Archives for March 2023

Happy Friday! We’re fortunate enough to have access to the most powerful computers to date, but what would you do if you lost everything on your computer? Today is World Backup Day, so it’s the perfect day to backup your computer!

In This Issue: Customer Onboarding Made Simple | AC Power Cord | Meraki MS Switches vs Cisco 9000 Switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Customer Onboarding Made Simple

Happy Friday, folks! We’ve noticed a few things customers ask to do regularly, so I want to share some ways we can make your life easier! It’s our goal to serve you and help you get your network and server projects done easily and on time! Check out these common questions and click the link below for access to an easy-to-use page with resources for each of these!

Does your company need a W-9 to complete a transaction?

Do you prefer to have Net Terms to be able to pay after you receive the products?

Are you a tax-exempt organization? Are you buying for Government, school, or resale?

Visit our Customer Onboarding page to have quick access to complete these tasks. And you can always email us at [email protected] to complete these as well. We want to make it simple for you!

Have a great weekend!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Power cords are commonly used to connect a piece of equipment to a power distribution unit and for many other uses. Whether the cords are used in a basic or dense installation, these heavy-duty power cords save time and money. Heavy-duty C14 to C13 power cable for your network and data center needs, 18 AWG, 5ft. Comes with a Lifetime Warranty!

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Learning Center Article – Meraki MS Switches vs Cisco 9000 Switches

When it comes to professional networking, picking the right hardware is essential. Not only does hardware represent a significant portion of the overall networking costs, but it can implement limitations into a network that prove detrimental to business operations.

To help with that, you can compare premier networking technology to see where the pros and cons lie in order to make informed decisions. As a part of that effort, below you will find a breakdown and comparison of Meraki MS switches and the Cisco 9000 series.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Ford has resumed full production of the popular F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. Production was halted in February after a battery in one of the just-completed EV trucks caught fire.
• Nikola said it will raise $100 million via a secondary stock offering to the public. If the public stock offering raises less than $100 million, a private investor has agreed to buy enough stock to make up the difference.
• Virgin Orbit is ceasing operations “for the foreseeable future” after failing to secure a funding lifeline.
• The Biden administration on Friday released new rules that will significantly shorten the list of electric vehicles that qualify for federal tax credits. Officials hope the change will push carmakers to move their supply chains out of China and to the United States or its allies.

Happy Thursday & Happy National Take a Walk in the Park Day! It’s the perfect day to get out, stretch your legs, and enjoy the beauty around you at your favorite park.

In This Issue: Learning to Conquer the South Dakota Weather | MPO Essentials Fiber Cable | What Is an SSD? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Learning to Conquer the South Dakota Weather

Hey there!

As someone who’s recently moved to South Dakota, I totally understand how tough it can be to adjust to the weather here, especially in the springtime when it’s still snowy. I grew up in a place where spring meant blossoming flowers and warm, sunny weather, so it’s been a bit of a shock to experience the cold and snow for longer than I’m used to.

At first, I struggled to figure out how to dress for the weather. I had to invest in a warm coat and boots, and I learned that layers were my best friend since the weather can change quickly. I miss being able to go outside freely in shorts and a t-shirt. I also miss feeling the warm sun on my skin!

After being here during the harsh winter, I realized that even though the weather was different, the sites around make up for it. My fiance and I have visited Mt. Rushmore a few times. It is beautiful! It is truly amazing to see the 4 faces carved into this massive rock. We have planned to go to the Crazy Horse monument as well but I think we are waiting for the warm weather. Outside of our apartment, we can see amazing views of cattle and mountains. It honestly looks like a postcard to see the sunset. The stars in the sky at night are so beautiful. You can see the constellations so clearly! The other night, the northern lights were even out!!

Of course, it’s okay to feel homesick and miss the weather from home. It has been such an amazing time. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world!

Although, if you are somewhere warm, I would appreciate it if you would send me some sun!

Joi

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Our MPO Essentials line of fiber cables features high-quality, precision-built connectors that ensure secure connections for stable transmission with minimal optical loss. This female-to-female OM3 cable features 12 strands of laser-optimized cable that allows you to drastically increase your network bandwidth. Additionally, this cable is made with a durable, Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) jacket.

