Set Apache's $REMOTE_USER externally

I think this is an Apache question more than PHP, but I'll give it a whirl. Aside from the new apache_setenv in 4.2RC3+ (and I haven't tried), is there a way to set $REMOTE_USER from PHP? Let me explain: I have an external (ie, custom) authentication process (hate basic auth) but I want the web logs to reflect the user visits (ie, I think from memory REMOTE_USER is the var that gets logged) In any case, after authentication, I'd like to set $REMOTE_USER and fool Apache into thinking that it's done a basic auth and will now log users as per basic auth. I've worked on an iPlanet server that's achieved this, but not without a custom built NSAPI module (in this case would be Apache API) I know it's pretty specific but if you can help at all I'd appreciate it... My next step is hacking out an apache module, but that's a.. ahh... not so preferred approach ;-) Regds, Sek-Mun <<< Sek-Mun Wong Connecting Space Sydney, Australia mailto:sekmun@connectingspace.com http://www.connectingspace.com mobile +61 402 138 974 phone +61 2 9516 2888 fax +61 2 8080 8305