Archives for March 2024

Happy Friday! We hope you had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend ahead. From the CK Family, Happy Easter!

In This Issue: Good Friday | AC Power Cord | VLAN Trunking Explained | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Good Friday

It’s Good Friday! What’s does today mean to you?

As a follower of Christ, today is the day that we remember the crucifixion of Christ, the day that He suffered on our behalf. We also know that Sunday came, and He Arose! But imagine for a moment that you were there. Sunday had not come. It would likely have been hard to hold onto the faith it would take to believe that he would rise. Yet, they still believed. John 3:16 comes to mind. It says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

We’re on the other side of history and know that Sunday came, and Jesus wasn’t in the tomb! So while today is a day of remembrance for the Man who gave his life for you and me, we know that Sunday is coming!

Please take 3 minutes to listen to this video; It’s Friday…But Sunday’s a coming!

Have a great Easter!

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 many other uses. Whether the cords are used in a basic or dense installation, these heavy-duty power cords save time and money.

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Learning Center Article – VLAN Trunking Explained

As you get deeper into networking, you’ll want to find ways to boost network metrics without spending a ton of money. Fortunately, there are a lot of techniques that can boost security and performance that don’t require you to replace or add hardware.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The wealth of the top 1% hit a record $44.6 trillion at the end of the fourth quarter.
• The black hole at the center of our galaxy has been compared to a doughnut — and as it turns out, this doughnut has swirls. Scientists shared a mesmerizing new image showing Sagittarius A* in unprecedented detail. See more here.
• SpaceX has reset the launch of another batch of its Starlink internet satellites to no sooner than Friday evening (March 29). A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink spacecraft was set to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Thursday (March 28), but the company called off the attempt before beginning to fuel the vehicle.
• Elon Musk’s AI startup, X.ai, has revealed its latest generative AI model, Grok-1.5. Set to power social network X’s Grok chatbot in the coming days.

Happy Thursday! We hope your week is going well. As we head into the end of the week, we are preparing our hearts for what’s to come and gearing up for an incredible Easter season.

In This Issue: Your Source for Power Cords | Cisco Meraki MS220-8P Cloud-Managed Compact Switch | What Is Unified Communications? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Your Source for Power Cords

Happy Thursday!

Lately, we’ve gotten several requests for power cords of all kinds! We wanted to take some time to shine some light on the large power cord selection that we have. We have lots of power cords for various applications. Our extensive selection features a variety of colors, connectors, and lengths. Whether you need different colors to help with organization, specific compatibility, or extra reach, we’ve got you covered.

If you’re looking for something specific, let us know! Check out our full selection here. If you don’t see the brand or type you’re looking for, let us know and we’ll add it!

Have a good week!

-The CK Team

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Meraki MS220-8P is a compact, access layer switch that features (8) 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet ports as well as (2) 1G SFP uplinks. It also features a 124W PoE budget with PoE+ support and dynamic power allocation for powering access points, phones, cameras, and more.

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Learning Center Article – What Is Unified Communications?

Large companies like teamwork. It’s an efficient way to leverage resources in order to solve a problem or complete a task. At the same time, technology improvements help with collaboration and teamwork in many settings.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• During NBCUniversal’s annual technology conference, One24, the company revealed a slew of features coming to its streaming service Peacock ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics in July. The most notable feature to launch on Peacock is multiview, which allows subscribers to view up to four simultaneous matches at once.
• Home Depot has reported that they are acquiring SRS Distribution in an $18.25 billion deal.
• UnitedHealth Group has paid out more than $3.3 billion to providers affected by the cyberattack on its subsidiary Change Healthcare.
• Metaview developed a tool that records interview notes so that hiring managers don’t have to. Read more about it here.

Happy Wednesday! We’re halfway through the week. We hope the week is treating you well. If we can be praying for you in any specific way this week, please let us know!

In This Issue: A Stay at the Hobbit House | Rack Mount Kit for Cisco ISR | What is LLDP? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – A Stay at the Hobbit House

Good morning and happy Wednesday! I hope you’re having a great week.

This weekend my husband and I made a little trip to visit some family. It was a bit of a last-minute trip, so when booking an Airbnb we couldn’t be super picky but we needed something pet-friendly so we could bring our pup. When I booked the place, I didn’t look to much at the listing – mainly just the reviews, location, and how much space we would have.

When we arrived there was a sign that said: Parking for Bilbo Baggins. I quickly looked at my husband and said, “I don’t think we should park here.” That’s when he let me know that the Airbnb we booked was Hobbit-themed and that this was our dedicated parking spot.

