How does PHP handle multiple connections to a single server with a single user name?

Cleric

This is an unusual situation as I am shooting at the worst case scenario, but here is the long drawn out question:

Given a provider who only allows a single user name and MySQL database, I thought the only way to facilitate multiple user logging in was to create a secondary user table within my database, which would hold each user's login name, user status, and encrypted password.

The question comes into play as everyone who connects to the site would be using the single, original MySQL user name to connect to the server.

Has anyone had any experience(s) with making multiple connections to a single server using the same user name each time? Is there any type of maximums that server can only perform until? Is this possible? Do you recommend another solution to the above scenario?

Much gratitude for your concern,

Andy

sfullman

hi,

you may need to check the mysql manual on this one, and all of these MAX's can be controlled by you.

However, I don't think there's a difference between 500 people using a single user name vs. 500 people using an individual username. mySQL can store an unlimited number of users in the mysql database without any problem.

LSU=Louisiana State?

Sincerely,
Sam Fullman

Cleric

I appreciate the reply Sam. I have scoured the MySQL.com documentation as I would feel a little foolish if I overlooked something. There is a bit of documentation about multiple connections but they are all to different servers; nothing mentioning to the single server and especially nothing about with the same user name.

It would be nice to have the scenario where I would be in control of the MySQL server, but as I would be obtaining hosting from a company and the need to create a new user on the fly might not be so swift, I was trying to come up with something else.

Yes, I am attending Louisiana State University.

sfullman

If you're not in control of the server, just use the single connection. However, best to create a new user called say web_user. Give it SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE and maybe DELETE privileges only to that one database.

Set up your OWN table with user names and passwords for each, and set a session variable like $_SESSION['username']='fred'. If fred adds any records to any tables, make sure that you have a field in the record called "Creator", and be sure you add

SET..
Creator = '" . $_SESSION['username'] . "',
... etc.

so you can keep tract of whodunit. :-)

Also, mysql doesn't care how many people are on the site (nor does apache), only how many people are concurrently requesting a connection. Since scripts usually execute in a second or less, it's instantaneous load you're worried about. Don't think this will be the biggest issue.

Remember though that in shared hosting there will be other loads like that subversive website about killing crawfish competing for your bandwidth :-)

If you need any further assistance let me know.

Sam