Who is online php sessions mysql

[DarrenPWS]

Hi all,

Once again I have another problem...

I have an admin section on my site where users can create quotes etc.

I want to be able to only allow one of the two people who have permission to access the section to be logged on at any one time.

Similar to how this forum tells you who is and who isnt online etc.

At the moment, the idea I have is to use a table in mysql to store who is logged in.

If it is user 1, then when user 2 tries to log in, it would simply display a message.

However, it is easy to add user1 to the db when they log on, but how do i then remove them when they log out, assuming they close the window rather than click the "log off" button.

Make sense?

Please help me - I have never used cookies, and have basic experience with sessions, so please explain in a simplified manner.

THANK YOU!

Darren.

[steve0]

over-simplified explaination:
A super-simple way is to use a common username/password along with a session identifier.

When someone logs in .. set a cookie with a value equal to the unique identifier, then insert this identifier in a 'sessionID' table along with NOW() in another field. (you can add IP and other things as well)

At the top of each 'admin page' check the user cookie value against the current value in the sessionID table.. it is matches, UPDATE the field containing the NOW() value, (business as usual). If the value is different. die("System is in use");

Run a cron job to periodically purge the sessionID table of any entries where current time is > the field with the (NOW() + 15 minutes )value. Assuming the last person with privileges has not accessed an admin page in the last 15 minutes.

With only two people having access.. there would be little doubt of who is logged in if the other gets the 'system busy' message.

Hope this gives you some ideas

-steve

[DarrenPWS]

Thanks steve0.

I will look into setting something like that up.

Can you tell me how to take away time in php?

D