how to make a login

hi....

basically i have made a basic webpage in dreamweaver mx....and i need to include a members area where users have to enter their username and password. if entered correct, the website opens the members area. if incorrect, the user is given a error message. i dont know hows best to connect my website to my table in mysql, someone said jsp, others said php. i also dont know how to check the username and password against the entries in my database. plus i dont know where to put either jsp or php into dreamweaver mx so im really stuck. can anyone please help me. this is very urgent....if it would help i can give the website address so anyone who can help can get a better idea of what im talking about. please help.