how can i install PHP zend optimizer, if i have a unix-based shared hosting plan?

Answer by: Stuart Pierce, Aplus.Net Knowledge Base Support.

Zend Optimizer is free software applied on files encoded by the Zend Encoder and Zend SafeGuard Suite. Its goal is to enhance the running speed of your PHP applications.

The Zend Optimizer is not installed by default on our Unix-based shared hosting servers. In order to take advantage of this PHP accelerator you will need to upload the appropriate Zend Optimizer extension file to your FTP space. You will also have to use a custom php.ini file in order to enable the Zend Optimizer. Below you can find detailed instructions for each of these steps:

I. UPLOADING THE ZEND OPTIMIZER EXTENSION FILE TO YOUR FTP SPACE:

The Zend Optimizer extension file is available for free download at https://zend.com/store/free_download.php?pid=13. Our Unix-based shared hosting servers run on a FreeBSD platform. To find out the exact version of FreeBSD on your server you will need to access the following file:

http://yourdomain.com/cgi-bin/serverinfo.cgi.

Note: Please replace yourdomain.com with your actual hosted domain name.

Once you have downloaded the Zend Optimizer package, you will need to locate the exact directory containing the extension file (ZendOptimizer.so) which corresponds to the version of PHP running on your server.

In order to find out the exact PHP version, you have to create a text file named test.php and upload it to your /html folder. The test.php file must contain a single line with the following PHP code: <?phpinfo()?>

You have to access your test.php file by pointing your browser to "http://yourdomain.com/test.php". The result page will display the current version and settings of your PHP.

Now upload the ZendOptimizer.so file from your local computer to your FTP web space. For example, you can create a /zend directory in your home directory and upload the file there. In any case, it is important that you know the exact location you have uploaded the file to.

II. ENABLING THE ZEND OPTIMIZER USING A CUSTOM PHP.INI FILE:

If you already have a php.ini file uploaded to your FTP space, you need to add just two lines after the eAccelerator’s section. Here is an excerpt from a php.ini file:

[eaccelerator]

;extension="eaccelerator.so"

;eaccelerator.cache_dir="/tmp"

;eaccelerator.shm_size="4"

;eaccelerator.shm_only="1"

zend_optimizer.optimization_level=15

zend_extension=/home/partition/yourFTPusername/zend/ZendOptimizer.so

This configuration will disable eAccelerator (which by default is enabled) and enable Zend Optimizer. To enable/disable any of the two, put a comment “;” at the beginning of each line corresponding to the particular software.

Important: It is not recommended to enable Zend Optimizer, if your PHP files are not encoded with Zend Encoder.

Note: If you do not know the exact server partition of your FTP space, please read here.

Here is how you can use the Aplus.Net Control Panel to create/edit a custom PHP.INI file:

1. Start by logging into the Aplus.Net Control Panel at http://cp.aplus.net using your Registration Number and Customer Password.
2. Select Web Hosting from the top navigation bar.
3. Next, select Hosted Domains and click on Manage Hosted Domains.
4. Now, select the hosted domain name that you’d like to manage.
5. Click the PHP Configuration icon.
6. Click the Create php.ini button.

Note: If you are already using a custom php.ini file, you can skip step 6.

7. Click the Advanced Edit button. This will open the php.ini file in Edit mode.
8. When you are ready modifying the file, click Save Settings.