Archives for April 2024

Happy Thursday! Yesterday was Siblings Day and today it’s National Pet Day – what a week! Give an extra smooch to your four-legged (or maybe two-legged or no-legged 🤪) friends today.

In This Issue: The Magic of Disney! | Cisco 1000BASE-T SFP Module | What is LCP (Link Control Protocol) | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – The Magic of Disney!

Hello CK Family!

Last week, my family took a trip to Disney in Orlando for Spring Break! We managed to squeeze in all four parks and the weather was beautiful. There is something about Disney, just walking around, riding rides, and enjoying all the snacks… especially Mickey ice cream sandwiches!! But while I’m at Disney I’m able to truly get away and not think about all the things going on in the outside world, plus it doesn’t hurt getting in all the steps. It’s truly magical and was a much-needed vacation.

What are some of your favorite places to get away?

I hope that you enjoy the rest of your week!

Mandy

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

Cisco GLC-T transceiver module is a 1000BASE-T SFP for Copper Networks. It is designed for Gigabit Ethernet connectivity over Category 5e (Cat5e) unshielded twisted pair copper cabling up to 100m link length via an RJ-45 connector. It operates at a data transfer rate of up to 1000 megabits per second (Mbps). The transceiver supports full-duplex Gigabit Ethernet over data link. It allows to leverage of existing cabling infrastructure and avoids the cost and disruption of installing new fiber optic cables.

---

Learning Center Article – What is LCP (Link Control Protocol)

As you peel back layers and get deeper into networking and theory, you have to learn about protocols. There are a lot of protocols out there. Each is designed with specific ideas in mind, and ultimately, the internet uses pretty much all of them at one point or another.

Trying to master every protocol at once would be an unreasonable undertaking, but you can consume this knowledge in smaller bites.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Nvidia announced the first AI supercomputer designed for student use, in collaboration with Georgia Tech.
• In an email to parents who supervise a child’s account, YouTube announced the introduction of a “read-only” comments option on their child’s supervised experience on YouTube.
• Microsoft will reveal new AI tools for use on PCs and in the cloud at its annual Build conference.
• Google announced that it will make several of its photo-editing tools powered by generative artificial intelligence free to all users of Google Photos.

Happy Wednesday & Happy National Siblings Day! Our siblings provide us with our biggest competition and are often our strongest source of encouragement. Be sure to take some time today to reach out to your siblings and let them know you love them (and maybe remind them of that embarrassing thing they did when they were little)!

In This Issue: Sweet Nostalgia ✨ | 42U LINIER Server Cabinet | Selecting the Right PoE Switches for Your IP Camera Network | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – Sweet Nostalgia ✨

Good morning & Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week.

This week has felt rather long to me and I think it’s likely because I’m really looking forward to the rest of the week. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be out of the office and heading back to my alma mater, East Carolina University. Go Pirates!

I’ll probably be having all the nostalgia for the entire weekend because I loved college and there are times when I miss it and the memories that I made! I think I’m most excited because we’re heading back and bringing our friends with us. Some of whom we haven’t seen in a while!

It’s going to be such a great time walking around campus, showing our friends who didn’t go there around, and taking our little ones with us! I can’t wait to show our little guy all the reasons why we loved/still love this place so much and reminisce on all the sweet moments we had. After all, this is where my husband and I met!

We didn’t realize that this weekend, there’s a huge event going on that might make the traffic a little wild – but we’re going to make the best of it either way!

I look forward to sharing about the sweet adventure this weekend is going to be next week.

Cheers to a great rest of the week!

Ashley

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

The 3107-3-001-42 LINIER® Server Cabinet is a high-quality, resourceful solution for network servers, battery- backups, switching banks and other large-scale network equipment. The unit provides a depth of 36 inches and a height of 80.50 inches, adequate to accommodate a wide range of networking equipment. The cabinet top has cleaned and precise holes that have been pre-cut into the cabinet for the installation of fans and other ventilation equipment.

---

Learning Center Article – Selecting the Right PoE Switches for Your IP Camera Network

Cameras are useful devices, and a lot of businesses need to deploy an array of them in order to keep a sharp eye on things. Usually for security reasons, a good ring of security cameras can prove invaluable.

But, connecting them and setting them up is not always simple. You have to figure out how to record what they see, how to power them, and how to manage them in general.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• NASA announced a new approach to dealing with an increasingly crowded and dangerous environment in Earth orbit with a space sustainability strategy that puts an initial emphasis on analyzing the problem rather than technologies to solve it.
• There is a record number of areas in the U.S. where the “typical” home is worth $1 million or more.
• The next eclipse is set to happen on August 23, 2044 and will appear in Greenland before becoming visible in Canada.It will be visible in only three US states: North and South Dakota and Montana.
• Google is trying to make cloud computing more affordable with a custom-built Arm-based server chip.

