External Authentication hack?

[iflc_sw_procure]

I am interested in purchasing vBulletin, but before my organization can do so, we need to ensure we can integrate it with our existing system.

Specifically, what we need to be able to do is have user authentication done through an external system. This will prevent users from having to have a separate username and password for our existing integrated systems and vBulletin.

We can modify the php code, but without being able to see how it works before purchasing, we have no way of knowing how difficult the task would be.

Ideally, if someone logs into their customized homepage at our site, then clicks on a "Forums" link, they should automatically be logged into vBulletin. If they try to access vBulletin and are not logged in, they should be directed to a standard login page (and from there they would be sent back to vBulletin after logging in).

If a logged in user tries to access vBulletin and has never done so before, it should prompt them for their initial user settings or just give them some initial default values (and perhaps display some kind of message like "Welcome to the forums. To configure your forums account, use the configuration link at the top of the page".

Again, what we want to avoid is users having to create multiple user accounts to use any of the systems on our web site.

Any assistance/info would be greatly appreciated.

[Xenon]

the login part is actually very easy to do. just change the forms of your current script to set up the vb cookies as well.

the second part isn't hard as well.
Whenever someone creates an accounton your site, you have to enter the needed standart values into the db of vb, too.

there are a lot of hints around about how to do that :)

[iflc_sw_procure]

In the login form that sets the vb cookies, do we also need to add any kind of session ID entry to the database? Any *detailed* information would be greatly appreciated (links to other threads or external web sites with the info if anyone knows it)

For example, in many systems, when the user logs in, he is given a session cookie and the session ID is added to the MySQL DB. This way when the user sends the cookie back to the web server, the scripts can ensure the session ID is valid. This also allows for timing out of session ID's if they're not used within a certain period of time.

Also, any detailed info or links to info on adding the needed standard values into the vb database would be appreciated. I don't mean to sound lazy, but if someone knows of a specific thread or other resource, it would save me the time of having to dig for the info.

Finally, what about disabling all the "change password", "delete account", "register", and other options from within vb? I assume this could just be done by removing the options from the templates?

[Xenon]

as i haven't done so right now i cannot give *detailed* infos, just the how to ;)

session id's are stord in the DB with vb, you're right here (or that's done automatically if you have a user with correct cookies and first connects to the forums)

yes, you can disable all change passwords aso within the templates.

For more details maybe so else can help