The problem I'm would like to solve is authenticating via a CGI script (instead of the popup) and then track the user via something like REMOTE_USER.

Oh! Sorry, not possible. The user info and popup is controlled via the browser-server connection, before a CGI takes effect. (You can control this interaction via a mod_perl handler, but you options are still limited because so much happens at the browser level)

You could, in theory, have a .htaccess protected area, with a CGI login script that forwarded you to http://user:password@domain/path/file.html that would bypass the "popup", and include a custom 403 (forbidden) page that sends you to that script should someone try to come in by another method, but that's pretty clunky, and I'm pretty sure (not positive) that that's a netscape convention and not a universal one (though I think IE also supports it).

There is a reason most places eventually go to sessions :) Even if .htaccess control is elegant, they want the script interface, and they aren't compatible.

Update: The eagle book has a good section on what the server/browser are doing behind the scenes for authentication/authorization. It won't help you do what your trying (I've tried it myself), but it does explain what's happening and lets you understand why it doesn't work.

Also added the bit about 403 above.

In reply to Re: Re: Re: Incorporate .htaccess password protection in a CGI script by swiftone
in thread Incorporate .htaccess password protection in a CGI script by nedals

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