# Persistent Sessions **URL:** \ **Category:** rubyonrails-talk\ **Created:** [February 28, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/persistent-sessions/49755 "2010-02-28T03:16:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![11155](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/d26b3c/32.png) [@11155](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/11155)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/persistent-sessions/49755/1 "2010-02-28T03:16:23Z")
Hi there, I am trying to figure out how to have persistent sessions (with like a month until expiration) for my users, sort of like a "remember me" functionality but that is handled automatically on login. I am hoping I can get some help from someone who is more experienced with Rails. I am currently using a controller called "Sessions" to handle my session properties. This is what my controller looks like. def create     @current\_user = User.find\_by\_login\_and\_password(     params[:login], params[:password])     if @current\_user       session[:user\_id] = @current\_user.id       if session[:return\_to]         redirect\_to session[:return\_to]         session[:return\_to] = nil       else         redirect\_to links\_path       end     else       render :action =\> 'new'     end   end   def destroy     session[:user\_id] = @current\_user = nil   end I have surfed around the internet looking for solutions but their is no real consistent method out there. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on how to manage sessions/cookies. I am hoping to not have to change my controller structure (by say installing a plug-in) and sticking with Sessions creation. Thank you in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Con](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Con](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Con)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 3:50am UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/persistent-sessions/49755/2 "2010-02-28T03:50:47Z")
> Hi there, > > I am trying to figure out how to have persistent sessions (with like a month until expiration) for my users, sort of like a "remember me" functionality but that is handled automatically on login. I am hoping I can get some help from someone who is more experienced with Rails. > > I am currently using a controller called "Sessions" to handle my session properties. > > This is what my controller looks like. > > def create    @current\_user = User.find\_by\_login\_and\_password(    params[:login], params[:password]) > >    if @current\_user      session[:user\_id] = @current\_user.id      if session[:return\_to]        redirect\_to session[:return\_to]        session[:return\_to] = nil      else        redirect\_to links\_path      end    else      render :action =\> 'new'    end end > > def destroy    session[:user\_id] = @current\_user = nil end > > I have surfed around the internet looking for solutions but their is no real consistent method out there. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on how to manage sessions/cookies. I am hoping to not have to change my controller structure (by say installing a plug-in) and sticking with Sessions creation. > > Thank you in advance. Michael, I would recommend using Authlogic because it has a method, remember\_me\_for, that one can redefine in the user\_session model to set the duration of time. Good luck, -Conrad ---
**Author:** ![11155](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/d26b3c/32.png) [@11155](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/11155)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/persistent-sessions/49755/3 "2010-03-04T16:55:09Z")
> Michael, I would recommend using Authlogic because it has a method, remember\_me\_for, that one can redefine in the user\_session model to set the duration of time. > > Good luck, > > -Conrad I look into this but I am a bit concerned about whether there will be an overwriting or conflicts with my current models and controllers. Is is possible to install a plugin like Authlogic or restful\_authentication with a current user and sessions model and controller? I have already created a very basic user and session system and my users are tied in to my voting model so I am hoping to not have to rebuild any of my database. If this is possible, do you know of a good tutorial for adding user management to an existing site with a more basic user management system? Thanks for the help. ---
**Author:** ![Con](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Con](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Con)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/persistent-sessions/49755/4 "2010-03-04T21:10:14Z")
> > Michael, I would recommend using Authlogic because it has a method, > > > remember\_me\_for, that one can redefine in the user\_session model to > > > set the duration of time. > > > > > > Good luck, > > > > > > -Conrad > I look into this but I am a bit concerned about whether there will be an > > overwriting or conflicts with my current models and controllers. Is is > > possible to install a plugin like Authlogic or restful\_authentication > > with a current user and sessions model and controller? I have already > > created a very basic user and session system and my users are tied in to > > my voting model so I am hoping to not have to rebuild any of my > > database. > > If this is possible, do you know of a good tutorial for adding user > > management to an existing site with a more basic user management system? Michael, I would recommend reading the docs on the use of the gem which can be found here: [http://github.com/binarylogic/authlogic](http://github.com/binarylogic/authlogic) Good luck, -Conrad