CablesAndKits

Happy Thursday! We hope you’ve had a wonderful week. The weekend is on the horizon. Do you have any upcoming weekend plans?

In This Issue: Change & the Beauty of the Smokeys | Cisco 10GBase-SR SFP+ Modules | What Are the Wi-Fi 5 vs Wi-Fi 6 Standards? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Change & the Beauty of the Smokeys

Happy Thursday and a wonderful hello!

Has anyone experienced a lot of change in their life recently? I know I have. This is my first time writing in the CK daily and it has been a big change for me. It is not something I normally do as it is out of my comfort zone, but change is also a good thing and makes us grow as individuals.

Another huge change I recently experienced was moving from Georgia to Tennessee at the beginning of October. What a wonderful time of year to move as it is not too hot nor too cold, plus you get to see the gorgeous colors of all the leaves that the Smokeys have to offer. Not only was the move a change, but I went from working in CK’s wonderful warehouse for many years now to working remotely. The move and transition to working remotely went very smoothly, and I owe it to family, friends, and coworkers helping with everything.

I am glad my family is mostly settled and unpacked now and can enjoy the beautiful outdoor scenery and everything that Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have to offer. Speaking of beauty, they are already setting up all the Christmas lights for the parade in Pigeon Forge so that has me excited. If you have never been to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg during Christmas time, I think you are missing out. I hope everyone has a wonderful remainder of the week and it is almost FRIDAY!

Robert

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco SFP-10G-SR module gives you a wide variety of 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options for your data center, enterprise wiring closet, and service provider transport applications. The SFP-10G module boasts a variety of features and benefits, including being the industry’s smallest form factor, which results in the greatest density per chassis. The SFP-10G-SR is hot-swappable and can be switched out with ease.

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Learning Center Article – What Are the Wi-Fi 5 vs Wi-Fi 6 Standards?

IWe all need good Wi-Fi, but if you’re not steeped in IT knowledge, you might not know what’s out there. For instance, did you know that soon the seventh generation of Wi-Fi will be released to the world? Did you even know that there were different types of Wi-Fi?

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Disney will now own all of Hulu after agreeing to purchase the remaining one-third stake from Comcast’s NBCUniversal.
• Amazon is rolling out its first buy now, pay later checkout option for the millions of small business owners that use its online store
• Scarlett Johansson has taken legal action against an AI app that used her name and likeness in an online advertisement without permission.
• A tarantula crossing a road to find a mate caused a traffic accident in California’s Death Valley National Park that hospitalized one motorist and prompted warnings from park officials.

Happy Wednesday & Happy November 1st? The radio is officially playing holiday music and we are here for it! Is anyone putting up the Christmas Tree this week? 🎄

In This Issue: Football, Family & Hello to the Holiday Season | OM3 LC-LC Fiber Patch Cables | What are the common wireless standards? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Football, Family & Hello to the Holiday Season 🎄

Good morning & Happy Wednesday!

It’s a nice cool morning this morning and I am loving it! My husband called me on his way into the office the morning and let me know that Christmas music was on the radio and boy did that make me happy. I have been looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas this year more than ever because this year we get to make all the magical things even more magical for our little guy. Lights, music, dancing around the living room – all these things are going to be just a little sweeter this year!

This past weekend was a good one! We did quite a bit of housework on Saturday and then on Sunday we took a little break and went to Charlotte to watch the Carolina Panthers play the Texans. Truthfully, we didn’t go in with high hopes that they would win because the season hasn’t been off to the best start. But – they found their grove and pulled out a nail-biting win at the very end! It was a blast! We were able to spend some time away from our little guy, a “Mom & Dad’s day out” if you will, and it was nice to be able to just enjoy time together watching a team we love cheering for.

This weekend we’re taking a little bit of a long weekend and are heading to my parent’s house to enjoy some time with them and my aunt and uncle. It’s always a great time when we go to their house as we play games, enjoy great meals, and sometimes make our way to our local brewery.
As we head into the holiday season, I always like to remind myself to slow down and enjoy it. I feel like it’s such a sweet season but it can zoom right by if we’re not careful. There are so many pieces of this holiday season that I love and I want to make sure I’m soaking it all up – I hope you do the same.

I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week ahead!

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Fiber optic cabling is the medium of choice for longer-distance and challenging cabling runs. These cables are thinner than copper patch cords and immune to EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) making them perfect for riser runs and uplink cables.

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Learning Center Article – What are the common wireless standards?

If you have ever worked with wireless networking, you have probably seen standards. These are things that start with IEEE and the number “802,” and until you know more of the specifics, they seem like confusing serial numbers.

It turns out that these designations are identifying wireless network standards, and when you know about those standards, you can design your network around these key terms.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances decreased to 7.86% from 7.90%. The ARM share of mortgage applications is now at the highest level in nearly a year.
• An immersive-technology company called Cosm will open its first two venues in 2024, allowing sports fans to watch live games in domes filled with 8K screens.
• Microsoft’s Windows 11 update marks the debut of the Windows Copilot which can perform operating-system functions and answer questions with the help of web information. Copilot is a generative artificial intelligence that can create human-like text and other content with just a few words of human direction.
• CVS reported third-quarter adjusted earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street’s expectations. The results come one quarter after CVS launched a sweeping cost-cutting program as part of its push to transform from a major drugstore chain to a large health-care company.

