diff --git a/AUTHORS b/AUTHORS
index 1e30399735..9d47f2c876 100644
--- a/AUTHORS
+++ b/AUTHORS
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ answer newbie questions, and generally made Django that much better:
     Matt Croydon <http://www.postneo.com/>
     flavio.curella@gmail.com
     Jure Cuhalev <gandalf@owca.info>
+    John D'Agostino <john.dagostino@gmail.com>
     dackze+django@gmail.com
     David Danier <goliath.mailinglist@gmx.de>
     Dirk Datzert <dummy@habmalnefrage.de>
diff --git a/django/conf/global_settings.py b/django/conf/global_settings.py
index c8420f3307..b3cbf095c3 100644
--- a/django/conf/global_settings.py
+++ b/django/conf/global_settings.py
@@ -271,12 +271,14 @@ MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES = (
 # SESSIONS #
 ############
 
-SESSION_COOKIE_NAME = 'sessionid'         # Cookie name. This can be whatever you want.
-SESSION_COOKIE_AGE = 60 * 60 * 24 * 7 * 2 # Age of cookie, in seconds (default: 2 weeks).
-SESSION_COOKIE_DOMAIN = None              # A string like ".lawrence.com", or None for standard domain cookie.
-SESSION_COOKIE_SECURE = False             # Whether the session cookie should be secure (https:// only).
-SESSION_SAVE_EVERY_REQUEST = False        # Whether to save the session data on every request.
-SESSION_EXPIRE_AT_BROWSER_CLOSE = False   # Whether sessions expire when a user closes his browser.
+SESSION_COOKIE_NAME = 'sessionid'                       # Cookie name. This can be whatever you want.
+SESSION_COOKIE_AGE = 60 * 60 * 24 * 7 * 2               # Age of cookie, in seconds (default: 2 weeks).
+SESSION_COOKIE_DOMAIN = None                            # A string like ".lawrence.com", or None for standard domain cookie.
+SESSION_COOKIE_SECURE = False                           # Whether the session cookie should be secure (https:// only).
+SESSION_SAVE_EVERY_REQUEST = False                      # Whether to save the session data on every request.
+SESSION_EXPIRE_AT_BROWSER_CLOSE = False                 # Whether sessions expire when a user closes his browser.
+SESSION_ENGINE = 'django.contrib.sessions.backends.db'  # The module to store session data
+SESSION_FILE_PATH = '/tmp/'                             # Directory to store session files if using the file session module
 
