SSL and session variables

[Anon]

I have a site where users are logged in and access to pages is restricted to logged in users. When the users are ready to input their credit card details they are transferred to a secure server.
When they are transferred to the secure server their authorisation to view the pages is somehow removed and they have to log in again via the secure server. How can I stop this happening.
I am using PHP4 Ultradev & PHAkt

Any help appreciated
Mike.

[Anon]

don't quote me on this, but i suspect it has to do with cookie settings. you'll notice in set cookie there's the option to send it via ssl if availabale... but no such option exists (to my knowledge) for cookies generated by sessions. that may be the barf.

or:

your session may die because you're crossing domains by moving to the virtual host that ssl is running on.

just a couple of guesses.

[Anon]

I think you are correct on both points, I have been told that I have to transfer all variables to the ssl url manually.
Whats with that?

Thanks
Mike.