HTTP Basic Authentication against vB-Accounts
 

Seeing all those "user integration" requests over and over again I made a small "hack" (not really as no tables, templates or files are modified ;)) that might be useful if you want to give access to non-forum content based on forum accounts:

HTTP Basic Authentication against vB user table
------------------------------------------------

This "hack" allows you to use HTTP Basic authentication
(password protected directories) based upon vB accounts.

Update Version 0.2
------------------
I've added a configuration option to the .htaccess so
you can specify which usergroup (only one for the moment)
you want to grant access.
If you don't need this feature just leave the line commented out.

Requirements
------------
- vBulletin 3 (at least the user table) ;)
- Apache/mod_perl compiled with support for PerlAuthenHandler
- Basic Authentication feature enabled to be used in .htaccess

Installation
------------
1) Edit vBAuth.pm, fill in the configuration settings (database, etc.)
2) Put vBAuth.pm in your Perl Apache-Moduls directoy
3) (Optional) Edit .htaccess to meet your requirements
4) Put .htaccess in the directory you want to protect

Great hack, I am gonna make a members area, and then Install it & press teh install button ;)

Clicks install :)

Great idea, I'll find some use for it. Possibly access to ad-free content outside the forum for paid subscription group.

Any screenshots of the use of this .htaccess ?

@tamarian
You'll have to modify the query to check usergroup/membergroup too.
I'll see if it is possible to make that configurable via the .htaccess

@gamarik
Hmm ... there are no visual effects, so which screenshout do you want to have?
A directory listing showing the .htaccess?
An authorization required dialog (I guess everybody knows that already, at least from vB.com member area)?

Update Version 0.2
------------------
I've added a configuration option to the .htaccess so you can specify which usergroup (only one for the moment) you want to grant access.
If you don't need this feature just leave the line commented out.

This is great hack, I'm gonna try it out.

I'm confused about the directory, what exactly the name of the folder should I put the file vBAuth.pm to? CGI folder?

Jup, schaut ganz guad aus :)

@Nam
You must put that in your Perl Apache-Modules directory.
The exact location depends on your system, on my crappy webserver it is /usr/lib/perl5/vendor_perl/5.6.1/i386-linux/Apache

So this one require root access? Lucky I have it, but mine is a little different, no Apache

it is /usr/lib/perl5/vendor_perl/5.8.0/i386-thread-multi/ then I see No Apache but auto, Bundle, Crypt, Filter, filter-util.pl, HTML, XML, now which one should I put in? or just put in i386 folder and that's it?

Using whereis apache it shows the /usr/local/apache

I've tried both but I got internal error, hmn...