Archives for February 2022

Happy Monday and Happy last day of February! Can you believe the time is flying by so quickly? One thing we are excited about is the spring weather. Are you seeing small glimpses of spring throughout the week?

In This Issue: Prayers for Ukraine | Cisco 3650 Series | What is Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing Technology? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Prayers for Ukraine

I wish I had a more uplifting update, but over the weekend I saw something on the news that just tore me up. A Ukrainian father was saying goodbye to his young daughter. He was sending her off to the safe zone while he stayed behind to fight. It’s a 43-second clip that I could relate to on a massive scale. I have a daughter around the same age and an even younger one, and I cannot imagine what that family is going through.

I don’t know or understand anything about geopolitics, or war, nor have I ever been in this type of situation, but the clip of the father just breaking down for what could be the last time he sees his child, that I can understand on a visceral level. I don’t have much to say today, my heart is saddened… I held my daughters tight over the weekend. I am thankful that I live in a free and safe country. I pray for the citizens of Ukraine, I pray for the end of the invasion, I pray for peace, I pray that the father will see his daughter once again.

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco 3650 series switch is a layer switch that allows for full wired and wireless junction on a single multilayer switch platform. The 3650 series was designed to work hand in hand with the Cisco StackWise-160 technology. StackWise-160 gives the user the needed expandability when they want it and also lowers the initial cost of ownership when compared to other switches.

The Cisco 3650 series switches support full IEEE 802.3at Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+), RJ45 and fiber-based downlink interfaces, and redundant fans and power supplies. They also offer speeds that reach 160 Gbps.

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Learning Center Article – What is Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing Technology?

No matter what kind of network you maintain, you always have the same demands: more speed, less cost, and larger capacity. For any network with heavy demands on data and/or distance, this always results in implementing fiber optics. This is technology that grows and shifts every day, and it can be exhausting to stay on top of the mountains of information out there.

To help with that, a few simple explanations of popular fiber optic tech can make your life a lot easier. In that effort, today’s lesson is on CWDM technology. It’s one of several fiber optic cable choices, and it can fill many roles.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Elon Musk reported that SpaceX’s internet service, Starlink, is available in Ukrain and more terminals are being sent to the country.
• Toyota has suspended all factory operations in Japan after suspected cyber attacks. They will lose around 13,000 cars of output.
• The brain activity of a dying person was recorded for the first time ever. Read more here.
• The world’s biggest aircraft, the Antonov-225 cargo plane, was destroyed by Russian forces while it was under repair at an airfield in Gostomel near Kyiv.

Happy Friday! We hope you’ve had a great week. As you head into the weekend, know that we are praying for you. Praying for peace, rest, and moments of joy as you head into your weekend. If there are specific ways we can be praying for you, please let us know.

In This Issue: Thankfulness | Cisco Meraki MX | Importance of Fiber Optic Cleaning | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Thankfulness

Good morning! I’m sitting here today in a thankful mood. Things are occurring in our lives and around the world that we cannot control. However, since I have a relationship with Jesus Christ, I have hope and know that everything is in His control. For that, I’m very thankful. I’m reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that says, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

What things are you thankful for?

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco Meraki MX family of devices are multifunctional security & SD-WAN enterprise appliances that feature a wide range of capabilities to address a wide variety of use cases – from an all-in-one device. Organizations of all sizes and across all industries rely on the MX to deliver secure connectivity to hub locations or multi-cloud environments, as well as application quality of experience (QoE), through advanced analytics with machine learning.

The MX is 100% cloud-managed, so installation and remote management is truly zero touch, making it ideal for distributed branches, campuses, and data center locations.

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Learning Center Article – Importance of Fiber Optic Cleaning

Installing fiber optic systems is not easy. It requires multiple levels of expertise in design and application, and it’s why fiber optics experts are always in high demand. While installations will vary heavily depending on the components and applications at play, there is one thing that is necessary for every installation, and it’s easy to overlook. Every system needs fiber optic cleaning to ensure that it will work properly!

