Authentication Help

I am busy developing a website, which I would like to restrict access to, however I don't have access to the configs of the server. It runs ASP, PHP and some others. (Sorry still very limited knowledge - newbie) What I want to do is have the pages check the users AD userid and compare a list created in Access, and if they match, then access will be granted. It's a cross between forms authentication and windows authentication. I don't know how to describe this any better.
I have been browsing forums for about two weeks, and tried various things, but nothing works.
The original site is html, and the new one is asp but I want to include some courseware into the new site, that will use the userid to indicate who did the assesments. So I need to authenticate. If at the very least I want to display the userid on each page, even if there is no authentication. But if someone completes the assessment then that info will include the userid of the person that completed it.
Also having difficulty with adding users to a dba using a web interface. I'm probably working ahead of myself and my skill level. (Using Dreamweaver CS4).
Is there a way to find out what is supported on a server. The server admin is no longer in our company, and not specificly sure where physically the server is located, although it's about 1500km from where my office and department is located, so I can't ask him either. Although if the server crashes, then I have a problem.

Thanks in advance.
Shaun