I'm not sure how many projects have similar set-ups, but MediaWiki allows for a kind of plugin perfect for this. If you look at AuthPlugin.php, there is a class definition for authentication.

You would want autoCreate() to return true (that way, you only set up the external accounts) and strict() return true (Only login if they authenticate).

As far as implementation, it's all up to you. LDAP, MySQL table, etc. should all be ok.

On 4/11/05, Stephen Bannasch stephen@deanbrook.org wrote:

In the medium term I'd like to use a single authentication system for a series services on deanbrook.org including mediawiki. My goals are to integrate a suite of services appropriate for a community-based portal. This is a volunteer (non-profit) service for our town. Initially I am setting up WordPress and MediaWiki.

Authentication is especially important to me because I have a policy that in order to post you not only have to be registered you also have to be using your real name.

To start I thought it would be easiest for users if at least have both systems use the same username and password. In this synched authentication each system maintains their current user tables and changes are synched between the two however a user would have to login again when starting one service

What this means is that whenever someone registers (or updates their password or profile) on one system a call is made to the other application with the new information so that this system can also update their table data.

What would be better in the longer term is to have an external user and authentication module that presented a common UI along with managing session information, and user access-control/permissions. In addition I could better handle registrations from kids under 13. In the US there is a federal law which requires parent permission.

A hybrid approach is also possible where I integrate the two systems and end up using one schema.

I'm looking for comments, pointers, or implementations.

I'm also looking for a web community focused on design and discussion of community portals (not as much the nuts and bolts but how they actually work in a community and what services people use).

Thanks

-- Stephen Bannasch, stephen at deanbrook dot org _______________________________________________ MediaWiki-l mailing list MediaWiki-l@Wikimedia.org http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mediawiki-l