How to enable Zend Optimizer/Ioncube support for my web hosting account? No comments yet

Answer: This instruction applies only for paid hosting accounts and requires to EDIT the php.ini file. Inside your web hosting account, PHP Settings menu add the following line at the end of the file:

# For Ioncube and php4:
zend_extension = /usr/local/ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_4.4.so

# For Ioncube and php5:
zend_extension = /usr/local/ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_5.2.so

# For Zend Optimizer and php4:
[Zend]
zend_extension_manager.optimizer=/usr/local/Zend_php4/lib/Optimizer-3.3.3
zend_optimizer.version=3.3.3
zend_extension=/usr/local/Zend_php4/lib/ZendExtensionManager.so

# For Zend Optimizer and php5
[Zend]
zend_extension_manager.optimizer=/usr/local/Zend_php5/lib/Optimizer-3.3.3
zend_optimizer.version=3.3.3
zend_extension=/usr/local/Zend_php5/lib/ZendExtensionManager.so
zend_optimizer.optimization_level=15

Can I change my php.ini settings and/or switch to php 5.x? No comments yet

Answer: Yes however only clients on paid accounts can change certain php.ini settings from their web hosting control panel as well as switch from php 4.x.x.x to 5.x.x.x using PHP Settings menu.