Is Zend Server just APC and Apache munched together into an install?

Question

I am looking at the Zend Server (PE and CE) and am woundering if its just a frontend for php.ini and automatically has Zend Optimizer which basically is APC(right?) in it or if it would actually be interesting for our development machine. Basically does Zend Server have any special sauce I can't get from opensource caching software and what modules would you use to build something like this yourself. Just get Apache, PHP and APC or use lighttpd with xcache?

EDIT: Is there an opensource alternative?

Answer 1

As always with that type of products, difference is support (with SLA) and packaging. It seems that Zend also put some nice frontends.

Answer 2

Zend Server has a few interesting features. Zend Optimizer is somewhat faster than APC, if I remember correctly. However, The most unique feature is probably an online remote PHP debugger that integrates with Zend Studio and Zend Studio for Eclipse. Similar solutions are available for free (xdebug is great), but none of those as the same well planned GUI.

It's a stable and well supported package. Wouldn't recommended unless you need support and warranty or is already using Zend Studio, though.