About

My name is James Arber and I’ve been working with technology in one way or another since the early 2000s 
I’ve worked for government, private sector, mining and even rural community networking.

As a Microsoft MVP I’m very open about what I do and say, if you feel theres something incorrect on here, let me know!
I’ve had the benefit of working with no budget, and more than enough budget. So I understand that we can’t all afford blade clusters and other such nice toys.
(Still Jelous of the americans and their cheap secondhand blades!)

I’ve been a consultant part of a firm since 2010 and I’ve originally decided to start this blog so other IT pros can find information when googling and just come across handy info that typical vendor certifications just don’t tell you.
Most of the information I will post here is gleaned from real life experiences working for my customers or testing in my labs.

This blog is mainly for small to medium sized environments where money is not infinite and you can’t just outsource everything.

If your a vendor looking to have me feature one of your products, please take a look at my review policy

8 thoughts on “About

  1. Kim Parks

    I need help installing polycom realpresence trio visual +. The 500 page admin guide isn’t cutting it. We use S4B via E3 licenses and use an astreks server. Can you help a dummy out? I instructions you list for the polycom 500 would be AWESOME.

    Reply
  2. Avatar photoJames Post author

    I just recently did a build using the Trio with O365 and E3, no PSTN integration however as the client didnt want it.

    I’m a Skype4B admin most of the time but we do have some asterisk guys here, I’d imagine you would need to dual register it as E3 licences don’t grant you voice licencing in Lync/Skype4B

    The trio is configured VERY similarly to the VVX series of phones from a SIP perspective, so if you have infrastructure to support the VVX series with your asterisk build that might work.

    Unfortunately I’m waiting on my lab unit as getting loan units right now is really hard, but if you were just looking for something that works as a client for dial in conferencing you can step up to E5 for just that unit or add a dial in conferencing number to your O365 tenant.

    Reply
  3. Miroljub

    Hallo James,

    I need advice haw to migrate two or more forests with their own 0365 tenant and Skype for Business and Teams operating in Island mode to one 0365 Tenant.
    The main company is mearging with their dother copanies and now they wont to hawe it all under one roof (0365 Tenant).
    Curent situation is that every company has their on Teneant, on prem Skype for Business and Teams operating in Island mode. The forest are connected with two way trusts.
    The idea is that Skype on prem will stay and the island mode with Teams too, bat to put all forest under one Tenant, that one from the main company.
    Is this possible and what will be the best way to accomplish that?

    Reply
    1. Avatar photoJames "UcMadScientist" Arber Post author

      Sorry, I missed this one.

      Off the top of my head I think the simplest way would be to AADSync both forests into Teams (as you would for exchange) to create all the Teams accounts.

      As for the on-prem Skype4B migration, I’m actually doing very similar myself right now.
      There are two ways you could address this,

    2. Move all the users from the incumbent domain into O365, then move them back down (As I mention in the article, This is the ONLY supported Cross forest migration, see here)
    3. Export all the users to a CSV file, export their data with Export-CsUserData and Re-import them with Import-CsUserData
    4. Reply
  4. Tanuj Mathur

    I have tried to setup Logitech Teams room with Logitech TAP & NUC PC same as what you have shown on the Youtube video. My Tap when connected is showing in windows as a 2nd monitor – which now I have set to duplicate.

    Tap is showing Teams app the same as what you would see on a Laptop/Desktop – not the nice graphical view as in your video – where am i going wrong? I have the teams room licenses installed too and signed with that account.

    Reply
    1. Avatar photoJames "UcMadScientist" Arber Post author

      Hi Tanuj.

      Your best bet is to speak with your Logi vendor.
      The TAP room system comes with a special software image that includes the MTR (Microsoft Teams Room) client.
      It’s a bespoke build of Windows 10 that has the MTR Windows Store App built in, as well as a whole bunch of other customisations.
      Unfortunatley, the standard Teams Desktop client will not provide this UI.

      The retailer that sold you the TAP kit should have included this software image with the unit, ideally pre-flashed on the NUC.
      If not check your packaging for a USB key and boot the NUC from that (Be aware, it erases everything on it!)

      Hope this helps.

      Reply
  5. Olga

    Man, thank you SO MUCH for sharing your version of Debugging tools!
    I’ve been struggling with a problem, could’t set up the current version from MS site, but I can install your one.

    Reply
    1. Avatar photoJames "UcMadScientist" Arber Post author

      Thats great news, I’m glad I could help.. Debugging Skype over xmas must be fun..

      Reply

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