Win' NT, Netscape Server & Patron Authentication

[Timothy Renick]

Hello,

I need some advice.  We are beta testing the Web interface for a full 
text provider.  The process is now in the "How to do patron 
authentication stage."  Normally, if we were just dealing with the main 
campus, this would be done through IP address verification.  However, the 
system that we are to set up MUST allow valid users to access the 
databases from home.  The vendor has agreed and we are working together 
on the problem.  

As stated in the subject line, I have just received an NT server running 
Netscape's Web Server.  As you are already familiar with in library 
settings, things don't come about as expected.  I wanted the server to 
arrive a long time ago to allow me to become familiar with the system.  
However, now I have to push the system into operation much sooner than 
expected.

The authentication process has been split between the vendor and our 
library.  Our part is to decide on the database structure and how to 
search it.  We have decided to go with a flat file of unique patron 
numbers that has been generated from the main university patron 
database.  We envision having a small "program" to do a grep like search 
on the file and then return either a HTTP 200 or 404 for validation or 
rejection.  This HTTP response is required by the vendor who is doing the 
other part of the process.

Questions:
1)  For the library's part, does this flat file system seem like good 
system, or can you recommend a better one?

2)  For the search part, if we go with the flat file, is it possible to 
write it in Visual Basic and have it work (I have no programming 
experience so all recommendations welcome -- I am hoping to get in touch 
with a programmer through the university).

3)  What other considerations, recommendations, opinions, or possible 
questions do you have that I should be aware of.  We are hoping to duplicate 
this process and use it for other library services that are open only for 
registered patrons.

Any experiences familiar with this problem would greatly appreciated.

-Timothy

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Timothy M. Renick
Systems Librarian
Eden-Webster Library
475 E. Lockwood Ave.
Webster Groves, MO  63119
voice (314) 963-6084    fax (314) 968-7113
e-mail timothyr at library2.websteruniv.edu
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