--- loncom/LondConnection.pm	2003/10/28 10:47:44	1.14
+++ loncom/LondConnection.pm	2003/10/28 11:15:10	1.15
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #   This module defines and implements a class that represents
 #   a connection to a lond daemon.
 #
-# $Id: LondConnection.pm,v 1.14 2003/10/28 10:47:44 foxr Exp $
+# $Id: LondConnection.pm,v 1.15 2003/10/28 11:15:10 foxr Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -64,10 +64,33 @@ sub ReadConfig {
 				die "Can't read host table!!";
     %hostshash  = %{$hoststab};
     
-    close(CONFIG);
 }
 
+#
+#  Read a foreign configuration.
+#  This sub is intended for the cases where the package
+#  will be read from outside the LonCAPA environment, in that case
+#  the client will need to explicitly provide:
+#   - A file in hosts.tab format.
+#   - Some idea of the 'lonCAPA' name of the local host (for building
+#     the encryption key).
+#
+#  Parameters:
+#      MyHost   - Name of this host as far as LonCAPA is concerned.
+#      Filename - Name of a hosts.tab formatted file that will be used
+#                 to build up the hosts table.
+#
+sub ReadForeignConfig {
+    my $MyHost   = shift;
+    my $Filename = shift;
+
+    $perlvar{lonHostID} = $MyHost; # Rmember my host.
+    my $hosttab = read_hosts($Filename) ||
+	die "Can't read hosts table!!";
+    %hostshash = %{$hosttab}
+
 
+}
 
 sub Debug {
     my $level   = shift;