Integrating vB Login with existing Login System of 3m members

[Dunhamzzz]

Hi,

I work for a web company who own over 100 websites, we have just completed our own "passport" login system for our all our sites, currently we have almost 3 million members.

Our login system is portable to our other sites and runs off a webservice.
We have just released a network of 48 linked sites with our own custom-made forums but despite being integrated and built around our passport login system, the forum itself lacks the useful features that full-fledged software like vB does.

I am pushing for vbulletin to my employers and would mainly like to know (as it would be me doing the work), how easy would it be to integrate vB with our existing login system, we have simple php functions like "isValid()" to check logins and system the returns a callback page so when people login we can effectively run any sql/set sessions or anything.

I may be showing this thread to them so please keep responses as professional as possible.

[Wayne Luke]

vBulletin does not handle external authentication at this time. This requires some custom programming on your part and a Bridge between your software and vBulletin. vBulletin does include*tools and APIs built into the software that allow you to synchronize your existing user records with the ones that vBulletin requires and would allow you to simulate a single sign-on procedure.*To do this you would use vBulletin's Data Managers.

The data managers are able to handle all the structures and variable types within vBulletin. This is the most efficient way to handle synchronization because of the way that vBulletin handles logins and cookie based authentication for each user. It will also allow you to use vBulletin's session handling techniques since they are different than standard PHP sessions at this time.
*
You can read about the Data Managers in our online documentation at:

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/data_managers

*
You can also see the entire vBulletin API at:

http://members.vbulletin.com/api/

Here is a tutorial on how to create a new user automatically:

http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=82836&highlight=Create+New+User

*
In that thread is are examples that you can use as a basis to handle logins within vBulletin transparently. There is other information available for including external files and classes in vBulletin available at www.vbulletin.org as well.

[Dunhamzzz]

Thanks every so much that is excellent.

They are however reluctant to make the move because 6 months+ of developer time has been spent trying to create the current (poor) forums from scratch and I really need to prove more than anything that we can deliver 10-fold of what we've achieved so far in a very short space of time with vB, which, with setting up our 48+ sub categories, not included, I believe is possible.

They are not going to be willing to waste anytime "testing" it, I will probably need to convince them all the way first if the move is to be made!
Is there any other notable points you feel I should make?

Wish me Luck!

[Dunhamzzz]

Sorry to double post but could some PM me the actual code snippets at this url please:

http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=82836&highlight=Create+New+User

Because I am unlicensed I cannot see them, they would make great material for a presentation.

[Fusion]

Because I am unlicensed I cannot see them, they would make great material for a presentation.

Sorry,
there is an (obvious) reason why this information is restricted to licensed users.

[Dunhamzzz]

Sorry,
there is an (obvious) reason why this information is restricted to licensed users.

I only need a very abstract example I can't push for this without proving how easy setting up a user is.

Not asking for source code, just a simple implementation.

[Fusion]

You might want to try sending an email to [email protected] and ask directly. If anyone is able to exempt you, it's the staff.

[Dunhamzzz]

they said they don't give out code. This is a bit screwed tbh. Can't go in on hype alone as it could all blow up in my face if its waste of time as it would be such an integral part of our company and we will be running well over 100 sites in the short term.

We're thinking of a more abstract platform, such as drupal.

EDIT:

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/data_managers

This is kind of what I was looking for and I assume what was on vb.org.

[Fusion]

Well, I'm sorry we cannot accommodate you.
All I can say is that adding users through code is very easy and versatile.

[Wayne Luke]

You can see an example of the user datamanager in use here:

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/data_manager_example

You can also view all the classes and functions in vBulletin here:

http://members.vbulletin.com/api/