I do simple websites using Dreamweaver. I do not know coding etc. A client wants a secure site only to be accessed by persons with a password. He also does not want it to be found by search engines. Does anyone know how this can be done? He was told he would need to purchase a browser, though I cannot see how others even with the password could then access the site as they would not have the browser, or am I missing something?

I have designed a flash page which he says is fine...just that viewers would enter their ID and/or password on that page to enter the site.

Any advice please?

Somes hosts control panel allow you to easily create password protected sections of your site. What control panel does your host use?

To deny access to search engine robots he needs to create a robots.txt file.

http://www.digitallycorrect.com/robots-file.htm

If that's his only purpose is to stop the search engines, then the robots.txt file would work.

Password protection can be accomplished with a .htacess file. Try searching google for .htaccess and password protection, there are many tutorials on how to do it.

Many thanks...all the responses are helpful and have put me on the right track.

This can also be done through scripting your site if your customer wants a way to add and remove users w/o having to go through cPanel each time or have that anoying pop-up login come up.