User authentication in django with custom user model and table -

i'm new django , wanted ask regarding user authentication , logging in. read documentation , unable find proper answer/direction regarding trying accomplish. basically, have integrate legacy system, cannot use default auth_user tables or that. have model defined in app written below:

class user(models.model):     class meta:     db_table = 'user'     def __unicode__(self):     return self.first_name + ' ' + self.last_name      first_name = models.charfield(max_length=64)     last_name = models.charfield(max_length=64)     email = models.charfield(max_length=64)     password = models.charfield(max_length=32)     active = models.charfield(max_length=1)     last_modified = models.datetimefield("last modified")     timestamp = models.datetimefield("timestamp") 

my question is, how can make use of above model (or changes should making it) work authentication app? right have following backend authentication per docs:

class customauth(modelbackend):     def authenticate(**credentials):         return super(customauth, self).authenticate(**credentials)      def authenticate(self, username=none, password=none):             # check username/password , return user.         if username != none , password != none:             # user             try:                 user = user.objects.get(email=username)                 if user.check_password(password):                     logger.info('user authenticated, logging user in')                     return user             except user.doesnotexist:                 pass         return none      def get_user(self, user_id):         try:             return user.objects.get(id=user_id)         except user.doesnotexist:            return none 

i tried test per below:

user = authenticate(username='test@gmail.com', password='testuser') 

i keep getting various errors such 'module' object not callable. included custom authentication in settings.py file. there example of trying do? appreciated, thanks!

edit changed model below:

from django.db import models django.contrib.auth.models import user authuser, usermanager  # extend base user model class user(authuser):     class meta:         db_table = 'user'      active = models.charfield(max_length=1)     last_modified = models.datetimefield("last modified")      objects = usermanager() 

it looks 1 problem custom backend has 2 authenticate methods. want remove top one.

here's an example of how write custom backend processing email address based logins.