I'd like to require a login/password for access to certain areas of my site limited to specific "subscriber" users to whom I will assign a login/pass configured with the Web Security Database. However, I wish to allow the general public to access the homepage. The homepage generates an automatic "onsubmit" query of the database which displays certain information when users enter the site.

Subscribers will be allowed to enter a "members only" search page where they will be allowed to perform more extensive multivariable searches of the database.

How do I allow all users to display the homepage without entering a log/pass if I restrict searches to members only on the search page, where they must enter a log/pass?

Steve T suggested setting Web Security to allow all users to search but to force a false "-edit" upon entering the members only area, prompting them to input their login/password. Seems sensible, but how to force a false edit command?

Any other ideas/insights appreciated.

Scratch that. My host just informed me I am SOL, saying "Unfortunately the Web Security databases don't work in a shared environment -- we've tried it in the past, but it creates more problems than it solves." Not sure why this is, but there you have it.

Which leads me to believe that I need to serve this DB myself. I was thinking of getting an Xserve (I'm a Mac guy) and a dedicated SDSL or T1 to my office. Then I could serve my dynamic site inhouse. Any thoughts? Do I need FMP 6 Server to do that?

FM Unlimited will be the way to go.

You can use any old OS X box with plenty of RAM. You do not need OS X Server!

Good Luck.

Garry