[development] Can I use an external user DB instead of the original user table in drupal DB?

[Earnie Boyd]

Quoting Michael Prasuhn <mike at mikeyp.net>:

>
> On Jun 15, 2007, at 12:51 AM, andy at spiders-lair.com wrote:
>> Think you're missing the point of "API". Use the user_load()  
>> function which loads a user, profile and all for your convience. If  
>> you want to see the structure returned (and where the profile  
>> fileds are) install the devel module which can display this for you.
>>
>> http://api.drupal.org/api/5/function/user_load
>
> Not necessarily, I am working on a site with an integrated CRM  
> (stores contacts as a custom CCK type) and the API doesn't seem to be 
>  able to do what I need, which is: Look up uid for a given node or  
> form based on the ability to enter the contact name instead of the  
> username, such as the authored by field on a new node.
>

Have you looked at http://drupal.org/project/openid for a possible solution?

Earnie