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Learning Center Article – What Is an SSD?

When it comes to IT spending and getting the right hardware, it’s always a matter of knowledge. When you truly understand the risks and rewards of each purchasing decision, you can optimize your spending and get the most value out of your limited budget.

There are countless comparisons to make in this regard, which is why it’s always easier to break things down one concept at a time.

Today, we’re going to cover solid-state storage, or SSDs. They’re a modern improvement on a traditional computer component, and they can offer major advantages that merit an investment.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The Major League Baseball season kicks off today. The YES Network is launching a streaming service, giving non-cable subscribers a way to watch live New York Yankees games.
• Apple has announced that its annual developer’s conference, WWDC, will begin on June 5 and run through June 9.
• Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, is in the United States as part of a multi-day itinerary that will take the leader of the Asian democratic island through Central and North America, a trip that China is closely watching.
• NASA and Boeing announced Wednesday that the first crewed flight of the Starliner spacecraft will now take place no earlier than July 21. This moves the vehicle’s flight, carrying NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, from the previously announced timeframe of April. The manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew program, Steve Stich, said the delay was attributable to the extra time needed to close out the pre-flight review process of Starliner and also due to traffic from other vehicles visiting the space station in June and the first half of July.

Happy Wednesday & Happy National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day! If there’s one thing we love doing, it’s supporting small businesses. What’s your favorite small business to support? We’d love to share and support some of them!

In This Issue: A Grand Adventure to Disney World | Cisco Meraki Cloud Managed Switch | All about Cisco 2960-X Series Switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – A Grand Adventure to Disney World

Good morning CK Family!

Hope everyone is having a great week! Next week, I’ll be spending the week in Disney World for my younger brother’s senior trip. Normally, my parents do these trips after we graduate, but my brother’s only request was that I join him on his trip and since I’m expecting a little one over the summer, we weren’t sure I’d be able to join. So we’re doing it a bit early!

I haven’t been to Disney with him in years, so I’m pumped to go and just be able to hang out with him. He’s a big fan of all of the roller coasters, and while I won’t be able to ride, I’ll love hearing all about it and seeing his reaction after he gets off!

I think I’m most excited to try some of the new snacks around the park! The last time I was at Disney was pre-COVID. My mom and I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon (it was a blast and I highly would recommend this race to everyone!!). We weren’t there for long but got to try some of the new snacks then, and now they have tons of new things!

Any tips and tricks you can offer for Disney? Look forward to sharing updates with you after the trip!

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Meraki MS225-48FP is a cloud managed access layer switch that features (48) 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet ports as well as (4) 10G SFP+ uplinks. This switch supports both virtual stacking and physical stacking (compatible with MS210 series switches). Each switch includes dual stacking interfaces with up to 80 Gbps of stacking bandwidth. As with all Meraki switches, this switch allows for simple management, zero-touch provisioning, and features various security enhancements. Get excellent performance with a switching capacity of 176 Gbps.

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Learning Center Article – All about Cisco 2960-X Series Switches

The pace of technology refuses to slow down. At this point, you have lived through multiple technological revolutions, and every few years, average computer devices continue to multiply their capabilities.

Development is intense and relentless, and it means that businesses across all industries are in a perpetual arms race to keep up. You need the latest technology to provide services that match the competition, but constant technological expansion is expensive.

How are small and medium-sized businesses supposed to manage?

The key is to find powerful technology that is specifically designed with affordability in mind. You want devices and resources that are similar to the Cisco 2960-X series.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• IHOP unveiled a revamped menu that includes more than a dozen new items and the return of its popular Cinn-A-Stack pancakes. The pancake chain, which is owned by Applebee’s parent Dine Brands, cut about a third of its menu during pandemic lockdowns. Since then, the chain has slowly brought items back or introduced new ones, like burritos and bowls. Still, its menu remains about 15% smaller than it was previously.
• Microsoft is working on a new “modern” version of Windows with better security and faster updates, according to Windows Central. The initiative, called CorePC, would allow Windows to scale better for different devices while still supporting legacy apps.
• A few weeks after allowing the Willow oil drilling project in Alaska to go forward, the Biden administration is auctioning off more than 73 million acres of waters in the Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas drilling. Today, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will hold a lease sale for an area that’s more than double the size of Willow in acreage.
• Northern Mexico has developed such a habit of exotic animals and violence, that people not only keep tigers as pets, but they also steal them. Prosecutors in the violent northern state of Sonora said Tuesday they are searching for a full-grown Bengal tiger named Baluma. They said the 5-year-old male tiger was stolen Monday from a home in the state capital, Hermosillo.

