[thelist] Writing an Apache Module ..in Java?

Adrian Gonzales adrian at clearspanmedia.com
Wed Apr 14 12:38:31 CDT 2004


This is also a stab in the dark... But you could use Cold Fusion. It
provides perfect integration with java.

Adrian Gonzales Jr.
Creative Director
Clear Span Media
713.310.7990
clearspanmedia.com


-----Original Message-----
From: thelist-bounces at lists.evolt.org
[mailto:thelist-bounces at lists.evolt.org] On Behalf Of Kelly Hallman
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 12:17 PM
To: thelist at lists.evolt.org
Subject: [thelist] Writing an Apache Module ..in Java?


Ok, this is a stab in the dark..  I think I know the answer, but thought
maybe some remote experts could confirm...

Is it possible to write an Apache module in Java?

Fact: I have a Java object which provides authentication utility. This
object being Java is, unfortunately, non-negotiable. It's developed
using some proprietary, commercial Java-only crypto libraries. Good or
bad, that is a fact of life here, and reverse-engineering is also not an
option.

(The difficulty I had trying to work this from the Java extension for
PHP  led me to explore all my options to extricate it from Java. No
dice!)

Given those requirements (or limitations, depending on your disposition)

does anyone have any suggestions? The ideal solution would be to write a
module in Java, or use Java to hook into Apache elsewise.

More details: The goal is to replicate the behavior of mod_securid,
using another authentication system that is proprietary via this Java
object.

The issue is, we currently have a very nice proxy setup, where Apache
and mod_securid authenticate users and then REMOTE_USER is set in Apache
to identify the logged in user. Advantage being that proxied apps can
leverage this authentication system, without needing to do more than
understand REMOTE_USER (pretty basic for almost any web app).

My gut feeling is, this won't fly, since my uninformed assumption is
that a module can't be written without compiling something (i.e. no
JVM:) If true, does anyone have other suggestions? The primary goal is
to set the REMOTE_USER variable in Apache. Can this be done without a
module?

Since the target authentication system relies on a Java object, I'm
thinking that writing an Apache module in Java would tie it all up
nicely (and I'd probably not go crazy). The alternative model is
shoehorning this Java object into every app, with no central place to
update, etc.

If ya got anything, help a brutha out!

PS - Also have mod_python, mod_perl, etc--I just need to set the
REMOTE_USER variable. If I can do that easily, the rest I can probably
work out, if this starts looking like a viable thing to try....

-- 
Kelly Hallman

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