Zend Server as Bottleneck Breaker

Let’s rewind the scenario to the point where Ted transitions the first round of features to the operations team and make one early addition that changes everything.
While the development team moves on to the next set of features, Ted transitions the tested feature set to Mark, a project lead on the operations side of the IT department, so that he and his team can prepare and implement the first round of changes and be ready for the next round.
Mark has had experience deploying applications in previous jobs and is concerned about problems that may arise from the absence of a standardized deployment process. He knows that his team will not be able to match the development team’s agility without a consistent and automated deployment process that cuts down on manual errors. He recommends implementation of Zend Server to provide the needed structure and Ted agrees.
As development team members finish each incremental build, they create deployment packages with Zend Server. Each package contains:
• The application code
• Prerequisites that make sure the system has all the correct PHP extensions and libraries to run the application
• All the parameters that the administrator will need to enter to install it correctly (e.g. database host and credentials)
• Installation PHP scripts that can be run at various points in the deployment process (e.g. after staging or activation)
The application prerequisites save time by ensuring compatibility, avoiding unexpected “wrong library version” crashes at some later point. Predefining installation parameters eliminates potential for deployment error. Zend Server deployment also enables integration with continuous integration servers (e.g. Hudson) for continuous building and deployment of code.
To maximize the application’s scalability and flexibility, Ted’s team decides to deploy it in the cloud, knowing that Zend Server can easily handle application deployment to multiple PHP servers. Using Zend Server Cluster Manager, they are able to auto-scale the application, spinning up new virtual hardware plus PHP middleware (Zend Server) as well as the actual application itself. This means that they are able to automatically adjust their application capacity based on load.
The result exceeds expectations. The project is completed within the required timeline, customer feedback is positive as features go live, and the business sees value in the form of improved bottom line performance and competitive advantage. Behind the scenes, Ted’s team has a structured, easily maintained, business-critical application that will form the basis for a new approach to future development.
And there is more. An unexpected business benefit is the new kind of connection that the company makes with customers. Because of the short iterative deployment cycle, Ted’s team is able to get continuous and ongoing feedback from users and stakeholders. They respond quickly to this feedback with seamless roll out of incremental improvements, which has a positive impact on consumer perceptions of the company and the quality of its customer service.