how to serialize a 32-bit unsigned integer

[ivytony]

I want to store IP address in the format of 32-bit unsigned integer instead of the readable IP address (e.g. 127.0.0.1). So I use this sql statement:

mysql> INSERT INTO tbl VALUES (..., INET_ATON('127.0.0.1'), ...)

 

however, before I insert this IP value, I need to serialize it by using the equivalent php function to convert readable IP address

 

gethostbyaddr($ip_address);

 

When I put this above expression in serialize(), it gives me a NULL. I am wondering how to serialize a 32-bit integer.

 

This code is used for a voting system that record voter's IP address (same IP address cannot vote twice), which is the reason for using serialize().

 

anyone knows?

 

thanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kenrbnsn]

That's not what the serialize function is used for. It is used to convert an array into a string.

 

Please try to explain your problem better.

 

Ken