All that to say, the place was SO cute. For a minute, I was slightly nervous that the house was about to be alot with this theme. I mean, there was a Bilbo Baggins parking sign in the yard. Happy to report it wasn’t over the top. It had subtle hits to the Hobbit theme throughout. They had the books, some posters, etc. but it was a pretty old, quaint house. It was perfect for our stay and the Hobbit theme was fun to experience.

Have you stayed in any fun Airbnb places?

Have a good rest of your week!

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The ACS-4330-RM-1 rack mount kit provides a seamless and efficient installation process. It consists of two premium brackets and a comprehensive set of screws, guaranteeing a precise fit for the router and a secure attachment to the rack. The included screws facilitate a smooth installation, enabling network administrators to save valuable time and effort.

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Learning Center Article – What is LLDP?

Everything runs on your network, but have you ever wondered how devices communicate with each other? How do they even find each other in the first place? This question has an answer that is both simple and complicated.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The Baltimore bridge collapse has wreaked havoc at one of the country’s busiest ports and raised questions about the Singapore-flagged container ship involved in the incident. Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Tuesday said the crew of the Dali was able to send a critical emergency alert that enabled authorities to clear the bridge of further car traffic ahead of impact.
• The nation’s largest online operators are coming together to form a group dedicated to responsible gaming practices. The seven operators — FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Penn Entertainment, Fanatics Betting & Gaming, Hard Rock Digital and bet365 — will form the Responsible Online Gaming Association.
• The FDA approved a drug from Merck designed to treat a rare, progressive and life-threatening lung condition called pulmonary arterial hypertension.
• BJ’s Wholesale is opening a dozen clubs in the U.S. this year, as it pushes into new regions of the country.

Happy Tuesday & Happy National Spinach Day! Get your Popeye on and let’s raise our forks (or cans, for the purists) to this powerhouse of a veggie. What’s your favorite way to enjoy spinach?

In This Issue: Allergies & Armadillos | Kendall Howard Rack Fan Assembly Kit | All About Ethernet Jacket Ratings | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Allergies & Armadillos

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone is having a great start to the week! I am STRUGGLING with allergies this week, but we got a bit of rain over the weekend and are supposed to get a bit more today which definitely seems to help!

I’m trying to get my yard in shape for Spring and spent some time over the weekend pulling weeds that are starting to pop up in the flower beds! I plan to spruce them up a bit more with some fresh mulch and maybe a few more flowers when the big box stores have their Spring sales which I expect will happen soon!

While working in the yard, I noticed a lot of spots in the sod that have been dug up. The holes look like they were freshly dug, and they are just holes (not tunnels). I was pretty perplexed by them but did a little bit of research and my best guess is that an armadillo is the culprit! In researching further, I learned that they like to live near streams and they prefer sandy or clay soils. My yard checks both of those boxes, so it seems like it would be a perfect habitat for these guys! I also learned that armadillos in Georgia are classified as both an exotic species and a pest. I never remember seeing armadillos until recent years and certainly never thought I’d be having to deal with them damaging my yard! They are a pest, indeed!

I’m currently on the hunt for ways to get rid of the armadillo, or at least have him stop digging holes in my yard. Unfortunately, much of what I’ve read has been a bit discouraging. Some people say to treat the yard with an insecticide to get rid of the grubs that they’re going after, while others say there’s really nothing that will work. If you’ve successfully dealt with this problem, please send what worked for you!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Kendall Howard fan assembly kit includes everything you need to move air through your cabinet. This ultra-quiet 53 CFM fan is top quality and a must for any wall-mount cabinet or enclosed device that needs more airflow.

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Learning Center Article – All About Ethernet Jacket Ratings

When you’re planning a network, you usually think about the equipment you need and how you can connect it. That’s already plenty to consider, but it turns out that your responsibilities run deeper than that. You also have to think about safety.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme are expanding their partnership to all of the burger chain’s U.S. locations by the end of 2026.
• Amazon is launching same-day delivery of prescription medications in New York City and the greater Los Angeles area. The company plans to expand the offering to more than a dozen cities by the end of the year.
• Luxury vacation home co-ownership platform Pacaso is attempting to appeal to the masses, as it grows its business during a pricey and competitive phase of the housing market. The company, which launched in 2020 with multimillion-dollar homes listed for co-ownership, is now introducing thousands more listings with share prices starting as low as $200,000.
• In the early hours of Tuesday, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed into the Patapsco River after a container ship crashed into it.

Happy Monday! We hope you had a great weekend and that your March Madness brackets are still holding up. Who do you think will make it to the final four?

