Implementing Cross-Domain Cookies - Page 3

by: Christopher Kings-Lynne

November 29, 2000

Step 3: Configuring Apache

Now, the remaining step is to configure apache to rewrite this URL:

http://www.domain2.com/-66543afe6543asdf6asd-/contact/

...to this:

http://www.domain2.com/contact/?sessionid=66543afe6543asdf6asd

...and this kind of url:

http://www.domain2.com/-66543afe6543asdf6asd-/contact/?email=yes

...to this:

http://www.domain2.com/contact/?email=yes&sessionid=66543afe6543asdf6asd

To achieve this, simply configure your two virtual servers for domain1 and domain2 as follows:

<VirtualHost ipaddress>
    DocumentRoot /usr/local/www/domain1
    ServerName www.domain1.com
    RewriteEngine on
    RewriteRule ^/-(.*)-(.*\?.*)$ $2&sessionid=$1 [L,R,QSA]
    RewriteRule ^/-(.*)-(.*)$   $2?sessionid=$1 [L,R,QSA]
</VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost ipaddress>
    DocumentRoot /usr/local/www/domain2
    ServerName www.domain2.com
    RewriteEngine on
    RewriteRule ^/-(.*)-(.*\?.*)$ $2&sessionid=$1 [L,R,QSA]
    RewriteRule ^/-(.*)-(.*)$   $2?sessionid=$1 [L,R,QSA]
</VirtualHost>

Those rewriting rules implement the above two URL rewriting requirements.

Conclusion

By using the combination of variables and apache rewriting, cross-domain cookies can be implemented in a simple fashion. In order to maintain the system, your coders need to do nothing more than use the domain variables whenever they link across domains. Links within domains do not need to be modified, as the cookie will work properly.

If you are interested in seeing this system in action on a production network, please visit http://www.familyhealth.com.au/. Run your mouse over some of the inter-domain links and see how they are rewritten when you click on them.

Perhaps, the only problem with this technique is that it is impossible to delete the cookie in the users browser for all the domains.

-- Chris

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