diff --git a/process/epasswd.py b/process/epasswd.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..4017630cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/process/epasswd.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+
+from string import split
+from string import strip
+from string import lower
+
+class EPasswd:
+	def __init__(self, file):
+		self.data = {}
+		try:
+			fp = open(file,"r")
+		except:
+			fp = None
+		if fp != None:
+			while True:
+				line = fp.readline()
+				if not line: break
+				line = strip(line)
+				[id, email, passwd, overri] = split(line, ":")[0:4]
+				lc_id = lower(id)
+				self.data[lc_id] = {}
+				self.data[lc_id]["id"] = id
+				self.data[lc_id]["email"] = email
+				self.data[lc_id]["passwd"] = passwd
+				self.data[lc_id]["overri"] = overri
+			fp.close()
+
+	def check(self, id, passwd):
+		pw = self.get_passwd(id)
+		if pw[0:6]=='$apr1$':
+			# htpasswd hashes, cannot check, assume correct
+			return 1
+		if lower(pw) == lower(passwd):
+			return 1
+		if lower(self.get_overri(id)) == lower(passwd):
+			return 1
+		return 0
+
+	def get_passwd(self, id):
+		return self.data[lower(id)]["passwd"]
+	
+	def get_overri(self, id):
+		return self.data[lower(id)]["overri"]
+
+	def get_email(self, id):
+		return self.data[lower(id)]["email"]
+	
+	def get_canon_id(self, id):
+		return self.data[lower(id)]["id"]
+
+	def fac_exists(self, id):
+		if self.data.has_key(lower(id)):
+			return 1
+		return 0