 #########
 # CACHE #
diff --git a/django/contrib/sessions/backends/__init__.py b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/django/contrib/sessions/backends/base.py b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9471706363
--- /dev/null
+++ b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+import base64
+import md5
+import os
+import random
+import sys
+import time
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.core.exceptions import SuspiciousOperation
+
+try:
+    import cPickle as pickle
+except ImportError:
+    import pickle
+
+class SessionBase(object):
+    """
+    Base class for all Session classes.
+    """
+
+    TEST_COOKIE_NAME = 'testcookie'
+    TEST_COOKIE_VALUE = 'worked'
+
+    def __init__(self, session_key=None):
+        self._session_key = session_key
+        self.accessed = False
+        self.modified = False
+
+    def __contains__(self, key):
+        return key in self._session
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        return self._session[key]
+
+    def __setitem__(self, key, value):
+        self._session[key] = value
+        self.modified = True
+
+    def __delitem__(self, key):
+        del self._session[key]
+        self.modified = True
+
+    def keys(self):
+        return self._session.keys()
+
+    def items(self):
+        return self._session.items()
+
+    def get(self, key, default=None):
+        return self._session.get(key, default)
+
+    def pop(self, key, *args):
+        return self._session.pop(key, *args)
+
+    def set_test_cookie(self):
+        self[self.TEST_COOKIE_NAME] = self.TEST_COOKIE_VALUE
+
+    def test_cookie_worked(self):
+        return self.get(self.TEST_COOKIE_NAME) == self.TEST_COOKIE_VALUE
+
+    def delete_test_cookie(self):
+        del self[self.TEST_COOKIE_NAME]
+        
+    def encode(self, session_dict):
+        "Returns the given session dictionary pickled and encoded as a string."
+        pickled = pickle.dumps(session_dict, pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL)
+        pickled_md5 = md5.new(pickled + settings.SECRET_KEY).hexdigest()
+        return base64.encodestring(pickled + pickled_md5)
+
+    def decode(self, session_data):
+        encoded_data = base64.decodestring(session_data)
+        pickled, tamper_check = encoded_data[:-32], encoded_data[-32:]
+        if md5.new(pickled + settings.SECRET_KEY).hexdigest() != tamper_check:
+            raise SuspiciousOperation("User tampered with session cookie.")
+        try:
+            return pickle.loads(pickled)
+        # Unpickling can cause a variety of exceptions. If something happens,
+        # just return an empty dictionary (an empty session).
+        except:
+            return {}
+        
+    def _get_new_session_key(self):
+        "Returns session key that isn't being used."
+        # The random module is seeded when this Apache child is created.
+        # Use settings.SECRET_KEY as added salt.
+        while 1:
+            session_key = md5.new("%s%s%s%s" % (random.randint(0, sys.maxint - 1), 
+                                  os.getpid(), time.time(), settings.SECRET_KEY)).hexdigest()
+            if not self.exists(session_key):
+                break
+        return session_key
+        
+    def _get_session_key(self):
+        if self._session_key:
+            return self._session_key
+        else:
+            self._session_key = self._get_new_session_key()
+            return self._session_key
+    
+    def _set_session_key(self, session_key):
+        self._session_key = session_key
+    
+    session_key = property(_get_session_key, _set_session_key)
+
+    def _get_session(self):
+        # Lazily loads session from storage.
+        self.accessed = True
+        try:
+            return self._session_cache
+        except AttributeError:
+            if self.session_key is None:
+                self._session_cache = {}
+            else:
+                self._session_cache = self.load()
+        return self._session_cache
+
+    _session = property(_get_session)
+    
+    # Methods that child classes must implement.
+    
+    def exists(self, session_key):
+        """
+        Returns True if the given session_key already exists.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    def save(self):
+        """
+        Saves the session data.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    def delete(self, session_key):
+        """
+        Clears out the session data under this key.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    def load(self):
+        """
+        Loads the session data and returns a dictionary.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+        
diff --git a/django/contrib/sessions/backends/cache.py b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/cache.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c3e641e691
--- /dev/null
+++ b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/cache.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib.sessions.backends.base import SessionBase
+from django.core.cache import cache
+
+class SessionStore(SessionBase):
+    """
+    A cache-based session store. 
+    """
+    def __init__(self, session_key=None):
+        self._cache = cache
+        super(SessionStore, self).__init__(session_key)
+        
+    def load(self):
+        session_data = self._cache.get(self.session_key)
+        return session_data or {}
+
+    def save(self):
+        self._cache.set(self.session_key, self._session, settings.SESSION_COOKIE_AGE)
+
+    def exists(self, session_key):
+        if self._cache.get(session_key):
+            return True
+        return False
+        
+    def delete(self, session_key):
+        self._cache.delete(session_key)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/django/contrib/sessions/backends/db.py b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/db.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d1496d63bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/db.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib.sessions.models import Session
+from django.contrib.sessions.backends.base import SessionBase
+from django.core.exceptions import SuspiciousOperation
+import datetime
+
+class SessionStore(SessionBase):
+    """
+    Implements database session store
+    """
+    def __init__(self, session_key=None):
+        super(SessionStore, self).__init__(session_key)
+    
+    def load(self):
+        try:
+            s = Session.objects.get(
+                session_key = self.session_key, 
+                expire_date__gt=datetime.datetime.now()
+            )
+            return self.decode(s.session_data)
+        except (Session.DoesNotExist, SuspiciousOperation):
+            
+            # Create a new session_key for extra security.
+            self.session_key = self._get_new_session_key()
+            self._session_cache = {}
+
+            # Save immediately to minimize collision
+            self.save()
+            return {}
+            
+    def exists(self, session_key):
+        try:
+            Session.objects.get(session_key=session_key)
+        except Session.DoesNotExist:
+            return False
+        return True
+            
+    def save(self):
+        Session.objects.create(
+            session_key = self.session_key,
+            session_data = self.encode(self._session),
+            expire_date = datetime.datetime.now() + datetime.timedelta(seconds=settings.SESSION_COOKIE_AGE)
+        )
+    
+    def delete(self, session_key):
+        try:
+            Session.objects.get(session_key=session_key).delete()
+        except Session.DoesNotExist:
+            pass
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/django/contrib/sessions/backends/file.py b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/file.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..062acca323
--- /dev/null
+++ b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/file.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+import os
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib.sessions.backends.base import SessionBase
+from django.core.exceptions import SuspiciousOperation
+
+class SessionStore(SessionBase):
+    """
+    Implements a file based session store.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, session_key=None):
+        self.storage_path = settings.SESSION_FILE_PATH
+        self.file_prefix = settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME    
+        super(SessionStore, self).__init__(session_key)
+    
+    def _key_to_file(self, session_key=None):
+        """
+        Get the file associated with this session key.
+        """
+        if session_key is None:
+            session_key = self.session_key
+        
+        # Make sure we're not vulnerable to directory traversal. Session keys
+        # should always be md5s, so they should never contain directory components.
+        if os.path.sep in session_key:
+            raise SuspiciousOperation("Invalid characters (directory components) in session key")
+            
+        return os.path.join(self.storage_path, self.file_prefix + session_key)
+            
+    def load(self):
+        session_data = {}
+        try:
+            session_file = open(self._key_to_file(), "rb")
+            try:
+                session_data = self.decode(session_file.read())
+            except(EOFError, SuspiciousOperation):
+                self._session_key = self._get_new_session_key()
+                self._session_cache = {}
+                self.save()
+            finally:
+                session_file.close()
+        except(IOError):
+            pass
+        return session_data
+
+    def save(self):
+        try:
+            f = open(self._key_to_file(self.session_key), "wb")
+            try:
+                f.write(self.encode(self._session))
+            finally:
+                f.close()
+        except(IOError, EOFError):
+            pass
+
+    def exists(self, session_key):
+        if os.path.exists(self._key_to_file(session_key)):
+            return True
+        return False
+        
+    def delete(self, session_key):
+        try:
+            os.unlink(self._key_to_file(session_key))
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+            
+    def clean(self):
+        pass
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/django/contrib/sessions/middleware.py b/django/contrib/sessions/middleware.py
index 2531c8e244..4c3c5acc43 100644
--- a/django/contrib/sessions/middleware.py
+++ b/django/contrib/sessions/middleware.py
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 from django.conf import settings
-from django.contrib.sessions.models import Session
-from django.core.exceptions import SuspiciousOperation
 from django.utils.cache import patch_vary_headers
 from email.Utils import formatdate
 import datetime
@@ -9,73 +7,11 @@ import time
 TEST_COOKIE_NAME = 'testcookie'
 TEST_COOKIE_VALUE = 'worked'
 