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Missiles hit Kyiv on Friday and families took shelter in bomb shelters as Russian forces pressed their advance and authorities said they were girding for an assault aimed at overthrowing the government. Read more headlines here.
• “Hank the Tank” has been falsely accused of some Tahoe area break-ins. DNA evidence has shown that the 500-pound black bear isn’t the sole culprit.
• Three former Minneapolis police officers were found guilty of violating the civil rights of George Floyd.
• A strain of the bird flu has been detected in the U.S. in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.

Happy Thursday and Happy Tortilla Chip Day! Most everyone loves tortilla chips served with salsa, chile con queso, guacamole, cheese dip…the list goes on! Did you know that tortilla chips were first mass-produced in LA in the late 1940s and the creation happened by accident?!

In This Issue: Prayers for Ukraine | OM4 Multimode Duplex Fiber Patch Cable | Cisco Catalyst vs. Nexus | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Prayers for Ukraine

I woke up this morning to write this email and had several things on my mind to write about but I just couldn’t pull away from the atrocity that is taking place right now in Ukraine. With the Russian tanks and troops crossing the border inspiring a full-scale attack on the country with cities destroyed and people killed, I believe we have entered a whole new geopolitical landscape that we have not seen the likes of in a long time. This just “feels” different than what we have seen by countries in the more recent past. It is kinda surreal.

We will have to watch to see how this plays out and what kind of ripple effects this has throughout the world and the world’s economy, but in the meantime, we need to keep the people of Ukraine in our thoughts and prayers.

I hope you have a great Thursday.

Jason

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Product Spotlights & Updates

OM4 patch cables take all the benefits of OM3 fiber and increase the transmission bandwidth up to 40gbs, and in some cases 100gbs. OM4, like, OM3, is laser-optimized to give optimum performance and reliability. Unlike other old fiber types, OM4 has a higher attenuation that helps create lower losses over greater distances. All Fiber Cables come with a Lifetime Warranty!

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Learning Center Article – Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. Nexus Switches

When you’re designing a powerful network, you need access to the best switches. In order to determine which switches might be the best, you have to explore a few options.

Cisco has plenty of switches to offer, and for high-end networking, the Catalyst and Nexus series come up a lot. What really distinguishes one from the other? We can take a dive into their differences, and you can determine if either family is right for your network.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Explosions and military assaults have been reported across Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an attack on the country.
• The fossil of a 170 million-year-old pterosaur, described as the world’s best-preserved skeleton of the prehistoric winged reptile, has been found on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
• Oil prices have jumped 8%, gas prices have jumped 4.1%, and gold has jumped 3%.
• Major League Baseball said only five days remain to salvage March 31 openers and a full season, telling locked out players that games would be canceled if a labor contract is not agreed to soon.

Do you have some leftover ripe bananas in your pantry? If so, it’s the perfect day for you to make some banana bread to celebrate National Banana Bread Day! Do you have the best banana bread recipe? We’d love for you to share it!

In This Issue: Meet Mandy! | Cisco 2960-X Series Switch | Ferrari-Style Ethernet Cables | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Meet Mandy!

Hi everyone! I’m Mandy and I serve as an Account Manager at CablesAndKits. Being a part of CK for over 12 years brings back so many fun memories! From the start, it has been nothing short of fun and full of laughter. From the endless amount of fun office pranks, cook-outs, free-for-all food court Fridays, CORE carts, fog machine Fridays… CK has always made work fun.

I am very proud of my time served at CablesAndKits – over the years they have not only challenged me professionally but have also allowed me to dabble in a few different positions here. Understanding so many facets of the company has helped me grow professionally and I am so thankful for that!

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Mandy

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco 2960-X series is another generation of the already popular 2960 series that will enable the typical small to medium business to function at an enterprise level without the enterprise budget. The 2960-X series switches offer a fixed configuration of Ethernet switches that are not only Gigabit, but also stackable. The 2960-X was specifically designed for easy deployment and operational efficiency. These switches are also energy cautious and have a large range of IOS software features.

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Learning Center Article – What are Ferrari-Style Ethernet Cables?

