squid_session(8)					      System Manager's Manual						  squid_session(8)

NAME

       squid_session - Squid session tracking external acl group helper

SYNOPSIS

       squid_session [-t idle_timeout] [-b dbpath] [-a]

DESCRIPTION

       This helper maintains a concept of sessions by monitoring requests and timing out sessions if no requests have been seen for the idle time-
       out timer.

       Intended use is for displaying "terms of use" pages, ad popups etc.

       -t idletimeout (default 3600)
	      Specifies the session idle timeout timer.

       -b dbpath
	      Path to persistent database. If not specified the session details will be kept in memory only and all sessions will reset each  time
	      Squid restarts it's helpers (Squid restart or rotation of logs).

       -a     Active mode. In this mode sessions are started by evaluating an acl with the argument LOGIN, or terminated by the argument LOGOUT.

       Without this flag the helper automatically starts the session after the first request.

EXAMPLE

       Configuration example using the default automatic mode

	      external_acl_type session ttl=300 negative_ttl=0 children=1 concurrency=200 %LOGIN /usr/local/squid/libexec/squid_session

	      acl session external session

	      http_access deny !session

	      deny_info http://your.server/bannerpage?url=%s session

       Then  set  up http://your.server/bannerpage to display a session startup page and then redirect the user back to the requested URL given in
       the url query parameter.

AUTHOR

       This helper and documentation was written by Henrik Nordstrom <henrik@henriknordstrom.net>

QUESTIONS

       Any questions on usage can be sent to Squid Users <squid-users@squid-cache.org>.

REPORTING BUGS

       Report bugs or bug-fixes to Squid Bugs <squid-bugs@squid-cache.org> or ideas for new improvements  to  Squid  Developers  <squid-dev@squid-
       cache.org>

SEE ALSO

       squid(8)

Version 1.0							   19 March 2006						  squid_session(8)