-class SessionWrapper(object):
-    def __init__(self, session_key):
-        self.session_key = session_key
-        self.accessed = False
-        self.modified = False
-
-    def __contains__(self, key):
-        return key in self._session
-
-    def __getitem__(self, key):
-        return self._session[key]
-
-    def __setitem__(self, key, value):
-        self._session[key] = value
-        self.modified = True
-
-    def __delitem__(self, key):
-        del self._session[key]
-        self.modified = True
-
-    def keys(self):
-        return self._session.keys()
-
-    def items(self):
-        return self._session.items()
-
-    def get(self, key, default=None):
-        return self._session.get(key, default)
-
-    def pop(self, key, *args):
-        self.modified = self.modified or key in self._session
-        return self._session.pop(key, *args)
-
-    def set_test_cookie(self):
-        self[TEST_COOKIE_NAME] = TEST_COOKIE_VALUE
-
-    def test_cookie_worked(self):
-        return self.get(TEST_COOKIE_NAME) == TEST_COOKIE_VALUE
-
-    def delete_test_cookie(self):
-        del self[TEST_COOKIE_NAME]
-
-    def _get_session(self):
-        # Lazily loads session from storage.
-        self.accessed = True
-        try:
-            return self._session_cache
-        except AttributeError:
-            if self.session_key is None:
-                self._session_cache = {}
-            else:
-                try:
-                    s = Session.objects.get(session_key=self.session_key,
-                        expire_date__gt=datetime.datetime.now())
-                    self._session_cache = s.get_decoded()
-                except (Session.DoesNotExist, SuspiciousOperation):
-                    self._session_cache = {}
-                    # Set the session_key to None to force creation of a new
-                    # key, for extra security.
-                    self.session_key = None
-            return self._session_cache
-
-    _session = property(_get_session)
-
 class SessionMiddleware(object):
+
     def process_request(self, request):
-        request.session = SessionWrapper(request.COOKIES.get(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, None))
+      engine = __import__(settings.SESSION_ENGINE, {}, {}, [''])
+      request.session = engine.SessionStore(request.COOKIES.get(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, None))
 