Happy Tuesday! Our hearts are heavy today will all going on in the world. We’re spending some time in very intentional prayer for all of those in need. If we can be praying for you in any way, please let us know.

In This Issue: A Non-Stop Weekend of Adventure | HP and Dell Hard Drives | All About Meraki MS225 Switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – A Non-Stop Weekend of Adventure

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday!

Hope everyone’s off to a great start this week! We had a busy, but great weekend around here! I was with my nieces and nephew this weekend and we definitely went non-stop, but it was great! We did dinner + a movie at home on Friday night (watched The Sandlot which is always a winner)! Saturday morning it was storming so we took it easy and had some family game time at home. A little later in the morning we ventured out to the Mall of Georgia for lunch and some more fun & shopping!

In the afternoon we went to the park to meet up with one of my best friends, Lauren, and her kids. It was a beautiful afternoon and was so much fun to watch the kids playing together and having such a great time! We actually met up with them again on Sunday afternoon to check out the Athens Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert at the Classic Center. I’ve never attended an orchestra before, but it was free and we figured it would be good for the kids to get a little culture so we all attended and had a great time!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

CablesAndkits.com is proud to offer the best of both worlds, HP and Dell hard drives. These hard drives are HP and Dell original. The 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 comes in a wide selection of storage capacity. Each hard drive is wiped of previous information and is fully tested.

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Learning Center Article – All About Meraki MS225 Switches

If your network needs bandwidth without sacrificing cost efficiency, then you’re going to have to do some searching to find the perfect hardware. Striking the balance is challenging, and that’s exactly why Meraki MS exists. The switches in this series are meant for efficiency, flexibility, and adaptability, and knowing the specifics of what these switches can offer may help you perfect your network.

For those reasons and more, here is a breakdown of a staple in the series: the Meraki MS225.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Nokia is planning to launch 4G internet on the moon later this year. It will be used within Nasa’s Artemis 1 mission, which aims to establish a human presence on the moon. The aim is to show that terrestrial networks can meet the communications needs of future space missions.
• The South Carolina Gamecocks have continued their incredible unbeaten run with an 86-75 win against the Maryland Terrapins – setting up a blockbuster Final Four clash against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
• Disney is questioning the continued value of Web3. The company is in the process of laying off 7,000 staff in an attempt to control costs and develop what CEO Bob Iger calls a “streamlined” business. The cuts include its metaverse team, with its 50-strong headcount being let go.
• Two amateur fishermen on Monday avoided a trial on felony charges tied to a cheating scandal at a Cleveland walleye fishing tournament and pleaded guilty. Jacob Runyan and Chase Cominsky pleaded guilty to cheating, a fifth-degree felony, and a fourth-degree misdemeanor of unlawful ownership of wild animals. The men agreed to up to a three-year suspension of their fishing licenses and forfeited Cominsky’s Ranger bass boat worth $100,000 to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Happy Monday! We hope you had a wonderful week and are geared up for a great week! Sending you a full pot of coffee this morning and hoping for a productive week for all! ☕️

In This Issue: Spring Storms | HP Aruba 2530 Series Switch | All About Meraki 390 Switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Spring Storms

Happy Monday,

We had a quite a light show last night! Storms rolled in and lit up the night with constant lightning and rolling thunder. It was quite awe inspiring and terrifying at the same time. I’ve always enjoyed watching lightning.

Part of my childhood I grew up near Oklahoma City and much to my parents dismay I would always go outside on my front porch to watch lightning storms. I would say my experience with lightning storms in Oklahoma were quite different than the ones here in Georgia. I could see the individual lightning tendrils arc across the sky above the plains, but in Georgia it’s more like being bombarded with flashes from paparazzi and an occasional strike hitting a tree.

