Archives for July 2022

Happy Thursday & Happy Milk Chocolate Day! Are you a chocolate lover? What’s your favorite way to enjoy chocolate?

In This Issue: Trivia pt. 2! | Cat5E Enhanced Rack Mount Patch Panel | How to Choose Ethernet Cables for Gaming | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Trivia pt. 2

Happy Thrusday!

We’re back with another round of trivia. Today, we’re keeping it pretty general. Good luck!

1) When was the first fiber patch cable ever made?

2) What company invented Ethernet networking?

3) What was the first computer to be marketed as a “laptop”?

4) What was the first ever web browser?

5) When was the first computer switch ever made?

Stay tuned for answers to come!

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Our Cat5e rack mount patch panels meet and exceed all performance specifications mandated by Cat5e technical specifications. The design of these products, assures maximum performance headroom and optimum levels of performance.

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Learning Center Article – How to Choose Ethernet Cables for Gaming

It’s good that you are looking at Ethernet internet options. As a gamer, you likely understand the horror of laggy games. When it comes to home networks and gaming, latency is a huge deal and can make or break your whole experience – and in the game, whether you live, die, or succeed.

The good news is that Ethernet has a lot of options for you these days. From Cat5 to Cat8 cables, there is an option out there that matches the performance you want without committing you to too much money out of your pocket.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• JetBlue Airways on Thursday announced it would purchase Spirit Airlines, a combination that would create America’s fifth-largest airline.
• The U.S. will make 786,000 additional monkeypox vaccine doses available to local health departments after the Food and Drug Administration approved the shots for distribution.
• Google’s interface refresh pulls Meet, Chat, and Spaces closer together as part of the overall experience and includes elements from Google’s Material Design 3.
• Boeing disclosed a charge of $93 million in the second quarter for its Starliner astronaut capsule program, bringing the program’s overrun costs to nearly $700 million.

Happy Wednesday! We’ve approached the middle of the week. We hope your to-do list is shrinking and you are gearing up for a grand weekend adventure.

In This Issue: CK Lifetime Warranty | HP Original 300GB 6G SAS 10K SFF Dual Port | Best Way to Connect Multiple Switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – CK Lifetime Warranty

Happy Wednesday! We hope you enjoyed trivia – stayed tuned for the answers later this week.

Today, we’re highlighting our Lifetime Warranty. Everything you purchase from CablesAndKits is covered by our industry-leading LIFETIME Warranty including a LIFETIME Advance Replacement Guarantee. The AWESOME never ends.

LIFETIME Advance Replacement Guarantee: We understand that in the event of a product malfunction or failure long downtimes are not an option. If you experience a malfunction or failure with a product at any point during your ownership we’ll ship a replacement the same day you report the issue. We’ll even expedite the shipment if requested, with an effort to provide a delivery date and time that meets your needs. That’s Awesome.

In the event of a product malfunction or failure during your ownership, we will send a replacement product prior to the return of the faulty product.

Replacement product will be sent the same day we are notified, prior to the return of the faulty item, so long as we have sufficient stock. We will pay for the shipment of the replacement item and the return shipment of the faulty item to and from locations within the continental United States.

I mean, does it get much better than that?!

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Product Spotlights & Updates

SAS hard drives operate in a state-of-the-art performance for hosting high transaction applications. The SAS hard drives are available in 2.5-inch small form factor (SFF) and come in a wide selection of storage capacities. Each hard drive is wiped of previous information and is fully tested.

When you purchase a hard drive from CablesAndkits, you are backed by our industry-leading advanced replacement lifetime warranty. – Yes, we do mean FREE hard drive replacement.

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Learning Center Article – Best Way to Connect Multiple Switches

It’s why many modern switches come pre-designed to work in a stack, cluster, or other configuration. The goal is to connect multiple switches together in order to improve the network.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• A beloved ice cream truck staple is officially off the menu. Klondike announced this week that it had discontinued the nearly 40-year-old beloved Choco Taco
• A strong earthquake set off landslides and damaged buildings in the northern Philippines on Wednesday, killing at least five people and injuring dozens.
• The Mega Millions jackpot has skyrocketed to $1.02 billion after no ticket matched all six winning numbers in Tuesday night’s drawing.
• Google is adding “photorealistic aerial views” to almost 100 landmarks in Google Maps.

Happy National Aunt & Uncle’s Day! Today honors a special set of relatives that many of us look up to throughout our lives. Shoutout to all the cool aunts and uncles out there!

In This Issue: CK Trivia! | Meraki Access Point | What is a Cat8 Ethernet Cable and How is it Different? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – CK Trivia!

Happy Tuesday! We hope you’re having a great start to the week. Today we’re going to enjoy a fun game of trivia.

1) What year was CablesAndKits founded?

2) When did the CK Daily begin?

3) What’s the name of our mascot?

4) How many total team members do we have?

5) How many feet of ethernet patch cables are in our warehouse?

Stay tuned for the answers towards the end of the week. Have a great rest of the week!

