sub userAuthenticate{
  my $id        = shift;
  my $password  = shift;
  my $flag       = 'Y';
  my $ldapserver = "theServer";
  my $ldapsearch = "ldapsearch -r";
  my ($auth,$msg);

  my ($userdn) = qx{$ldapsearch -h $ldapserver -b dc=xxx,dc=com employeenumber=$id dn};

  chomp $userdn;

  if($userdn eq ""){
    $auth = 0;
    $msg  = "Invalid Id/Password....Please try again";
  }
  else{
    my $cmd="$ldapsearch " .
                           "-h $ldapserver " .
                           " -b dc=xxx,dc=com " .
                           qq{ -D '$userdn' } .
                           qq{ -w '$password' } .
                           "employeenumber=$id dn";
    my ($result)=qx{$cmd};
    chomp $result;
    if ($result eq $userdn){
      $auth = 1;
      $msg  = "OK";
    }
    else{
      $auth = 0;
      $msg  = "Invalid Id/Password....Please try again";
    }
  }
  return ($auth,$msg);
}