Grab an ID off a user that is permanent

Swedie

I need to find a way to grab an ID from a computer that is permanent. So that if they visit the site one day and comes back a few days later, this user will be identified.

I don't want to use cookies.

Is there something? If something needs to be changed server side, no problem.. just need to work.

Weedpacket

Not really. You could try using their IP, but it's unlikely you'll get anything other than their ISP's proxy server.

This is why cookies were invented.

Swedie

but a lot of people don't have cookies enabled.... what about that?

th3void

There are always sessions, they're not that much messier.

www.php.net/session_start will get you started on... starting sessions, there are other tutorials around. Try www.devshed.com or just google "sessions PHP".

[edit] And you're right, they DO end when you close the page, as I had forgotten! I am constantly reminded of my own stupidity.

Swedie

a session is closed when the browser is closed you know. it is not permanent. I want to .. without cookies... be able to identify a returning user.

dbchip2000

What you could do is identify a computer by setting this MD5 hash as their computer in a database:

md5($_SERVER["REMOTE_ADDR"].$_SERVER["HTTP_USER_AGENT"])

usually both are reliable, and it will be a unique ID, unless someone else knows otherwise

If you are worried about the people who do have cookies disabled and that is why you wish to use non-cookie methods, you can always just alert them that they must have cookies enabled. There aren't too many people out there with cookies disabled. Wonder if there is a statistic on that

superwormy

Impossible. Completely impossible.

For dial-up users ( still like 70% of the net I think ), their IP ( $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'] usually changes everytime they reconnect to the web.

$_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'] is not permenent in that browser upgrades, add-ons ( Google Search Toolbar, Yahoo Search Toolbar, etc. ) change the HTTP_USER_AGENT variable.

Cookies are your best bet. Nothing else comes even close.

Sessions are passed only by Cookies or the URL, so they dont' help you in this instance.

dbchip2000

Wow, you're right, for a moment, I thought it was a brilliant revelation. Okay, ignore the ignorant one :-)

Weedpacket

I'd say cookies are about your only bet. What is wanted is for the server to give the client something that the client can use to identify itself, in a consistent fashion over a long time, to the server the next and each time it makes a request.

That's a cookie.

nathanj

MAC Address? 😕 Don't know if it is possible, I am just a PHP newbie... 🙂

Ravenous

Though the MAC address is what makes networking possible, I don't think PHP has the ability to grab that.

Desertsnowman

the only other way is to get teh user to sign in !
then use session -

I'm sure "Grabbing " a users info without them having a choice to have it taken is against the privacy act.

that why the use can turn off cookies in the first place!

superwormy

Desertsnowman, the session woudl have to be propagated by a cookie... so thats no better than just general cookies.

Desertsnowman

true -
but if the user has disabled cookies... ?

BuzzLY

... then tough luck. Post information on your site about the importance of enabling cookies. If they refuse to do so, then they can't use your site effectively.

Desertsnowman

Originally posted by BuzzLY
... then tough luck. Post information on your site about the importance of enabling cookies. If they refuse to do so, then they can't use your site effectively.

Well Put !