     def process_response(self, request, response):
         # If request.session was modified, or if response.session was set, save
@@ -89,25 +25,22 @@ class SessionMiddleware(object):
             if accessed:
                 patch_vary_headers(response, ('Cookie',))
             if modified or settings.SESSION_SAVE_EVERY_REQUEST:
-                if request.session.session_key:
-                    session_key = request.session.session_key
-                else:
-                    obj = Session.objects.get_new_session_object()
-                    session_key = obj.session_key
-
                 if settings.SESSION_EXPIRE_AT_BROWSER_CLOSE:
                     max_age = None
                     expires = None
                 else:
                     max_age = settings.SESSION_COOKIE_AGE
                     rfcdate = formatdate(time.time() + settings.SESSION_COOKIE_AGE)
+                    
                     # Fixed length date must have '-' separation in the format
                     # DD-MMM-YYYY for compliance with Netscape cookie standard
-                    expires = (rfcdate[:7] + "-" + rfcdate[8:11]
-                               + "-" + rfcdate[12:26] + "GMT")
-                new_session = Session.objects.save(session_key, request.session._session,
-                    datetime.datetime.now() + datetime.timedelta(seconds=settings.SESSION_COOKIE_AGE))
-                response.set_cookie(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, session_key,
+                    expires = datetime.datetime.strftime(datetime.datetime.utcnow() + \
+                              datetime.timedelta(seconds=settings.SESSION_COOKIE_AGE), "%a, %d-%b-%Y %H:%M:%S GMT")
+
+                # Save the seesion data and refresh the client cookie.
+                request.session.save()
+                response.set_cookie(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, request.session.session_key,
                     max_age=max_age, expires=expires, domain=settings.SESSION_COOKIE_DOMAIN,
                     secure=settings.SESSION_COOKIE_SECURE or None)
+                    
         return response
diff --git a/django/contrib/sessions/models.py b/django/contrib/sessions/models.py
index fda10c9743..c086396947 100644
--- a/django/contrib/sessions/models.py
+++ b/django/contrib/sessions/models.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import base64, md5, random, sys, datetime, os, time
+import base64, md5, random, sys, datetime
 import cPickle as pickle
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ class Session(models.Model):
     session_data = models.TextField(_('session data'))
     expire_date = models.DateTimeField(_('expire date'))
     objects = SessionManager()
+
     class Meta:
         db_table = 'django_session'
         verbose_name = _('session')
diff --git a/django/contrib/sessions/tests.py b/django/contrib/sessions/tests.py
index e83442123e..cfb475fc49 100644
--- a/django/contrib/sessions/tests.py
+++ b/django/contrib/sessions/tests.py
@@ -1,35 +1,59 @@
 r"""
->>> s = SessionWrapper(None)
 
-Inject data into the session cache.
->>> s._session_cache = {}
->>> s._session_cache['some key'] = 'exists'
+>>> from django.contrib.sessions.backends.db import SessionStore as DatabaseSession
+>>> from django.contrib.sessions.backends.cache import SessionStore as CacheSession
+>>> from django.contrib.sessions.backends.file import SessionStore as FileSession
 
->>> s.accessed
+>>> db_session = DatabaseSession()
+>>> db_session.modified
 False
->>> s.modified
-False
-
->>> s.pop('non existant key', 'does not exist')
+>>> db_session['cat'] = "dog"
+>>> db_session.modified
+True
+>>> db_session.pop('cat')
+'dog'
+>>> db_session.pop('some key', 'does not exist')
 'does not exist'
->>> s.accessed
+>>> db_session.save()
+>>> db_session.exists(db_session.session_key)
 True
->>> s.modified
+>>> db_session.delete(db_session.session_key)
+>>> db_session.exists(db_session.session_key)
 False
 
->>> s.pop('some key')
-'exists'
->>> s.accessed
+>>> file_session = FileSession()
+>>> file_session.modified
+False
+>>> file_session['cat'] = "dog"
+>>> file_session.modified
 True
->>> s.modified
-True
-
->>> s.pop('some key', 'does not exist')
+>>> file_session.pop('cat')
+'dog'
+>>> file_session.pop('some key', 'does not exist')
 'does not exist'
+>>> file_session.save()
+>>> file_session.exists(file_session.session_key)
+True
+>>> file_session.delete(file_session.session_key)
+>>> file_session.exists(file_session.session_key)
+False
+
+>>> cache_session = CacheSession()
+>>> cache_session.modified
+False
+>>> cache_session['cat'] = "dog"
+>>> cache_session.modified
+True
+>>> cache_session.pop('cat')
+'dog'
+>>> cache_session.pop('some key', 'does not exist')
+'does not exist'
+>>> cache_session.save()
+>>> cache_session.delete(cache_session.session_key)
+>>> cache_session.exists(cache_session.session_key)
+False
 """
 