Managing data centers and comparably powerful networks comes with a slew of daily challenges. The need for redundancy and absolute uptime can force any administrator to expend copious resources on equipment and manpower. As a consequence, you will always be looking for ways to relieve this strain.

You’ll find opportunities in every nook and cranny of your operation, but many admins completely miss one of the easiest sources of gain. A simple switch or upgrade in your Ethernet cables can boost your cost-efficiency in several surprising ways.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• A helicopter operated by a military contractor crashed during a training mission in Hawaii killing all four people on board.
• Google’s dark mode has gone darker. Users are beginning to see Google’s new pitch-black dark mode. Google officially switched to a true black (#000000) that should really pop on displays.
• PlayStation has revealed a new VR 2 design. Check it out here!
• An eclectic mix of crypto enthusiasts are trying to pool $4 billion to buy the Denver Broncos. The group, which is comprised of attorneys, accountants, and pro athletes, is doing this crypto crowdraise via a decentralized autonomous organization.

Today is a palindrome day or a date that can be read the same way backward or forward. 2/2/22 is even more special because it falls on a Tuesday (Twosday) this year. Make the most of this unique and special day.

In This Issue: Take a Hike | Cisco 3800 Series Router | Right Switch for Crypto | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Take a Hike

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone is doing well this week! I’m feeling mentally refreshed after a great weekend! A few weeks ago I mentioned how I’m pretty much over winter and ready for spring. We’ve had some nice days scattered in between cool or rainy days lately which has been wonderful, but has also made me even more eager for spring to arrive! This weekend we caught some fairly nice days and I was able to take advantage by going on a hike with some friends. We hiked up to a beautiful overlook called Pinnacle Knob which is located in Clayton, GA. The total hike was just under 10 miles and we gained over 2,000 feet of elevation! It was a bit of a challenge but so worth it! We passed two beautiful waterfalls along the way which made the hike even more amazing! I highly recommend it if you’re local and enjoy hiking!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Cisco builds on its industry-standard line of Integrated Services Routers with the 3800 series. These routers offer superior scalability and investment protection through their built-in modular design. Application Layer functions, intelligent network services, and converged communications all combine to provide a truly seamless, robust, intelligent routing solution. With added support for over 90 new and existing modules, the Cisco 3800 series will lower your TCO (total cost of ownership) while providing a voice, data, and security backbone for today’s growing business network infrastructure needs.

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Learning Center Article – Right Switch for your Crypto Mining Network

Crypto mining is a popular way to try to make money. In its simplest form, miners use simple setups that make a few extra bucks here and there. In extreme cases, miners dedicate entire warehouses of hardware to mining, and when they are efficient enough, they can make big money. Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, mining can only work when your devices reliably connect to the internet. So, you need the appropriate networking hardware to get the most out of your efforts. In that light, we can look at some of the traits that will prove the most valuable for a crypto mining network switch.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Officials in Clark County, NV, which is home to Las Vegas, expect today to be their busiest wedding day ever. The previous record holder? 7/7/07
• Truth Social launched. Former President Trump’s Twitter-like social media app shot up to No. 1 on Apple’s App Store in its first day available, but it was a bumpy ride: Users encountered challenges signing up for an account and others were put on a waitlist. Truth Social, led by former Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, is one of several right-learning social apps that have launched in recent years, along with Gettr, Parler, and the more established Rumble.
• Australia has reopened its international border for the first time in nearly two years, bringing joyful family reunions and a boost to tourism. The country imposed some of the world’s strictest travel bans after shutting itself off in March 2020 due to Covid.
• Putin recognized two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and ordered Russian troops to enter those areas, which commentators say provides the pretext for an invasion of other parts of the country. Western leaders condemned the move as a violation of international law and the US said it will impose sanctions on those regions.UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested on Sunday that the sanctions will include cutting off Russian companies from using US dollars and British pounds, hitting them “very, very hard.”

Presidents’ Day was created to honor George Washington and started in 1879. It was implemented By Pres. Rutherford B Hayes. (Washington’s birthday is actually on Feb 22nd.)

