Author Archives: James

Roomie Remote IP control for PJ-Link compatible projectors

By James | Published: October 3, 2014

We finally got our new Epson EB-4650 (unsure on exact model) projector connected to the network this week, allowing me to complete our Roomie Remote setup: controlling a projector, Marantz receiver, DVD and Freeview box. Although Roomie Remote had a one-size-fits-all Epson projector definition, I couldn’t get it working with IP control. Knowing the projector […]

Posted in Projects, Research, Tech | Tagged | 1 Response

Dynamics CRM TextaHQ SMS Integration

By James | Published: July 11, 2013

Over the past six months I’ve been developing a Student Management System based on Dynamics CRM 2011 for one of the new Trades Academies. I’ll talk about why we chose Dynamics CRM in a later post, but this post is about the integration I built with the TextaHQ SMS Messaging service. TextaHQ was attractive for […]

Posted in Tech, Work | Tagged | 2 Responses

Security Tip: Automatic application updates with Ninite

By James | Published: February 27, 2013

This isn’t a free tip, but works well for the networks I manage. One of the challenges for any Systems Administrator is keeping software up to date. I’m not so concerned about actually having the latest version of software so much as making sure if there are any security updates these are taken care of […]

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Security Tip: Block Internet Explorer invocation of Java with Group Policy

By James | Published: January 27, 2013

Given the non-stop barrage of security vulnerabilities being found and exploited in Java, every Systems Administrator should disable Java for Internet Explorer or have a really good reason not to. (Don’t worry, we can still cater for you if you have specific sites that require Java!) Unfortunately it is notoriously hard to do. Microsoft had […]

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Avaya SIP Trunking with 2talk New Zealand

By James | Published: May 25, 2012

SIP Trunking is a great option to lower the cost of your phone calls. We installed a new Avaya IP Office 500 phone system at the beginning of last year, so of course I was keen to get VoIP setup quickly through 2talk to cut the cost of calls going over our ISDN lines. The Avaya […]

Posted in Telephony | Tagged , | 3 Responses

Avaya IP Office New Zealand Dial Plan (ARS)

By James | Published: April 25, 2012

Here is the Avaya ARS dial plan we are using with our 2talk SIP trunk. Please note the following: Line group 0 is our PSTN group, you’ll see below emergency calls and Telecom service numbers are set to go over PSTN. Freephone numbers also go over PSTN because they are free. 3XXXXXX & 9XXXXXX are […]

Posted in Telephony | Tagged , | 1 Response

Installing the SQL from SBS 2008 Premium along side SBS 2003

By James | Published: July 8, 2010

Background: SBS 2003 Premium is running on one box. Performance is becoming poor due to increasing SQL demands, so we need to run it on a separate server. Can achieve this by purchasing A) SBS Workgroup 1 Processor Edition, or B) SBS 2008 Premium Edition & 25 CALs, (which entitles you to run SQL on […]

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Configuring Cisco 7914 Sidecar

By James | Published: May 26, 2010

So you’ve got your shiny new 7914 sidecar, configured all the buttons, go to boot it up and find that all the buttons just light up red! I’ve seen many forum posts with people confused about how to get their 7914 working, and I have also had problems, so here is a guide on how to […]

Posted in Cisco, Telephony | Tagged , , | 1 Response

Graduation

By James | Published: May 13, 2010

On this twenty-third day of April 2010, I was duly admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. No storm troopers like at my fiancee’s graduation,  however there was someone in chainmail a few rows in front of me. Thanks UC, great feeling to finally be a graduate! Look forward to doing […]

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Server 2008 Web Edition & Sharepoint Foundation 2010

By James | Published: December 29, 2009

I presumed it was a given that Sharepoint would be able to run on Server 2008 Web Edition, however I was mistaken, and found out the hard way when the prerequisite installer wouldn’t work on a shiny new VM. The prerequisite installer was failing immediately when trying to setup the IIS role, giving the message […]

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