Happy Monday & Happy National Candy Corn Day! As we gear up for Halloween it’s the perfect day to enjoy a few pieces of the country’s favorite vegetable-inspired candy.

In This Issue: A Happy Halloweekend 🎃 | HPE Aruba 2930F Series Switch | Understanding HDMI Types & Specifications | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – A Happy Halloweekend 🎃

Happy Monday!

It was a very busy weekend for my family. We started the weekend with a trunk or treat at my daughter’s elementary school, then a karate tournament, another trunk or treat at the local ballpark, and then another candy giveaway at our Church. We will have enough candy to last the rest of the year! Luckily they got a bunch of Kit Kat and Crunch bars (my favorites) and I imposed my 10% dad tax on some of their candy, they didn’t mind too much, haha. What are your favorite Halloween treats?

The karate tournament went well, my daughter did not place, but she had a lot of fun and it was a good experience for her. She was the youngest in her category and was competing against many older kids and she accepted the loss well, knowing what she needed to do better next time! I’m very proud of her and hope she continues this journey! I think losing can build character and resilience, and I hope she doesn’t take it as a sign to give up, but rather to work harder next time!

This week’s Halloween! I’ll be watching Hocus Pocus (and not the sequel) and eating some Halloween treats! I hope you have a spooktacular week and a wonderful day!

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Aruba 2930F Series of Switches were designed for customers creating smart digital workplaces that are optimized for mobile users with an integrated wired and wireless approach. They feature a wide variety of Layer 3 network switches which include built-in uplinks and PoE power. These incredible switches are easy to deploy and manage.

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Learning Center Article – Understanding HDMI Types & Specifications

High-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) is something that almost all of us recognize. It’s the de facto cable used to play video — especially for anything involving high-definition.

It’s a plug-and-play type of cable, and you probably have one or more of these cables connected to a TV (or more) in your home. While the essentials of HDMI are easily grasped, there’s a lot more to this technology than most people realize.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled a new executive order on artificial intelligence. It’s the U.S. government’s first action of its kind, requiring new safety assessments, equity and civil rights guidance and research on AI’s impact on the labor market.
• Shein and Forever 21 are slated to unveil a co-branded clothing line that will be primarily sold on Shein’s website.
• Google has a feature that alerts you when your personal information gets posted online. You can pair that feature with the “Remove your result” tool to make it difficult for people to find that online.
• Google agreed to invest up to $2 billion in Anthropic. The commitment involves a $500 million upfront investment and an additional $1.5 billion to be invested over time.

Happy Friday and Happy National Black Cat Day! Do you have a black cat? We’d love to see some photos! 🐱

In This Issue: The CK Kitchen 🍴 | Post Rack Mount Adjustable Rails | FAQ: What is Dynamic ARP Inspection? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – The CK Kitchen 🍴

Happy Friday CK Family!

We hope you’ve all had a great week! We are thrilled to share the CK Kitchen Fall Edition Cookbook with you. Download it here. Let us know if you give any of them a try!

Thank you to all who shared recipes with us. We can’t wait to give them a try and enjoy them. Up next is the winter edition. Christmas cookies, baked goods, hot cocoa, soups – we need them all! 🍪 Send in your favorite winter/Thanksgiving/Christmas recipes!

Have a wonderful weekend 😊

The CK Team

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Our CablesAndKits mount should be in the toolbox of every network admin and installer. No more looking for those hard-to-find rails or rack ears to mount your server, UPS, switch, firewall, or other devices. These fully adjustable, universal rails offer the simplicity and versatility to get the devices you need mounted in the rack, quickly and safely. Made from 14 gauge powder-coated steel, this system can be deployed in nearly any four-post environment.

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Learning Center Article – FAQ: What is Dynamic ARP Inspection?

Network security is a big job, especially if you allow public access to a network. If anyone out there can jump in and access your network, you face certain risks.

A specific risk that shows up a lot is IP spoofing. This is where a device on a network copies the IP address of something else on the network. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to prevent attacks, and one of the most prolific is dynamic ARP inspection.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Google Maps is expanding preexisting features and unveiling some new ones. The company said AI allowed for improvements to Google Maps’ EV charging station feature, more specific recommendations of nearby activities, and more in-depth visualization.
• Tesla Motors recently received permission to break ground on a 1950s-style drive-in movie theater and diner where the cinema parking comes with Tesla fast-charging stations.
• Amazon reported an operating margin of 7.8%, the highest since it reached a record of 8.2% in early 2021.
• Apple is holding an online-only launch event on October 30th, where it’s expected to introduce its next big chip updates and some Macs to go along with them. Apple is calling the pre-Halloween announcement the “Scary Fast” event, and its YouTube channel playfully invites viewers to “Treat yourself.”

