IBM i computer, formerly named AS/400, iSeries, i5

Alan Seiden

Differences Between Zend Core and Zend Server on IBM i

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UPDATE: As of 2020, we recommend using Seiden PHP on IBM i and LINUX for reliability, speed, and ease of maintenance.


Zend Core
Zend Server
Installation folder
/usr/local/zend/core
/usr/local/zendsvr
PHP.INI
/usr/local/zend/core/etc
/usr/local/zendsvr/etc
Web server root(s)
/www/zendcore,
/usr/local/zend/apache2
/www/zendsvr
Document root
/www/zendcore/htdocs
/www/zendsvr/htdocs
Zend Framework
/usr/local/Zend/ZendFramework
/usr/local/zendsvr/share/ZendFramework
PHP binaries folder *
* where php and php-cli reside
/usr/local/zend/core/bin
/usr/local/zendsvr/bin
PHP Log files
/usr/local/zend/core/logs
/usr/local/zendsvr/
var/log
Web user profile (assign authority to it)
NOBODY
QTMHHTTP
Default HTTP Port
:89
:10088
Admin Interface URL
http://yourIBMi:89/ZendCore/
http://yourIBMi:10088/ZendServer/
Menu (5250)
GO ZENDCORE/ZCMENU
GO ZENDSVR/ZSMENU

If the new HTTP port of 10088 seems hard to remember, you can change it to something that’s easier to work with, such as the standard HTTP port of 80. To do that, edit /www/zendsvr/conf/httpd.conf and change Listen *:10088 to Listen *:80 or whatever you want. (Of course, first ensure that no other service is running on that IP/Port combination.)

Alan Seiden

Zend Server for IBM i Is Here

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UPDATE: As of 2020, we recommend using Seiden PHP on IBM i and LINUX for reliability, speed, and ease of maintenance.


Zend and IBM have announced an updated, streamlined version of their PHP package for IBM i, called Zend Server. I’ve been using the beta for a while but last week read an announcement showing it’s ready for general use. It combines the best of Zend Core and Zend Platform in one package.

To get Zend Server, go to the Zend Server for IBM i page and click the green “Free Download” button. This will give you the “Community Edition (CE)” version, the free version that handles all the basics for running PHP on IBM i. It even comes with a year of free online support.

If you want to  upgrade to the non-CE version (it doesn’t have its own name), which gives you more debugging and tracing tools, as well as Job Queue functionality and more support, you can buy a license. Write to me if you need help or want to buy a license for the non-CE version.

Alan Seiden

Zend Server beta for PHP on IBM i: I like it

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UPDATE: As of 2020, we recommend using Seiden PHP on IBM i and LINUX for reliability, speed, and ease of maintenance.


I’m recommending that people try Zend Server beta for IBM i if they’re using PHP on the IBM i. Even though it’s in beta, Zend Server brings improvements over its predecessors, Zend Core and Zend Platform. Improvements include:

  • Easy new user interface combining the best of Core and Platform
  • Better interface makes it easier for people to discover and use features such as code tracing and debugging
  • Elimination of mandatory proxy server (always a thorn in my side!)
  • Use of IBM’s supported, full-featured, flexible Apache server rather than the limited PASE server
  • Better performance

One caveat: the current beta version (as of February, 2010) is missing some functionality that will be available in the generally available (GA) release. Temporarily missing functionality includes:

  • no support for the mail() function (use Zend_Mail or Phpmailer instead in the meantime)
  • inclusion of an older version of the ibm_db2 driver. This version doesn’t have support for the “i5_libl” option. Ask Zend to send you the updated db2 driver if you need it.

I’m looking forward to trying the next beta version and eventually the GA release.

I believe Zend Server will shorten the learning curve for new users and simplify advanced configurations for us “veterans.”

Download it here: Zend Server beta for IBM i

Alan Seiden

PHP on IBM i (and me) at ZendCon 2009

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This year’s ZendCon (Oct. 20-22, 2009, in San Jose, Calif.), the premier PHP conference, features several presentations about developing with PHP on the IBM i, including one by me!

Come hear me speak about “Zend Framework for Enterprise PHP on IBM i” on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, at 4pm.

For details, go to http://www.zendcon.com.

Speaker: Zend/PHP Conference 2009
Alan Seiden

Our Zend Framework-based Site Honored by IBM/COMMON

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UPDATE: As of 2020, we recommend using Seiden PHP on IBM i and LINUX for reliability, speed, and ease of maintenance.


We won! IBM has recognized my use of PHP and Zend Framework, and our entire team’s RPG/DB2 and design work, by naming our web solution the IBM i’s most innovative of 2009.

At IBM’s 2009 COMMON conference, IBM awarded the Power Systems Innovation Award for Best Web Solution for eBiz@ABG. The site, developed with my colleagues at  Strategic Business Systems, Inc., was created for New Jersey’s largest wine and spirits wholesaler, Allied Beverage Group.

The system offers product ordering, live inventory levels and pricing, and a full-text search of Allied’s large product catalog. The application was built with Zend Framework (the leading PHP framework) and runs entirely on Allied’s IBM i, leveraging Allied’s db2 database and time-tested RPG logic.

The site is password-protected, so unfortunately I can’t link to it here.

eBiz@ABG is one of the first sites to be built with Zend Framework on IBM i (System i, i5, iSeries, AS/400). It was a true collaboration with Allied, made easier because we all spoke the language of “i.” What’s more, by using large chunks of Allied’s existing RPG code that already handled the complex business logic, we saved time and avoided reinventing the wheel.

Zend Framework worked so well that I committed to mastering it and teaching the community about it. (ZF has a learning curve, but after that curve is mastered, ZF speeds development and offers easy maintenance and growth.) I earned my Zend Framework certification in August 2008, becoming one of the first 50 worldwide to do so and the first ZF-certified “i” professional. Since then, I’ve gone on to be a ZF/i mentor for other development teams, and have become a public speaker, sharing my PHP/ZF/i roadmap at conferences.

Thanks to Allied for the opportunity to collaborate on a great project; thanks to Strategic Business Systems for the support; and thanks to IBM for the award.