In This Issue: Remembering Sweet Memories | Mini Cable Clic® Cable Management Tool | What Is QoS (Quality of Service)? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Remembering Sweet Memories

Good Monday Morning,

What a weekend I’ve had. My wife went to a women’s retreat and the kids and I were left to fend for ourselves. The kids and I played games and went to the mall where they enjoyed going to the bookstore, the headache store (I mean Bath & Body Works), and the indoor and outdoor playgrounds. They had a great weekend.

My weekend was a bit overshadowed by some sad news. I found out that morning that a very close family friend, whom I call Uncle Moore, passed away. My parents have known my Uncle since well before I was born (over 40 years) and I’ve always looked up to my Uncle Moore. He was a very kind and caring person, creative, and intelligent. I’ve been thinking about memories of him a lot over the weekend, the grief comes in waves, but in contrast, I love to remember the great memories. I remember the time he took his electric guitar out of a closet, one he hadn’t touched for a long time, and plugged it in for me to play around with when I was a kid. He then gingerly picked up the guitar and played a near-perfect intro to Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry. I was in awe of his talent. We had just watched Back to the Future. I had no idea who Chuck Berry was at the time, but I did recognize Marty McFly who played the same riff in the film.

Uncle Moore would pick me up from school sometimes when I was feeling sick when my father or mother couldn’t take time off, and I remember him making these funny little jokes like the time when I fell running through his house, he’d shout, “hey, don’t be hurting my floor” in his loose Louisianan accent. There are so many other memories that come to mind. Uncle Moore, you will be truly missed.

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Dealing with smaller cables doesn’t have to end in frustration and a tangled mess, thanks to the Mini Cable Clic®. This handy cable management tool features an easy squeeze-and-release locking latch, making it easy to use even one-handed. The durable design was made from UV-resistant polymers, making it strong enough to last even in harsh outdoor environments.

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Learning Center Article – What Is QoS (Quality of Service)?

When you have business-critical systems that rely on an internet connection or your business network, it’s not enough to buy expensive gear and throw a lot of resources at the problem. If you want reliable, effective performance, you have to optimize your resources.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Spotify has carved out a business for itself in music streaming, podcast entertainment and audiobooks. Now, in its ongoing efforts to get its 600 million+ users to spend more time and money on its platform, Spotify is spinning up a new line of content: e-learning.
• United is allowing up to five MileagePlus members to pool loyalty points that can be redeemed for flights and other products.
• The European Union has opened an investigation into Apple, Alphabet and Meta, in its first probe under the sweeping new Digital Markets Act tech legislation.
• The Justice Department has sued Apple in an antitrust case, saying that the iPhone maker has a monopoly over the phone market that harmed consumers, developers, and rival companies.

Happy Friday & Happy Weekend! Do you have any weekend plans? We hope you enjoy some downtime with friends and family!

In This Issue: Have you considered third-party maintenance? | Rack Adapters | Datacenter Airflow Management Guide | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Have you considered third-party maintenance?

Happy Friday! Have you considered third-party maintenance? Here are a few questions that we recommend you ask:

• Do they provide support at good value?
• Do they have geographical coverage?
• Do they have the proper sparing and logistics?
• Can they provide multivendor support?
• How easy is it to place a call?
• Can they respond within my SLA?
• Do they have the engineering talent?
• Do they have the right support options?
• How easy are they to do business with?

CK Care TPM is a dynamic solution to help keep your network running smoothly, all while saving you time, money, and frustration. Want to chat more about it? Reach out!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Rack adapters are used to mount standard 19″ computer and networking equipment into (not so standard) 23″ equipment racks. With these 1RU adapters, you can attach a 19″ wide piece of equipment to a 23″ rack. These rack adapters are made for 1 rack unit about 1.75″ tall. Made of 12 gauge steel these adapters can hold even the heaviest equipment.

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Learning Center Article – Datacenter Airflow Management Guide

Running a data center comes with plenty of challenges. And something that frequently floats to the top of those challenges is heat management. Keeping those powerful devices cool requires careful planning and constant effort. And it gets expensive.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Shares of social forum giant Reddit closed its first day of trading at $50.31, up nearly 48% from its IPO price of $34 per share. The company had indicated a target range of $31 to $34 per share in the run-up to its public-market debut.
• NBC’s live coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony on July 26 will play on more than 150 IMAX screens in the U.S.
• Microsoft on Thursday revealed the Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business. The new PCs feature a dedicated Copilot button on the keyboard for quickly accessing the chatbot.
• The U.S. Department of Justice and 15 states on Thursday sued Apple, opens new tab as the government cracks down on Big Tech, alleging the iPhone maker monopolized the smartphone market, hurt smaller rivals and drove up prices.