RE: [PHP] 1984 (Big Brother)

> -----Original Message----- > From: tedd [mailto:tedd@sperling.com] > Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2010 9:32 AM > To: PHP-General list > Subject: [PHP] 1984 (Big Brother) > > Hi gang: > > I have a client who wants his employees' access to their online > business database restricted to only times when he is logged on. > (Don't ask why) > > In other words, when the boss is not logged on, then his employees > cannot access the business database in any fashion whatsoever > including checking to see if the boss is logged on, or not. No access > whatsoever! > > Normally, I would just set up a field in the database and have that > set to "yes" or "no" as to if the employees could access the > database, or not. But in this case, the boss does not want even that > type of access to the database permitted. Repeat -- No access > whatsoever! > > I was thinking of the boss' script writing to a file that > accomplished the "yes" or "no" thing, but if the boss did not log off > properly then the file would remain in the "yes" state allowing > employees undesired access. That would not be acceptable. > > So, what methods would you suggest? > > Cheers, > > tedd You sure know how to pick'em Tedd. This is the second "whacky" client you've posted about on the list... This guy sounds like a real control-freak (read: tool). One other thing I'll throw out is the use of a crontab to start/stop mysql during "boss's hours". I don't have a complete solution for you as I just don't care enough about helping this Dbag lord over his employees like that, but I suspect you could have "/etc/init.d/mysql start" or "stop" at some pre-determined times like 8am - noon. Then noon till 5pm. Or something. RDBMS are not really designed to be turned on and off like that. Another option is to maybe use M$ Access instead (which does have a multi-user mode). Use ODBC to connect via PHP to it. So then he would start up the DB when he likes and shut it down when he likes. (note that a logout of Windows will NOT prevent the ODBC connection as it is a service -- as God intended RDBMS to be) http://www.configure-all.com/php_access.php This guy is making me angry just thinking about it! d