-from django.contrib.sessions.middleware import SessionWrapper
-
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     import doctest
     doctest.testmod()
diff --git a/django/test/client.py b/django/test/client.py
index faacc5bf9e..8f50f5aef7 100644
--- a/django/test/client.py
+++ b/django/test/client.py
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ from cStringIO import StringIO
 from urlparse import urlparse
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth import authenticate, login
-from django.contrib.sessions.models import Session
-from django.contrib.sessions.middleware import SessionWrapper
 from django.core.handlers.base import BaseHandler
 from django.core.handlers.wsgi import WSGIRequest
 from django.core.signals import got_request_exception
@@ -132,9 +130,10 @@ class Client:
     def _session(self):
         "Obtain the current session variables"
         if 'django.contrib.sessions' in settings.INSTALLED_APPS:
+            engine = __import__(settings.SESSION_ENGINE, {}, {}, [''])
             cookie = self.cookies.get(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, None)
             if cookie:
-                return SessionWrapper(cookie.value)
+                return engine.SessionClass(cookie.value)
         return {}
     session = property(_session)
 
@@ -247,24 +246,23 @@ class Client:
         """
         user = authenticate(**credentials)
         if user and user.is_active and 'django.contrib.sessions' in settings.INSTALLED_APPS:
-            obj = Session.objects.get_new_session_object()
+            engine = __import__(settings.SESSION_ENGINE, {}, {}, [''])
 
             # Create a fake request to store login details
             request = HttpRequest()
-            request.session = SessionWrapper(obj.session_key)
+            request.session = engine.SessionClass()
             login(request, user)
 
             # Set the cookie to represent the session
-            self.cookies[settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME] = obj.session_key
+            self.cookies[settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME] = request.session.session_key
             self.cookies[settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME]['max-age'] = None
             self.cookies[settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME]['path'] = '/'
             self.cookies[settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME]['domain'] = settings.SESSION_COOKIE_DOMAIN
             self.cookies[settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME]['secure'] = settings.SESSION_COOKIE_SECURE or None
             self.cookies[settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME]['expires'] = None
 
-            # Set the session values
-            Session.objects.save(obj.session_key, request.session._session,
-                datetime.datetime.now() + datetime.timedelta(seconds=settings.SESSION_COOKIE_AGE))
+            # Save the session values
+            request.session.save()   
 
             return True
         else:
diff --git a/docs/sessions.txt b/docs/sessions.txt
index 96a88c617a..023285f704 100644
--- a/docs/sessions.txt
+++ b/docs/sessions.txt
@@ -10,18 +10,21 @@ Cookies contain a session ID -- not the data itself.
 Enabling sessions
 =================
 
-Sessions are implemented via a piece of middleware_ and a Django model.
+Sessions are implemented via a piece of middleware_.
 
-To enable session functionality, do these two things:
+To enable session functionality, do the following:
 
     * Edit the ``MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES`` setting and make sure
       ``MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES`` contains ``'django.contrib.sessions.middleware.SessionMiddleware'``.
       The default ``settings.py`` created by ``django-admin.py startproject`` has
       ``SessionMiddleware`` activated.
-
-    * Add ``'django.contrib.sessions'`` to your ``INSTALLED_APPS`` setting, and
-      run ``manage.py syncdb`` to install the single database table that stores
-      session data.
+      
+    * Add ``'django.contrib.sessions'`` to your ``INSTALLED_APPS`` setting,
+      and run ``manage.py syncdb`` to install the single database table
+      that stores session data.
+      
+      **New in development version**: this step is optional if you're not using
+      the database session backend; see `configuring the session engine`_. 
 
 If you don't want to use sessions, you might as well remove the
 ``SessionMiddleware`` line from ``MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES`` and ``'django.contrib.sessions'``
@@ -29,6 +32,44 @@ from your ``INSTALLED_APPS``. It'll save you a small bit of overhead.
 
