vanilla Joomla installation (and do you have the latest update?).

I don't have an exact answer, but here's a theory I don't have time to test right now (but will because I do eventually want to do this *LOL*).

Go look in your Joomla files for the SQL query code. It's standard, and off the top of my head I want to say it's in a config.php file in the main index, maybe? You'll see it.

Use that as your starting point. Write yourself a basic code to call info from the db so you can see how it works.

Then go look at the flie for the login module you're using (whether it's the standard mod or CB or whatever). Look for the same "guts" in there, where you see it calling the database.

You'll have to write a file and merge it with the login for phpFreeChat, calling appropriate login actions from phpFreeChat, so it uses the MySQL queries and authentication.

I know it sounds easy in theory... *LOL*

I may be cutting my chops on this and writing my very first programming. *LOL*

I have done some basic php/MySQL scripting, following along with a book.

Once you figure out the queries, THEN if you're feeling brave, go on Joomla's site and read the info there about writing your own mods and coms and you can write an extension for Joomla.

As for now, I'm running phpFreeChat inside a Joomla page wrapper, with the link on the menu to the wrapper only visible to registered users. It's not a perfect solution, and far from secure, but most of the members on the website I'm using this on don't have the skill or the time or desire to hack it when they can simply log in and use it. *LOL*

HTH,
Lesli in SWFL.

Hmm.. it does help I guess, but I'm not a php programmer so wouldn't know how to start with coding my own query to the login system.

For joomla, all users are contained in the table jos_users, where they have md5 hash passwords.

Any advice how I can start this code? (noting I have never programmed php before).

Thanks.

Michael.

[madmumbler]

One more thing, before you do ANY coding, back up your db, your server files, and update your Joomla to the latest version if it's not already. TOTALLY debug that, update any extensions that need it. Get EVERYTHING up to date and working FIRST. Then you can go writing code. *LOL* It's far easier to start with the newest versions rather than working with stuff that's one or two releases old and you have to start over from scratch because something changes.

HTH,
Lesli in SWFL.

[micoots]

Hi Lesli,

One more thing, before you do ANY coding, back up your db, your server files, and update your Joomla to the latest version if it's not already. TOTALLY debug that, update any extensions that need it. Get EVERYTHING up to date and working FIRST. Then you can go writing code. *LOL* It's far easier to start with the newest versions rather than working with stuff that's one or two releases old and you have to start over from scratch because something changes.

HTH,
Lesli in SWFL.

Thanks for your detailed reply.

I am running the latest Joomla 1.0.11 stable, with CB 1.0.1.

I haven't the time at the moment to delve into coding (Real life means all my time currently is taken up on moving various servers to another data centre for my webhosting company - my website where I want to use this chatter is a hobby) but I will try and look at this again beginning of November.

I'm not sure how far I will get with this as I'm not a coder and never have been (well, apart from shell scripts - I am a sys admin by trade ).. but will try.

If anyone else makes progress on this before November, I'd be interested to know!

Thanks again.

Michael.

[Yokhannan]

Might I suggest rather than expecting pfc from having to deal with authentication, you simply utilize your existing session system to check authentication.

You say you are using a database and you are already storing all the necessary user information... so therefore your website should already be using sessions. (you are using sessions, right?!?!)

Rather than add a ton of code into pfc, just authenticate via sessions.

There is no reason you couldn't authenticate people with under 10 lines of code placed into the top of /chat/index.php

Code: Select all

if (isset($sid) && $sid)
{
   session_id ($sid);
   session_start();
}
if ( $_SESSION['userid'] == '' )
{
   die('Sorry you need to log into our website first.');
}

Or whatever you use for sessions and user_ids....

Let your server do what it does best... let php does what it does best... and let pfc does what it do best (and authentication isn't what it does best).

Yokhannan