using front page, question when designing the web page there is a way to have a logon / create account page and the information i guess is stored in a front page database. Is it better to create a logon / create user account page and tie it to a mySQL database? Is there a recommended resource to learn how to do this?

The advantage to using a DB like MySQL is that the rest of your website can access it as well. Basic question first: Are you coding your site from scratch, or will you be using a forum software as well? I ask simply because most forums allow you to integrate their logon info with the rest of your site.

i am thinking there will be a user / password db and than the user will create a profile ( alias , and other demographic informaiton ) this information will be used with other parts of the website. not sure if i should just make all of this 1 db or make it 2. this is the first time i have created a web site that will need large db's to store the information.

In all technicality, the most you'd ever need is one database; you can use multiple methods of separating the data. However, you'd be best to group your similar activities into their own database (e.g. one for forums, one for random quotes, etc.) if possible. Personally, I'd set everything you're talking about in the same DB since it relates to the same info per user. The only major advantage over the separate DB would be security (finding someone's password), but most of that is a moot point with today's encryption levels like md5 (not saying md5 is inherently secure, but rather making a point that encrypted info is much more secure than plain text).

thanks for the info. i have been reading learning SQL , Alan Beaulieu... but so far i have not been to impressed by the book.

I am guessing i need to get a book that talks about sql and php

well MySQl not SQL SQL is different from MySQL.. if you need a book or you need a concise website that allows you to download good books on that let me know

Try www.w3schools.com