 .. _middleware: ../middleware/
 
+Configuring the session engine
+==============================
+
+**New in development version**.
+
+By default, Django stores sessions in your database (using the model
+``django.contrib.sessions.models.Session``). Though this is convenient, in
+some setups it's faster to store session data elsewhere, so Django can be
+configured to store session data on your filesystem or in your cache.
+
+Using file-based sessions
+-------------------------
+
+To use file-based sessions, set the ``SESSION_ENGINE`` setting to
+``"django.contrib.sessions.backends.file"``.
+
+You might also want to set the ``SESSION_FILE_PATH`` setting (which
+defaults to ``/tmp``) to control where Django stores session files. Be
+sure to check that your web server has permissions to read and write to
+this location.
+
+Using cache-based sessions
+--------------------------
+
+To store session data using Django's cache system, set ``SESSION_ENGINE``
+to ``"django.contrib.sessions.backends.cache"``. You'll want to make sure
+you've configured your cache; see the `cache documentation`_ for details.
+
+.. _cache documentation: ../cache/
+
+.. note::
+
+    You probably don't want to use cache-based sessions if you're not using
+    the memcached cache backend. The local memory and simple cache backends
+    don't retain data long enough to be good choices, and it'll be faster
+    to use file or database sessions directly instead of sending everything
+    through the file or database cache backends.
+
 Using sessions in views
 =======================
 
@@ -153,14 +194,25 @@ Here's a typical usage example::
 Using sessions out of views
 ===========================
 
-Internally, each session is just a normal Django model. The ``Session`` model
+The ``SessionStore`` which implements the session storage method can be imported
+and a API is available to manipulate the session data outside of a view::
+
+    >>> from django.contrib.sessions.engines.db import SessionStore
+    >>> s = SessionStore(session_key='2b1189a188b44ad18c35e113ac6ceead')
+    >>> s['last_login'] = datetime.datetime(2005, 8, 20, 13, 35, 10)
+    >>> s['last_login']
+    datetime.datetime(2005, 8, 20, 13, 35, 0)
+    >>> s.save()
+
+Or if you are using the ``django.contrib.sessions.engine.db`` each 
+session is just a normal Django model. The ``Session`` model
 is defined in ``django/contrib/sessions/models.py``. Because it's a normal
 model, you can access sessions using the normal Django database API::
 
     >>> from django.contrib.sessions.models import Session
     >>> s = Session.objects.get(pk='2b1189a188b44ad18c35e113ac6ceead')
     >>> s.expire_date
-    datetime.datetime(2005, 8, 20, 13, 35, 12)
+    datetime.datetime(2005, 8, 20, 13, 35, 12)  
 
 Note that you'll need to call ``get_decoded()`` to get the session dictionary.
 This is necessary because the dictionary is stored in an encoded format::
@@ -245,6 +297,31 @@ Settings
 
 A few `Django settings`_ give you control over session behavior:
 
+SESSION_ENGINE
+--------------
+
+**New in Django development version**
+
+Default: ``django.contrib.sessions.backends.db``
+
+Controls where Django stores session data. Valid values are:
+
+    * ``'django.contrib.sessions.backends.db'``      
+    * ``'django.contrib.sessions.backends.file'``    
+    * ``'django.contrib.sessions.backends.cache'``
+    
+See `configuring the session engine`_ for more details.
+
+SESSION_FILE_PATH
+-----------------
+
+**New in Django development version**
+
+Default: ``/tmp/``
+
+If you're using file-based session storage, this sets the directory in
+which Django will store session data.
+
 SESSION_COOKIE_AGE
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/docs/settings.txt b/docs/settings.txt
index 2e6185f444..46fdd70258 100644
--- a/docs/settings.txt
+++ b/docs/settings.txt
@@ -733,6 +733,21 @@ Default: ``'root@localhost'``
 The e-mail address that error messages come from, such as those sent to
 ``ADMINS`` and ``MANAGERS``.
 
+SESSION_ENGINE
+--------------
+
+**New in Django development version**
+
+Default: ``django.contrib.sessions.backends.db``
+
+Controls where Django stores session data. Valid values are:
+
+    * ``'django.contrib.sessions.backends.db'``      
+    * ``'django.contrib.sessions.backends.file'``    
+    * ``'django.contrib.sessions.backends.cache'``
+    
+See the `session docs`_ for more details.
+
 SESSION_COOKIE_AGE
 ------------------
 
@@ -775,6 +790,17 @@ Default: ``False``
 Whether to expire the session when the user closes his or her browser.
 See the `session docs`_.
 
+SESSION_FILE_PATH
+-----------------
+
+**New in Django development version**
+
+Default: ``/tmp/``
+
+If you're using file-based session storage, this sets the directory in
+which Django will store session data. See the `session docs`_ for
+more details.
+
 SESSION_SAVE_EVERY_REQUEST
 --------------------------