protected function store_settings($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass, $dbname, $prefix, array $dboptions=null) {
        $this->dbhost    = $dbhost;
        $this->dbuser    = $dbuser;
        $this->dbpass    = $dbpass;
        $this->dbname    = $dbname;
        $this->prefix    = $prefix;
        $this->dboptions = (array)$dboptions;
    }