https://docs.moodle.org/405/en/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Questions 2026-07-16T15:10:47Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.43.5 https://docs.moodle.org/405/en/index.php?title=External_database_authentication&diff=114812 2014-09-12T18:15:41Z

<p>Questions: /* See also */</p> <hr /> <div>{{Authentication}}<br /> Location: ''Settings &gt; Site administration &gt; Plugins &gt; Authentication &gt; External database''<br /> <br /> <br /> This method uses an external database table to check whether a given username and password is valid. If the user does not currently exist in Moodle a new account will be created and their information copied from the external database. <br /> <br /> == Field mappings ==<br /> <br /> This is done by mapping fields at the bottom of the database authentication page. Each data field in the user profile has a text field next to it. Enter the name of the column in the external database that maps to the profile data field.<br /> <br /> '''Update Local''' - Specifies that the external data will be entered into the local field in question<br /> * On Creation - specifies that this will only happen on the original login when the account is created for the first time.<br /> * On Every Login - specifies that changes in the external data will be updated on the local Moodle field in question the next time the user logs in again.<br /> <br /> '''Update External''' - Specifies just the opposite, meaning changes in the local Moodle field in question will update the corresponding field in the external database<br /> * Never - Specifies this is disabled<br /> * On Update - Enables this to happen if a change is made locally (additional configuration is probably required)<br /> <br /> '''Lock Value''' - Only determines whether the local user can make a change in the Moodle field and does not affect the two settings above.<br /> * Unlocked - A user can make changes locally in the Moodle field (assumably even if it contradicts the external database the next login would change it again if Update Local is set<br /> * Locked - A user can never make changes<br /> * Unlocked if empty - A user can only make changes if the field is not populated already from the external database (this would seem to indicate a user could only enter something into this field once and could not change it after saving)<br /> <br /> == Automatic Synchronisation ==<br /> <br /> The above method adds new users only when they log in. If you want user accounts to be created in Moodle independent of actual logins, the db authentication plugin offers a script you can run regularly via 'cron'. A typical cron entry will be as follows...<br /> <br /> &lt;pre&gt;<br /> 0 * * * * /usr/bin/php /path/to/moodle/auth/db/cli/sync_users.php &gt;dev/null<br /> &lt;/pre&gt;<br /> <br /> This runs every hour (adjust as required). It reads the entire table updating and creating local Moodle users. <br /> <br /> ==Additional Notes==<br /> * Some of the things that apply to [[Upload users]] apply to the External database<br /> ** Set password to &quot;changeme&quot; to force password reset<br /> *** If you do this, it is '''critical''' that you provide a URL to change the password!<br /> * Not all of the fields in the [[Upload users]] are available for the External Database authentication. The only available fields are the fields listed in the data mapping section of the admin page for the External Database connection.<br /> <br /> ==See also==<br /> *Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=45444 Special and characters con tilde (accute accent) when connected to external database] forum discussion<br /> *Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=75519 HELP!--User Authentication problem] forum discussion<br /> *[[External database enrolment]]<br /> *change password in external DB authentication plugin [https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=269311#p1162046] <br /> <br /> [[de:Externe Datenbank]]<br /> [[fr:Utiliser une base de données externe]]<br /> [[ja:外部データベース認証]]<br /> [[es:Autenticación con BasedeDatos externa]]</div>

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