Client Portal

[mlevy]

Hi Everyone,
I'm trying to figure out the best way to create a client portal. I have 2 ideas.

1.Create a form (username) that when submited a javascript code links to the appropriate page that may be password protected.

This seems a little sloppy to me because the usernames are right in the source code. It doesn't seem that it would matter so much because the linked page would be protected anyway.

2.Create a username/password form that would check against a MYSQL table and then take the user to the appropriate link.

This seems a little cleaner to me, but I don't have any idea how to make the interface to the mysql database that would be able to enter a secure space.

Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

Michael