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Meraki MR42 is a four radio, cloud-managed 3×3 MU-MIMO 802.11ac Wave 2 access point. The MR42 provides a maximum 1.9 Gbps frame rate with concurrent 802.11ac Wave 2 and 802.11n 3×3:3 MIMO radios. A dedicated third radio provides real-time WIDS/WIPS with automated RF optimization. In addition, an integrated fourth radio delivers Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) scanning and Beaconing functionality.

The MR42 access point is an ideal cloud-managed solution for offices, schools, hospitals, shops, and hotels. It provides high-level performance, enterprise-grade security, and is simple to manage.

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Learning Center Article – What is a Cat8 Ethernet Cable and How is it Different?

We were told that Ethernet was going to be a thing of the past. Google tried to make fiber optics the new standard for home internet connections, and it was an obvious choice for scaling industrial applications. Somehow, Ethernet has hung in there, and new iterations arise every few years that continue to push the envelope of traditional copper wires. Today, we’re going to cover the latest iteration: Cat8. We’re going to start with the basics, but in a few short minutes, you’ll have a clear picture of what Cat8 is, how it works and why you need to be thinking about it.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• In a new commercial for Steve-O’s Hot Sauce, a medical team will be on standby for Ryan Reynolds as he eats a spicy pepper.
• Ash, searing gas and large rocks spewed from Sakurajima volcano, one of Japan’s most active volcanoes, prompting evacuations in the country’s southern island Sunday evening. Large rocks were hurled as far as 1½ miles south as plumes of smoke and ash contrasted with striking skies.
• Makeup company Glossier announced that customers will be able to find its popular “Boy Brow” and “Cloud Paint” products at Sephora stores starting next year as it pushes to expand its reach.
• McDonald’s reported both higher prices and value items fueled U.S. same-store sales growth, which was higher than expected during its second quarter.

Happy Monday! We hope you had a wonderful weekend. We’re praying for you as you head into the week!

In This Issue: CK Certified | Cisco ISR 4000 Blank Faceplate | Importance of Fiber Optic Cleaning | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Harvesting Time!

Happy Monday! We’re giving our team some time off from writing for the CK Daily this week but have no fear! They’ll be back soon, hopefully feeling refreshed and ready to jump back in. Until then, we’re going to spend the week highlighting all things CablesAndKits that you may or may not know about. Today, we will kick it off with CK Certified.

Our Certified Pre-Owned Process is what gives customers the confidence to save 75%+ compared to buying new. Our customer service and expertise is what keeps them coming back. We ensure the highest quality IT equipment for you in 6 steps.

1) Physical Inspection: Physical inspection upon arrival that prevents any dings, dents or damage from acceptance.

2) Comprehensive Testing: Comprehensive component testing, ensuring quality of standard in all parts and functions.

3) Factory Reset: Upon passing test, a factory reset is enacted to software default.

4) Internal Inspection: Internal inspection for the proper functionality of all parts and accessories.

5) Thorough Cleaning: Disassemble and clean inside and out, returning the unit to factory finish with a fresh paint job.

6) Optimally Packaged: Optimally packaged and shipped to ensure you receive better than new equipment.

And if all of that isn’t enough, we include a free LIFETIME WARRANTY on all products, so you never have to worry about failure.

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Product Spotlights & Updates

This Cisco compatible ISR 4000 NIM slot faceplate is specifically constructed to cover the NIM slot in Cisco’s 4000 series integrated services routers. This allows your router to improve airflow and run better for a longer period of time. Not to mention, it makes your router look a little more attractive. This Cisco accessory is compatible with a variety of models.

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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.

As the name implies, fiber optic cleaning is the process of cleaning fiber connector end faces and components that are prone to contamination. Contamination can hurt fiber optic performance and even lead to test failures. Cleaning resolves one of the leading causes of these failures and produces a pristine fiber optic network that performs as expected.

To put it in simple terms, fiber optic cleaning is necessary to allow the components to perform as intended.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The NFL is launching its own streaming service for the first time, called NFL+. The $4.99 per month service will include all out-of-market preseason games.
• One of California’s biggest wildfires this year exploded to over 21 square miles Sunday, forcing thousands to flee remote mountain communities as the blaze near Yosemite National Park burned out of control amid sweltering temperatures and low humidity.
• A 73-year-old woman was stabbed by a 100-pound sailfish when it leapt out of the water as her friends reeled it into their boat.
• A chess-playing robot fractured the finger of its 7-year-old opponent during a tournament in Moscow.

Happy Friday! Who’s excited for the weekend? We hope it’s wonderful and don’t forget to stay hydrated if you’re out in the heat!

In This Issue: Harvesting Time! | Cisco ASA 5512-X Firewall Edition | What is Switch Stacking & Why is it Important? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Harvesting Time!

Happy Friday, folks! What runs around a garden but never moves?

A fence.

Now that I’ve gotten past the lousy gardening joke, I’ll share an update on our garden. We’re harvesting something from our garden daily! This is the time of year when all the hard work has come to fruition. It makes all the prep work, weed control, and keeping the deer out (I’m looking at you, Bambi!) worth it!

What are your favorite fresh veggies, and do you have a favorite recipe to share? One of my favorite fresh veggies is Okra, especially when cooked on a Blackstone grill. Tasty!

