Microsoft is to make it easier for companies to run the
PHP open source scripting language on its server
platforms.
Microsoft has signed a deal with PHP distributor Zend
Technologies to allow users to more easily operate PHP on both
Windows Server 2003, and Longhorn, the next version of Windows
Server.
Microsoft said the resulting technology enhancements and ongoing
interaction with the PHP community would “provide customers with
richer functionality and better integration, resulting in improved
performance and increased reliability”.
Technical improvements for PHP deployed on the Windows Server
platform will be submitted under the PHP licence to the PHP
community for feedback and contribution.
Microsoft plans to develop and release an Internet Information
Services (IIS) add-on, FastCGI, which will serve as the interface
between PHP and the IIS web server.
Microsoft said this FastCGI component would be made
freely available from Microsoft
for users of Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows
Vista and Windows Server Longhorn.
Zend will also establish a Windows testing lab and conduct
regular tests and performance improvements to maintain high
performance of PHP on the Windows Server platform as PHP
evolves.
Bill Hilf, Microsoft general manager of technical platform
strategy, said, “Interoperability continues to be an important
requirement for our customers, particularly when it comes to open
source applications that run on Windows.
“This announcement continues our commitment to making it easier
for partners and developers to take advantage of increased
reliability of the Microsoft Windows Server platform, regardless of
the development model they employ.”
Zend and Microsoft will contribute the PHP improvements to the
PHP community under the PHP license, starting in the first quarter
of 2007.