Slightly off topic - but the information is in the database ;)

I have got quite a good section of a PHP based application
interacting with the database nicely, but I am struggling
with a simple problem which I know is not well supported and
need some pointers.

At present, the users log in 'manually', but I need to know
which machine they are logging on from, so that I can make
the correct announcement. Each machine is a counter
location, and I've been through adding the number to the
logon and setting cookies but I'm looking for a better
method. I need to go on and also restrict access from
machines that do not provide counter functions, and set them
up with back-office functions instead.

I'm sure there must be some way with html/PHP/Javascript ?

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Lester Caine
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L.S.Caine Electronic Services