how to maintain MySQL connection across pages?

[TruckStuff]

For the life of me, I cannot get mysql_pconnect() to work the way I think it should. My understanding is that a mysql_connect will be automatically killed at the end of a script. However, mysql_pconnect() is supposed to get around this.

I am loading pages that are dynamic based on database content. I am able to authenticate using the db and pull data from it on the first page. However, every page beyond that won't use the same connection. So I am faced with 3 options right now:

1) I completely misunderstand mysql_pconnect and how it works
2) Register a session variable for the user name AND password (I am doing the user name right now but the idea of registering the password doesn't thrill me from a security stand point).
3) Regsiter a session variable that is the db connection (probably talking out of my butt on this one though).

Here is my code as it exists now. The data is pulled from the db in the DisplayHeader function which works on this page. When I go to a different page, I got errors saying that the connection could a connection could not be opened.

require_once ("load-libs.php");
session_start ();

if (@ !$_SESSION["valid_user"])
{
if (@ $db = login ($_POST["user_name"], $_POST["passwd"]))
   {
    $_SESSION["valid_user"] = $_POST["user_name"];
   }
   else
     { CheckValidUser (); }
}
CheckValidUser ();
DisplayHeader ("Welcome to X-Stuff USA!");

DisplayFooter ();

function login ($name, $pw)
{
 if ($db = OpenDB ("$name", "$pw"))
    return 1;
    else return $db;
}

function OpenDB ($user, $pw)
{
 if (!$db = mysql_pconnect ("ns25.zabco.net", "$user", "$pw"))
    {
    die (sprintf ("<br><br>Cannot connect to db!\n<br><b>Reason: %s (%d)\n",
   			       htmlspecialchars (mysql_error()),
                   mysql_errno()));
    return false;
    }
    elseif (!mysql_select_db ("db0666"))
       {
       die (sprintf ("<br><br>Cannot select db!\n<br><b>Reason: %s (%d)\n",
   			       htmlspecialchars (mysql_error()),
                   mysql_errno()));
       return false;
       }
 return $db;
}

function CheckValidUser ()
{
 if (@ !$_SESSION["valid_user"])
    {
     DisplayHeader ("Cannot View Page.");
     echo "<p>You must be logged in to view this page.</p>";
     echo "<p><a href=\"index.php\">Click here</a> to login.</p>";
     DisplayFooter ();
     exit;
    }
}

[ahundiak]

The answer is #1.

p_connect is designed to allow establishing a connection a tiny bit faster by reusing previously opened connections. The manual has more information but basically, you can never count on getting the exact same connection back. In general, don't use p_connect.

And you do need some sort of session variable to maintain login information across pages. Lot's of different approaches.

[Tracer]

The only luck I have ever had with p_connect is If you are performing many querries on a single page to the same db or if performing a large querry remotely over the internet.

[TruckStuff]

The answer is #1.

Works for me. 😃 Thanks for the input.