Interview with an FIM expert, Microsoft Partner, and Wiki Ninja - Jeff Ingalls

  • Article

Welcome to another Interview with a Wiki Ninja! Today's ninja is...

Jeff Ingalls

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/profile/jeff%20ingalls/ 

Old Microsoft Profile: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/profile/-jeff%20ingalls-/ -Jeff Ingalls-'s avatar

A former Microsoft employee, Jeff is a Microsoft Partner and has 8 quality Wiki articles completed (4 on the old profile and 4 on the new one)!

Example articles:

Jeff has also made 158 Wiki edits (from both profiles), and he's participated in the forums and blogs! But enough about Jeff! Let's talk about... Jeff!

================================

Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? What are your specialty technologies?

I'm Jeff Ingalls, a University of Michigan graduate that lives in the state of Ohio, a treasonous offense around football time for sure. My area of focus is around Microsoft identity management, specifically Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) and its predecessor Forefront Identity Manager (FIM). I work for an educational provider as an identity architect and recently started an LLC that has enabled me to help out customers in my free time.

JeffIngalls01

Happy penguins use Windows.

   

What are your big projects right now?

I finished grad school a few months ago and am currently researching different IT doctoral programs. I thoroughly enjoy teaching, something I never knew until a few years ago. David Steadman, a Microsoft senior escalation engineer, and I are finishing a book called Microsoft Identity Manager 2016 Handbook. The book walks you through design considerations, installing the product components, configuration, operation, and troubleshooting. We expect the book to be valuable to anyone interested in Microsoft identity management and those that have been in the field for a while. Writing the book took about a year of late nights and weekends. The book is now available for pre-order through Packt Publishing and should be in shelves this summer. At work, I'm building out a new contact management process in MIM and look forward to creating a Wiki on it. Personally, my wife and I do what we can to support a local, non-profit women's center that helps women, men, and families.

   

What was it like to write a book? Were there aspects that surprised you about the process?

There are high and low points to everything in life and writing a book is no different. The writing process as a whole was a great learning experience because it allowed me to dig into the product. I was not expecting so many different fonts and styles -- a hyperlink has a different font than code or a note for example. Setting up a lab, installing the product, and creating different scenarios took more time than I expected. Technical writing is a lot like teaching, but without the personal interaction. When you teach, people can ask questions when something needs more clarification. In a book, you don't get that feedback until the book is done. In that way, technical writing can be a bit daunting. Adding little helpful nuggets I have learned along the way, working to simplify a concept, and then finishing a chapter is a great feeling.

JeffIngalls02

I can not confirm or deny what was said, who was there, or what happened...but it was awesome.

      

What are your favorite Wiki articles you’ve contributed?

I often reference Microsoft Identity Software: Public Release Build Versions because it helps me quickly determine the latest version of the product, reference KBs to known resolved bugs, and demonstrate to the people the product progression. Some customers patiently wait for a FIM service pack when, historically, the identity product team rarely release updates in service pack form and instead update the product as a cumulative hotfix. I am happy with a few tool contributions I've made like a PowerShell script to determine the names of the FIM security groups during the product install, how to export the Metaverse into a CSV, and how to bulk export connector and disconnector status.

  

Who has impressed you in the Wiki community, and why?

All the Enterprise Mobility MVPs continually impress me with their creative solutions and quick answers. If I'm looking for an answer to a problem most likely Tim Macaulay has written about it.  I am beginning to wonder if Peter Geelen sleeps.

Do you have any tips for new Wiki authors?

If you can't find it, write it. Do not be afraid. Just get your thoughts and experiences out there and let the community contribute.

==============================

Awesome! And I know for a fact that Peter Geelen doesn't sleep. He recharges wirelessly.

Please join me in thanking Jeff for his fantastic contributions and for not getting made that it took me three months to post this interview!

One Wiki Two Wiki. Red Wiki Blue Wiki.

   - Ninja Ed