Happy Tuesday! What a week it’s been. We hope you got the chance to step outside yesterday and see the eclipse if you were in an area where it was visible. We’ll see it again in 2044!

In This Issue: Staycationing & a Trip to Boone, NC | DB9 Male to Male Slim Serial Coupler | All about Aruba 2530 Switches | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – Staycationing & A Trip to Boone, NC

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday!

Hope everyone is feeling refreshed after Spring Break last week! I didn’t go out of town, but did spend a little time doing some fun local stuff with my nieces and nephew! We went to Topgolf which I haven’t been to in YEARS and I had totally forgotten how much fun it is! We had the best time playing the different games and practicing our swings!

We also spent some time at the mall which is always a hit. They love to ride the little train that goes throughout the mall, and we always have to make a stop on the carousel as well! It was a great week and a nice break from routine for everyone!

This weekend I’m heading to Boone, NC for a cabin stay and some hiking. I’ve never been to Boone but have only heard people talk about it in a positive light so am expecting that it’s going to be wonderful! If you’ve been, let me know some places we need to see while we’re there!

Rebecca

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

Need to stretch your limits? Don’t buy all new cables; instead invest in some cable extenders. Our DB9 Male to Male Slim Serial Coupler allows allows the female connectors of two cables to be connected to extend your cable length. These small frame extenders are the perfect solution to saving money and saving your network.

---

Learning Center Article – All about Aruba 2530 Switches

When you’re trying to find the perfect hardware for your network, you’re going to have to weigh a few things. You can get the most powerful hardware on the market, but you’ll pay a pretty penny for it.

If you want to optimize spending without skimping on performance, then you want to consider something in the range of Aruba 2530 switches. This is versatile hardware that can solve problems for many small and medium businesses, and these switches hold their own for a number of enterprise applications as well.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• In the United States, the solar eclipse’s path of totality began in Eagle Pass, Texas, at 1:27 p.m. local time and ended in Caribou, Maine, at 4:40 p.m. ET. The total eclipse was seen in 15 U.S. states. Read more here.
• Pop-Tarts is launching its very first crunchy snack, aptly named, Crunchy Poppers.
• Popular YouTube group Dude Perfect, which first rose to popularity for its basketball trick shots, has secured a significant nine-figure investment, in the range of $100 million to $300 million, from private investment firm Highmount Capital.
• Gatorade has been branching out into new categories, including unflavored water, to keep up with consumers’ changing tastes and tougher competition.

Happy Monday! Are you ready for the eclipse? It’s been the talk of the town all around – we hope you got some glasses so you can check it out!

In This Issue: A Week of Grand Adventures | ASA-Rails | Firmware vs Software | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – A Week of Grand Adventures

Happy Monday!

It’s eclipse day, where a total solar eclipse will be visible in the contiguous United States. (You’ve probably already heard at least something about this as it’s been blasted on the news). In Georgia, we’ll only be experiencing a partial eclipse, but if you are in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, chances are high you’ll get to experience the total eclipse. Looks like we won’t be getting another one in the US until August 22nd, 2044! I’ll probably watch some of it online, some streaming services like Disney Plus will be broadcasting a live feed and I’m sure you can find some live feeds on YouTube.

Other than that, it’s been sort of a whirlwind of a week. On Monday we went on our annual Spring Break camping trip at a place called Duckett Mill on the shores of Lake Lanier. We had a great time but were exhausted. We had some issues with the wind where it almost collapsed the tent on one of the mornings, but we had it tied down pretty well so everything luckily held. After our camping trip, we made a trip down to Macon to visit my Uncle’s house and help out with packing. It was another bittersweet day, my cousin’s kids played with my kids and we chatted while we moved things.

I’m glad to be back at home and back in the saddle at work, but I need a vacation from my vacation!

Cris

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

The ASA-RAILS have been designed for specific models of the Cisco ASA firewall series such as ASA 5512-X, ASA 5515-X, ASA 5525-X, ASA 5545-X, and ASA 5555-X. This rail mount allows for a quick, convenient, and secure installation method for the Cisco ASA firewalls into standard 19-inch server racks.

---

Learning Center Article – Firmware vs Software

We all have to fight with computers sometimes. When they work, they’re incredibly powerful and useful, but when they don’t work, life gets frustrating in a hurry.

That leads down the rabbit hole of troubleshooting, and in that world, you’re going to come across a lot of terms. Some that show up a lot include firmware and software. What do these terms really mean? Are they the same? Different?

