Java EE (Java Enterprise Edition) General Discussion

Hey guys. I cannot seem to find any information(online) or books that cover sessions in JSF and how to do a simple log in. I can get the application to query a mysql table and check the credentials and go to the next page, but I'm not sure how to make that page locked from non authorized access. I am very familiar with PHP and using it to create database driven applications. It's very straightforward, making safe logins using mysql, and creating sessions once the user has logged in(making pages locked unless the user is logged in, etc).. I have the core java server faces book but it's a joke. I feel like its an incomplete book. It merely skims a topic, and when you think it's going to get interesting it moves on to something else. It teaches basic stuff but nothing of what I want to do(or need to do). The older Javaserver faces book that came out in 2004 from O'Reilly doesn't seem to help either. I'm just wondering where people learn JSF at. I know Java, I would say pretty well as far as desktop applications go. I really like the way JSF is layed out and would really like to use it in my next project. At the level I know it now it's perfect for static web pages with no dynamic information.(but I could use plain html for that). Thanks for all your help.