The PHP Solution for i5/OS

Zend and IBM have partnered to deliver Zend Core for i5/OS, a high quality PHP 5 that provides System i businesses with a production quality solution for deployment and management of modern Web applications. For businesses deploying System i, Zend for i5/OS is the most productive and cost-effective solution to rapid Web enablement and the integration of Web Services supporting SOA. Zend Core for i5/OS is enhanced with critical features to take advantage of i5/OS specific resources and capabilities such as an i5 toolkit to access DB2 and applications running on i5/OS.

Business changes fast, collaboration happens quickly—start innovating with Zend and the System i platform.

New Version 2.5.2

Version 2.5. has a number of new features and capabilities that further enhance the PHP solution for i5/OS. The highlights are:

• Improved Performance - Up to 20% faster than previous versions
• New Support for V6R1 - Support for the latest i5/OS release
• Improved i5/OS Toolkit - Now uses persistent connection for improved performance
  
• Updated PHP - PHP updated to the latests release for improved security and reliability
• New SSL support - The Bundled Apache server was updated to the latests version and now include SSL support
• Microsoft SQL Extension (preview version) - Includes a bundled MS SQL extension, which allows access to MS SQL data
  
• MySQL database - Includes a bundled copy of the most current release of MySQL for i5/OS database for V5R4 (optional installation)
• IBM HTTPSVR support for Zend Core Apache - IBM released V5R4 PTF "SI28790 - HTTPSVR Zend Core for i5/OS support". It allows users to list, start and stop Zend Core Apache server instances and edit their configuration files via IBM Web Administration for i5/OS. For more information about the IBM PTF, click here.
• Improved Windows-based Installation - Install Zend Core for i5/OS on your i5/OS server using interactive dialogs on your Windows Operating System.  New option to install Zend Platform and the 5250 Bridge technology.
  

i5/OS Special Features

Zend Core for i5/OS includes the new features of Zend Core such as PHP 5.2.4, a bundled copy of Zend Framework and much more:

• PHP Toolkit that provides access to i5 resources, capabilities and applications
• PHP Toolkit sample class library
• PHP demo application accessing i5/OS services
• IBM DB2 PHP extension version 1.6
• Zend Core for i5/OS setup tool
• Improved installation process
• Free Zend Network Silver level for all i5/OS customers
• Premium support is available.