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks kept their winning streak going to take home their third national championship title, beating Iowa 87-75.
• President Biden will be announcing new proposals for partial or complete student loan forgiveness today in Wisconsin.
• The Federal Aviation Administration will launch an investigation after the engine cowling of a Southwest Airlines plane fell off during takeoff in Denver Sunday.
• Millions of current and prospective college students are still waiting on their FAFSA applications to process after the system went through a series of glitches and formula errors.

Happy Friday & Happy National Flash Drive Day! Flash drives are a great go-to storage device. Let today be a reminder to back up your files! Have a wonderful weekend!

In This Issue: Ready to maximize the value of your IT Investments? | HP Original Hard Drive | Do Ethernet Couplers Reduce Speed? | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – Ready to maximize the value of your IT Investments?

Happy Friday!

We’ve talked about TPM before, but we want to talk about it again today because it’s good stuff!

In today’s competitive business landscape, maximizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness is essential. One often overlooked strategy to achieve these goals is through third-party maintenance.

Here are three compelling reasons why you should consider TPM for your organization:

Cost Savings: TPM offers significant cost savings compared to OEM maintenance contracts.

Flexibility and Customization: Unlike rigid OEM contracts, TPM allows for greater flexibility and customization. You can tailor the level of support and service to meet your organization’s unique requirements.

Extended Lifecycle Support: TPM enables you to extend the lifespan of your IT assets beyond the OEM’s end-of-life or end-of-service-life dates. This means you can continue to use your existing hardware and software investments without being forced into costly upgrades or replacements.

Are you ready to maximize the value of your IT investments?

If you want to learn more, reach out. We’d love to chat with you further about all that TPM has to offer.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The CK Team

---

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 originals. 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 capacities. Each hard drive is wiped of previous information and is fully tested.

---

Learning Center Article – Do Ethernet Couplers Reduce Speed?

Have you ever been stuck with an Ethernet cable that was just too short? You have to go out and buy a new cable, just to cover that distance. Did you know that there’s another way to approach this problem?

You can use a coupler and extend your cable reach, and the process is simple and usually very cost-effective.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Nvidia is planning to build a $200 million artificial intelligence center in Indonesia in partnership with local telco giant Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison.
• Bojangles has been making a lot of exciting changes lately. This fast-food chain from the South, known for its Cajun fried chicken and perfectly seasoned fries, recently announced it is coming to the West and bringing its beloved chicken to more states nationwide.
• The Danish military has closed its airspace and shipping lanes after a missile failure from a naval ship. The National Maritime Authority has issued a warning due to the danger of ‘falling missile fragments’ after the failed launch near the busy Great Belt Bridge.
• Hyundai’s Genesis launched in the U.S. nearly eight years ago to much skepticism but the South Korean luxury brand has proven itself worthy in the domestic market. Sales have grown exponentially and executives expect double-digit growth annually for at least the next five years.

Happy Thursday & Happy National Burrito Day! Any Burrito fans out there? There are so many ways you can enjoy a burrito. What are your favorite things to put inside yours? 🌯

In This Issue: The CK Learning Center | HP DL380 Generation 10 | What is a RAID? | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – The CK Learning Center

Good morning & Happy Thursday!

We wanted to take some time this morning to remind you about the CK Learning Center. Solid IT knowledge is key to staying ahead in today’s ever-changing technology landscape. New, fresh ideas and tested solutions come in handy whether it is for expanding your network, building out a data center, or solving critical issues that have caused your network to go down. If you have found yourself in any of these situations, don’t worry!

We add fresh new content each week including a wide selection of in-depth articles, step-by-step guides, and helpful information to help you out. Looking for something specific? Send it our way!

The CK Team

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

Break through the bottlenecks in your network with the HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 server series. This series was designed to be adaptable for a variety of workloads and environments thanks to the powerful processing from (2) Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors and expandable DDR4 memory. These servers deliver world-class performance and strike the perfect balance between scalability, expandability, and reliability.

---

Learning Center Article – What is a RAID?

When it comes to computer systems and servers, you have a lot of data to manage. It’s normal to want robust backups so that you never lose important information. At the same time, backups are costly, and they can slow down server systems.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Coinbase said it has been registered in Ontario as a restricted dealer under the Canadian Securities Administrators. Last year, Canada introduced new guidelines for crypto exchanges that limit how much certain investors can invest in crypto, as well as introduce mandatory registrations for crypto firms.
• Google filed a lawsuit against a group of crypto scammers, alleging they defrauded more than 100,000 people globally. Google says it’s the first among its peers to take action against crypto scammers.
• BYD plans to launch its first electric pickup truck this year stepping up the Chinese giant’s competition with global auto firms from Ford to Tesla.
• SiMa.ai, a Silicon Valley-based startup producing embedded ML system-on-chip (SoC) platforms, announced that it has raised a $70 million extension funding round as it plans to bring its second-generation chipset, specifically built for multimodal generative AI processing, to market.