Getting request IP

[parksie]

use the REMOTE_ADDR CGI variable.

[Razzle]

This doesn't return the request ip, it returns the IP of the tripod CGI Server :(

[parksie]

...does some checking with Apache...
SERVER_ADDR returns the Tripod CGI server... REMOTE_ADDR is the client computer.
Honestly.

[parksie]

if you're there within the next couple of hours: try:

http://212.41.34.41/cgi-bin/cgienv.cgi

for an example.

[Razzle]

Server was down, I'll try again later

between check this
http://thelast.unicorn.tripod.com/cgi-bin/test.cgi

it returns the content of the ENV variables
REMOTE_ADDR : 209.185.181.11
REMOTE_HOST : 209.185.181.11

ip SHOULD differ on when you try...

[Razzle]

oh yeah, the disadvantages of not having ISDN ;)

have you checked the link?

[parksie]

yeah, I checked it...if you're there then go here:

http://212.41.32.192/cgi-bin/cgienv.cgi

[HarryW]

Wouldn't your user need a static IP to do that though? Most people have dynamic IPs nowadays. If you don't want them to be able to reconnect then vote again, then you might have to try something else.

I think you can store cookies server-side as well as client side. I'm not sure whether they work with dynamic IPs though.

[parksie]

Yep. Unfortunately, it's very hard to accurately track users, since many turn cookies off. Server-side cookies (I've never heard of them) would probably go by IP address as well, in which case you're stuffed. If only there were a way to uniquely identify the sending modem....

[Mag-Net]

y dont u use a member system? and have ur users register at ur site? then u can have a database doing the work, and only allowing them to vote once.. Just a thought

[parksie]

But how do you track if they're logged in or not? Catch-22, guys. There's no way to stop them deleting the login cookie, and reregistering.

[Mag-Net]

Ha ha think people, all that needs to be done is a username and password system on a database on the server, they register at the site, and nothing is stored on their computer, yeah i suppose they could keep registering at the site and voting that way,, but seriously now, who would be that pathetic to do that?

[parksie]

v. good point. I suppose the number of people doing that would be small enough not to make too big a difference.

[Razzle]

then do you know where I could get a free database server?

unfortunately I don't have a permanent internet connection so I can't use my pc as server... :(

[parksie]

I'm assuming UK here...but http://www.uklinux.net are a free ISP, running a MySQL database server (same RDBMS as VB-World).

[Mag-Net]

cant u just stick it on ur web space? or will you be using asp? if so your server may not support that...but i am write in saying that you can hook up a simple database on any server right? but actually ur gonna have to write to the servers database...so, yeah that should work if you have a dll on there to do all the work?

[HarryW]

A lot of web hosting servers don't allow you to run CGI scripts that you've written yourself, because you could mess up the server.

[Razzle]

Tripod for example does allow you to run your own scripts.
but it doesn't support all the features (e.q. sendmail)

[parksie]

I think it's very reasonable for them to disable sendmail - prevent people from spamming the world through their servers. Yeah, it stops legitimate users, but that's par for the course with stuff like this.