Happy Thursday & Happy National Pumpkin Day! Not only do they make great fall decorations, but the pumpkin also completes a variety of tasty recipes. What are your favorite pumpkin treats to enjoy?

In This Issue: Meet Mandy! | HP DL380 Generation 8 | All About Media Converters | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Meet Mandy!

Happy Thursday CK Family!

My name is Mandy Bentley and I’m an account manager for the company. It’s nice to meet you if we haven’t previously worked together! I hit the 14-year anniversary mark this past September and I think Steve Jobs said it best. ‘And the only way to do great work is to love what you do’. I have served in many roles for the company, but out of all of them, helping clients achieve their needs brings me a different sense of joy.

When I’m not working, you can usually find me at the soccer fields. Both of my kids (ages 13 and soon to be 11) play club soccer so we spend 6 days a week participating in some sort of training and competitive games. And I love every minute of it! #GOALLIANCE

Tonight, the UGA girls’ soccer team is hosting Alliance night for our clubs’ players and families. The kids get to skip practice and enjoy a night of fun with their friends, scrimmaging on the field during halftime, and for some, probably hoping and dreaming that this will one day be them on that field!

Enjoy the rest of your week and weekend!

Mandy

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The DL380-G8 has the backbone of the industry-leading DL360, but has more flexibility with having a 2RU design rather than a 1RU design. Generation seven is supported by more UPS systems along with more options for hard drives for the everyday client. This capable 2RU not only has smart power and cooling management, but it also comes equipped with fault tolerance.

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Learning Center Article – All About Media Converters

Simple networks come with a lot of advantages. You don’t have to check compatibility from one component to the next. Everything can run at the same speed. You spend less money. It’s all nice, but there’s a catch. The simplest networks are not the most powerful.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Pfizer said its combination vaccine candidates targeting Covid and the flu will move to a final-stage trial in the coming months after showing positive initial results.
• Apple is once again increasing the price of its TV+ streaming platform. The service will still be ad-free. The change is effective immediately for new customers and 30 days later for existing subscribers on their next renewal date.
• A Philippine spotted deer, one of the world’s rarest animals, has been born to the delight of conservationists at Chester Zoo in England. Read more here.
• Israeli troops and tanks launched an hourslong ground raid into northern Gaza overnight into Thursday striking several militant targets in order to “prepare the battlefield” before a widely expected ground invasion.

Happy Wednesday & Happy Sourest Day! Sometimes life throws us lemons but as they say, make lemonade. Around here, we like to keep things pretty sweet – M&M’s anyone?? Anywho, cheers to a great day!

In This Issue: Home ❤️ | Surge Protector Power Strip | What is Traffic Shaping? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Home ❤️

Happy Wednesday CK Family! Hope everyone is having a great week.

Over the past several days, I’ve spent lots of time on the phone with my younger brother. He’s in his first semester of college and is looking to transfer at the semester break. There are quite a few reasons for him doing this, but a common theme for him is the idea of something feeling like “home”.

I’ve been thinking about what “home” is to me. It can be a place where you feel most comfortable, where you feel most like you, where you actually live…so many things. When I think of home, I think of my parent’s house in Georgia. I don’t live there now, but in any conversation I have I always refer to their house as “home”. I think it’s because I’ve moved so much in the past 5 years, their house is just always so consistent, so familiar, and is always there to welcome me with arms wide open.

Over the summer I was at home watching our family dogs and took some photos that made me think, “This is why I love being home.” Enjoy!

All this to say, what do you love about home? When you think of the word “home”, what comes to mind?

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Powering up your workplace or home safely is a must, but it gets harder as more people have devices they need to plug in. Distribute electricity safely and effectively with a Surge Protector Power Strip with (6) 15A Outlets and 12ft Cord. Stretch the cord for up to 12 feet to accommodate rooms with few outlets, and use the LED switch to turn off your strip if you’re leaving for a while. Made of white material to fit in with any color scheme, this power strip is new and features a lifetime warranty.

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Learning Center Article – What is Traffic Shaping?

When you’ve worked in networking for a while, you’ll come to realize an unspoken truth. There’s never enough bandwidth to go around. A lot of professional network design is really a matter of figuring out how to split your resources in order to minimize problems.

When it comes to rationing bandwidth, you have a few different philosophies, but one of your most dynamic and responsive tools is traffic shaping.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Boeing reported they will deliver fewer 737 Max aircraft than it expected this year. The company is working through production flaws detected on some of the best-selling aircraft.
• Amazon is considering offering veterinary telehealth as it looks to compete with Walmart.
• Amazon reported they will launch an independent cloud for Europe aimed at companies in highly regulated industries and the public sector. Amazon Web Services European Sovereign Cloud will be located within Europe and will be separate to the U.S. technology giant’s other cloud operations.
• A vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline showed the potential to protect adults ages 50 to 59 from respiratory syncytial virus in a late-stage clinical trial.