Also, I want to share that the CK Daily for next week will be a little different. We’re going to give our team of contributors a week off from contributing. The CK Daily will still deliver to your inbox daily, but we’ll change it up a bit for the week. Stay tuned!

Have a great weekend!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Cisco ASA5500-X series next-generation firewall is the new enterprise-class standard in security for the current and emerging security pressures that may threaten your network. The new firewall line will give you the added security that your network needs, but at a cost that will keep an IT budget in line. The ASA5500-X series will give you a comprehensive range of next-generation security services that include: granular visibility and control, web security over the cloud or onsite, protection from malware, and remote access. The ASA5500-X series is specifically designed for small to medium businesses that have one or more locations, service providers, and large enterprises.

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Learning Center Article – What is Switch Stacking & Why is it Important?

There are countless ways to design a network and meet the criteria it needs to follow. Not all of these methods will be as efficient or affordable as others. That’s why network administrators are constantly learning new concepts.

Switch stacking is commonly used in high-end networking, but many small and medium businesses are missing out on the technique. Taking a minute to learn more about it could reveal a better way to run your network that saves time and money while improving network functionality.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• For the first time ever, an ex-Coinbase manager has been arrested for involvement in US crypto insider-trading.
• Amber Heard has filed to appeal the verdict in her defamation trial with Johnny Depp.
• A U.N.-backed deal to resume exports of Ukrainian grain could be signed on Friday, easing a global food crisis caused by the conflict in Eastern Europe.
• American and United airlines both reported their first operating profit since the start of the pandemic.

Today is all about you! It’s Get to Know Your Customers Day – so, with that, tell us about you!

In This Issue: Filling Your Own Cup | Surge Protector Power Strip | What Are Console Cables and What Are They Used For? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Filling Your Own Cup

Happy Thursday everyone!

This week was a case of “forced time-off” for me. I am extremely grateful that I work for a company (and have an awesome boss haha!) that looks out for its employees’ well-being – mentally, emotionally, and professionally – and provides the flexibility to do so. It has been an absolutely crazy couple of weeks for me and my family. After several trips to the ER (both parents), doctors’ visits, having friends in town and staying at my house from Germany, and just the normal day-to-day life activities, I was completely wiped out in every way possible, and Chris picked up on that and encouraged me to take some time off this week to handle family stuff and take care of myself.

As a person who wants to constantly help and take care of things for others a lot of times my/our own cups get empty, especially when life continues to move at full speed ahead in multiple directions all at the same time. We have to try and take care of ourselves and refill our cups to be able to be effective in our lives and to continue to help others. I don’t do a good job of paying attention to this in my own life. I always think that things will slow down eventually and that I will rest or do something for myself at that time. A lot of times that continues to get pushed off because…life continues to happen.

So, this week I ended up taking a PTO week to take care of some family stuff but to also try and recharge myself. (No worries…this email was written for you first thing Monday morning. lol!) Tomorrow, I am heading to Savannah (GA) for the weekend to get a way and do something for myself. I had this trip planned for a month but it is coming at just the right time and when I needed it most. Looking forward to getting away for a few days, relaxing, and to fill my cup back up.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week and an awesome weekend!

Jason

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Protecting your electronics from power surges is a crucial step to keep them alive and functioning for years to come. Power strips are not only a way to keep them safe, they are a convenient way to add additional outlets where plugs are at a premium.

This six-outlet, surge-protected power strip is perfect for both guarding electronic surges by adding additional NEMA 5-15R outlets near home entertainment systems or behind the family computer. With its LED power-on indicator, you will never have to guess if it’s on or off. The strip also houses a 15Amp circuit breaker. This device not only serves to protect and add convenience, but it also comes equipped with a 6-foot, heavy-duty extension cord bringing the outlets closer to the devices needing power.

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Learning Center Article – What Are Console Cables and What Are They Used For?

Console cables — also known as Cisco cables, rollover cables and management cables — are designed for a specific purpose. They connect Cisco networking devices to terminals or PCs for configuration. Typically, the Cisco end will connect via RJ45, and the terminal end will conclude in a serial connection.

What matters most about console cables is the specific nature of the connection. This is not an Ethernet or networking connection. It is a terminal connection, and its purpose is to enable the connected computer to configure the networking device. This is true for older Cisco equipment and brand-new devices. Configuration is performed through the serial connection.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The internet has been captivated by a viral Twitter thread about a French bulldog meetup on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Once a week, roughly two dozen French bulldogs meetup in Carl Schurz Park’s small dog park. There, the bulldogs — including Nacho Rosenblatt-King, this reporter’s pup — meet for roughly an hour, playing with one another as well as the other breeds who happen to be in the park that day. The Instagram account responsible for these weekly hour-long meetups, Frenchies of UES, started in August 2021.
• The pain in the mortgage market is only getting worse as higher interest rates and inflation hammer American consumers. Mortgage demand fell more than 6% last week compared with the previous week, hitting the lowest level since 2000
• A group that removed more than 400 pounds of garbage from a Texas park found something special among the trash — a message in a bottle launched 27 years earlier.
• The world’s oldest male giant panda in captivity has passed away this week following health problems at age 35.