auth over multiple applications

[bananaman]

This isn't necessarily a PHP problem, although the applications are probably all in php.

My problem is this. I have a set-up containing a wiki, a forum and a doc. management system. They are all based on opensource PHP projects.

I want a simple way to control access across all the applications, i.e. so I can allow access to all of the applications, or none of them, or a combination of them to different users.

It seems to me that the most sensible way to do with would be to use http auth. I guess what I am really looking for is an open source application that allows the administration of httpd auth over a number of directories, so I can set up a new user and then assign directories that the user is allowed to access.

Does that make sense? Anybody any ideas about the best way to do this?

Thanks for your time.

[kkobashi]

What really is needed is a standard for user management and for web applications to use that standard.

I'm afraid that if you are using applications with their own authentication and user databases, you will be in a ugly situation. Eventually, you will come to realize that you should just toss the applications, rewrite them, and have a centralized user management system in place.
(ugly ugly ugly)

This is what a good content management systems (CMS) is for...