In This Issue: Presidents’ Day | Yealink SIPT57W Ip Phone | Wifi 6 | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Presidents, Allergies & Simplification

Happy Presidents’ Day! I’m not sure who celebrates this holiday aside from Mattress/Furniture stores, and maybe a few car lots, but if you do celebrate, let me know if you have any traditions you follow around this holiday!

I guess allergy season has arrived in Georgia… my entire family has had a runny noses and coughs, definitely not fun! Over the weekend we mostly did some Spring cleaning (at least an early start to the Spring cleaning), and I realized that I carry too much unnecessary stuff. I’m not a minimalist by any means, but when I was looking at things objectively I kept asking myself, “do I really need all this stuff?” in a number of categories. For example, do I really need 25 t-shirts? I probably maybe wear 2 t-shirts on any given weekend, so it didn’t make sense to me why I had so many (stuff just accumulates)… I decided to donate a bunch that I hadn’t worn in a while. After going through some of the clutter, we felt a lot better, my wife and I felt renewed, and we both thought it would be a good idea to go through our stuff every couple of months to see where we could declutter.

Speaking of clothing, during the week I wear the same CK Polo every workday (I have 7 of them) and I catch some grief every once and a while, but I do it not because I’m emulating some successful person or guru, but because I’m lazy. Yes, very lazy! I don’t like making a lot of decisions in the morning and picking out what to wear for my work at home day is one less decision I have to make. One less thing I have to think about that may occupy my brain.

I guess this weekend has taught me the importance of simplification. I think it’s good every once and while to review the stuff you collect and reduce things down to fundamentals, clear out the clutter, and removing any distractions. What are some things in your life that you can simplify? Also is it too early for Spring cleaning? I think I’m just ready for Spring!

Have a great Monday!

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Equipped with an adjustable and flexible 7-inch multi-point touch screen for more comfortable viewing according to the needs, this Yealink SIP-T57W is perfect for all busy business professionals. The Yealink SIP-T57W boasts built-in Bluetooth 4.2 and the built-in dual-band 2.4G/5G Wi-Fi, the SIP-T57W IP Phone ensures you will keep up with modern wireless technology. Its built-in USB 2.0 port allows for USB recording or a direct wired/wireless USB headset or up to three Yealink EXP50 expansion modules connection.

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Learning Center Article – WiFi 6: the next generation of Wifi technology

Wi-Fi 6 is here. Even while 5G, Ethernet 8 and many other communication protocols and standards are revolutionizing the digital age, Wi-Fi 6 is a big deal that will transform networking in countless applications. Wi-Fi 6 is the next generation of standard Wi-Fi. It’s also known as AX Wi-Fi or 802.11ax. It builds on the 802.11ac standard to bring improvements across the board to Wi-Fi capabilities and experiences. Wi-Fi 6 is built for better network quarterbacking, more reliable communication and faster transmission rates.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. has said the U.S. has “credible information” that Russia has compiled lists of Ukrainians “to be killed or sent to camps” following an invasion.
• An eclectic mix of crypto enthusiasts are trying to pool $4 billion to buy the Denver Broncos. The group, which is comprised of attorneys, accountants, and pro athletes, is doing this crypto crowdraise via a decentralized autonomous organization, or DAO.
• U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday is expected to announce an end to all remaining Covid legal restrictions in England.
• The Beijing Winter Olympics drew to a close Sunday, rounding off the Games that will go down in history as much for their coronavirus restrictions and geopolitical tensions, as their nail-biting competitions and emotional moments. For the United States, Erin Jackson became the first Black woman to win Team USA a gold medal in speedskating. The win came after she stumbled during Olympic trials, and her friend and fellow skater Brittany Bowe offered Jackson her spot in Beijing. Nathan Chen also shined for Team USA. He won gold in men’s figure skating singles, becoming the first Asian American man to earn an Olympic medal in the event. Already a star going into the Games, the U.S.-born freestyle skier Eileen Gu won hero status in China after bagging two gold medals and one silver for the host country.