StreetDirectory streamlined its route to new business using Windows Server 2008 with IIS 7.0.

StreetDirectory offers desktop GIS, wireless communication, GPS tracking, and mobile applications across the Asia Pacific.

To meet the demand for dedicated LBS solutions on the Microsoft platform, StreetDirectory tested the performance of its Linux-based PHP applications on Windows Server 2008 versus its current Apache/Linux operating system.

By benchmarking its existing PHP applications on Windows Server 2008, StreetDirectory has seen a marked improvement, with an ability to handle more concurrent users and number of hits, and achieve a performance gain over its existing Linux infrastructure. StreetDirectory is making plans to migrate to this infrastructure in the near future.

The results from the performance benchmarking tests show that Windows Server 2008 can provide StreetDirectory with an average Web application performance increase of 45.7% sustained throughput of information for its PHP applications.

What's more, porting PHP apps onto Windows Server 2008 was effortless, and it gave them reliable remote administration, which was crucial for their expanding business. With the Server Core installation option, they were able to install only the components they needed, which helped them reduce maintenance and security concerns.

"Windows Server 2008 allows us to provide packaged solutions of our location-based service applications to our clients in a way that is faster, more efficient, and easier to manage than before."
Eugene Lim
Business Development Director
StreetDirectory

Now that they have unleashed the power of Windows Server 2008 with IIS 7.0, StreetDirectory has a single platform for all of their applications, allowing them to focus on building new and better applications to meet the needs of their expanding marketplace.

When Tyler Projects moved its PHP app to Windows Server 2008 and IIS 7.0, their customers triumphed.

Based in Singapore, Tyler Projects designs software and Internet-based games. One of its most successful games, Mobile Weapon: Battle Stations, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game built in PHP.

Originally launched on the social networking site Facebook, the game quickly became a hit, skyrocketing from a few hundred to over 13,000 concurrent users. However, Tyler Projects soon discovered that the performance of the game, which ran on a Linux-based operating system, began to suffer as a result.

Game players weren't the only ones upset. The game itself was free, but additional income came from selling virtual accessories, such as advanced weapons—which only happened when players could enjoy the experience. What's more, Tyler Project's plans called for offering the game on other social networking sites. To meet its business goals, they would have to find a better solution for delivering its Web-based applications.

When changing hosts didn't improve performance, they began exploring other options, including Windows Server 2008 and Internet Information Services 7.0. They quickly set up a benchmark test. Even though Battle Stations was designed to run on Linux, the migration to the Windows-based server went smoothly. Throughout the test, the Windows-based server consistently processed more than double the requests.

While it's Windows Server 2008 and IIS 7.0 that won the battle, it's the users of Battle Stations who are the real winners. Their favorite game is running more smoothly than ever, with fewer interruptions and more players to keep the play lively.

"When we ran our game on Windows Server 2008 with IIS 7.0, the benchmark results demonstrated better performance and stability than the Linux-based systems over a longer period of time."
Tiam Yang
Managing Partner
Tyler Projects

Now that Tyler Projects has unleashed the power of Windows Server 2008 and IIS 7.0, it's full speed ahead with their plans to roll out Battle Stations to other social sites. They can support more users, and can earn more profits from virtual objects and easier, less costly management and administration.

BABOO found the answers it needed by moving its PHP-based discussion forum to Windows Server 2008 with IIS 7.0.

BABOO is a leading technology Web site in Brazil. Their discussion forum, a PHP-based application, has 400,000 registered users and more than 4.5 million monthly visitors.

But a short time ago, BABOO was struggling. The main Web site—a Microsoft ASP.NET 3.0 application—and the PHP-based discussion forum ran on separate servers. The main site was doing well, but the forum suffered from performance issues and downtime. They saw a 20 percent drop in users, which in turn led to a loss in revenue from click-through advertising.

At this point, BABOO Director Aurelio Minérbo heard about the new capabilities in Windows Server 2008 and IIS 7.0, including support for applications built on both the ASP.NET and CGI frameworks. In particular, the new FastCGI protocol, which can enhance the performance and stability of applications that use the PHP scripting language. So he contacted PEER 1, their hosting partner, and set up a trial.

Within two days, the deployment was complete. And once the server was up, BABOO was able to manage it remotely using a Terminal Services connection. The architecture of IIS 7.0 offers 40 feature modules that can be installed independently, which let BABOO install only what they needed. The lean install reduced maintenance and improved performance—and also lowered administrative costs.

Thee result: a 50-percent improvement in site response speed and zero downtime since the implementation. At the same time, BABOO also saw a steady increase in concurrent users from 13,000 to 22,000. The increase in uptime and site traffic also improved revenue.

Now BABOO can look to adding new features, functions, and services to users, such as personal blogs and image galleries.

"In our experience, if people are using Linux with PHP, they can use Windows Server 2008 with PHP without question."
Aurelio Minérbo
Director
BABOO

Unleashing the power of Windows Server 2008 and IIS 7.0 has helped BABOO win back old members of its PHP-based forum, bring in new ones, and create new ways to serve them better.