I’m thankful no damage was done to my home, and I send prayers to those who’ve been impacted by these devastating storms.

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Aruba 2530 Series of switches was designed to offer cost-effective, reliable, and secure access layer connectivity for a wide range of uses from enterprise, to branch offices and small to mid-sized businesses. These easy-to-deploy switches feature an energy-efficient design which lowers power consumption for greater energy savings.

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Learning Center Article – All About Meraki 390 Switches

In the world of enterprise networking, manufacturers are at war to produce the best tools. Cisco has been an industry leader for decades, and for good reason. Among the best switches available from Cisco is the Meraki 390 series.

They are switches built for enterprise applications, WiFi 6 integration, easy management, and rapid deployment. With a range of options, they can form the backbone of any high-speed Ethernet system.

Take a look at the design, specifications, and use cases for Meraki 390 to see if these switches might be right for your network.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• First Citizens BancShares will acquire Silicon Valley Bank, the California lender whose collapse this month sent shock waves across the financial sector.
• Parts of the source code for Twitter have been leaked online. The code was posted on GitHub, a Microsoft-owned service where software developers share code. It has now been taken down after Twitter requested its removal.
• Israel was paralyzed after hundreds of thousands of people stopped working Monday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s unprecedented plans to overhaul the country’s judicial system. Read more here. 
• The consumer culture on indie reselling platforms has shifted as more sellers compete to capture demand and more inflation-weary customers hunt for deals. Negotiations, bidding wars and upselling items have become more common on digital marketplaces such as Depop and Poshmark. Big retailers such as Target and H&M have been trying to get in on the hand-me-down action by launching partnerships with online thrift store ThredUp.

Happy Friday! We hope you have had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend. Do you have any fun weekend plans? We’d love to hear about them!

In This Issue: Spring Projects | MTP Elite® Fiber Cable | How to use DAC Cables | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Spring Projects

Happy Friday, folks! It’s finally springtime here, and I’m excited about the longer days plus warmer weather! 😎

Spring brings new growth, which we can easily see in nature. Flowers start growing, and new leaves spring (pun intended) up on trees. This is also the time of year when new ideas start taking shape in my personal and professional life!

Personally, we created our spring to-do list a few weeks ago, which turned out to be a lot longer than usual this year! We are starting our first project this weekend (working on our deck), and the weather looks like it will be great for working outside. I enjoy small woodworking projects. It’s satisfying to start something and see it come to fruition over a day or two!

What projects are you looking forward to completing this spring?

Have a great weekend!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Our MTP Elite® line of fiber cables feature high performance US Conec MTP Elite® connectors for the ultimate in functionality and reliability. This highly versatile line of cables are made with Corning ClearCurve® glass and removable housings which allow users to change the gender of the cable in the field. Additionally, they feature a floating ferrule design which helps to improve mechanical performance by allowing two mated ferrules to maintain physical contact even while under an applied load.

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Learning Center Article – How to use DAC Cables

Fiber optic networking runs the world, but designing and maintaining a network is not a simple task. You’ll have to compare a lot of different equipment choices, and considering the power and equipment demands, it can be easy to go over your budget.

Finding ways to save money without sacrificing performance is essential, and one tool that can help you with this is the DAC cable.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• If there’s one thing that’s clear from Chewy and Petco’s latest earnings reports, it’s that pet health care will be key to whether the companies can grow and make higher profits over the longer term. The retailers, which both released their quarterly earnings on Wednesday, began investing heavily into pet health when the pandemic-fueled pet boom saw 23 million American households welcome a new animal into their homes. 
• A new missile strike targeted a U.S. base in northeast Syria Friday, a day after a U.S. contractor was killed and five U.S. service members and another U.S. contractor wounded when a suspected Iranian drone hit a coalition base in the same region.
• North Korea said Friday it had tested a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone designed to launch a “radioactive tsunami,” as its leader Kim Jong Un vowed to make his rivals “plunge into despair.”
• The prospect of TikTok being banned in America is becoming increasingly likely as regulators and lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have the popular video app in their crosshairs over its ties to China – and one regulatory expert says recent events leave the U.S. “no choice” but to restrict the social media giant.