setting custom session variables

[eluser]mistress_shiira[/eluser]
hi guys!
i just want your comments on this.i have a callback function on my validation that checks for the username and password.i tried to set the logged_in field to 1 on successful validation before directing it to another page.
i tried to do this:

Code:

$this->session->set_userdata('logged_in',1);

but when i look at my ci_sessions table,the logged_in field remained 0.

is session the correct way for me to do this or not?
basically,i dont want the users to be able to access other pages if they are not logged in.

thanks!