CablesAndKits

Happy Tuesday & Happy National Trick Shot Day! Today’s the perfect day to showcase your most impressive shot. Good luck!

In This Issue: Running & Recipes | Yealink Wi-Fi USB Dongle WF40 | How to future-proof your network with Cisco 8800 series phones | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Running & Recipes

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday!

Hope everyone is having a great start to the week! It was a fantastic weekend around here. I’m in the middle of training for a marathon and it just so happened that the training plan I’m following called for a 13-mile run this weekend AND there was a half marathon being held in my town, so I made a last-minute decision to sign up for it and use it as a “test” to see where I’m at. Was definitely pleased with the results as I finished in 1:43:41 which was about 7 minutes faster than I predicted so, all in all, it was a good race! I spent the rest of the day watching football and cooking! I had my family over to watch the Georgia game which was so much fun! That was an incredible game with some wild plays!

On Sunday I spent a lot of time cooking, and testing out recipes that I may bring to our family Christmas eve dinner. Two of my favorites were sausage balls made with the Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuit mix (don’t sleep on it!) and mini pecan pies!

Do you have any favorite recipes that you bring to your family gatherings? Let me know if you’ve got one that’s sure to be a hit!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

WF40 Wifi USB Dongle is a dynamic plug-and-play USB device to achieve wireless networks for IP Phones. Reinforced with a solid transmission rate of 150 Mbps, the solution is able to quickly and reliably establish Wi-Fi connectivity so that users can optimally communicate, collaborate, access pertinent documents and resources, and more. The WF40 Wifi USB Dongle assures users flexibility and optimal user experience.

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Learning Center Article – How to future-proof your network with Cisco 8800 series phones

Technology is constantly evolving and advancing, and the world of VoIP phones is no exception. Voice-over-IP technology has come a long way since it was first introduced in the 1990s, and many businesses, small and large, are adopting IP phones as replacements for old analog technologies. If you are in the market for a VoIP phone, it’s critical that you maximize your investment by choosing equipment that will meet the needs of today as well as those of tomorrow.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Homeland Security has delayed the full enforcement of Real ID security standards until May 2025.
• PepsiCo is eliminating hundreds of corporate jobs in North America.
• Microsoft President Brad Smith said the company offered Sony a 10-year contract to make each new release of the Call of Duty available on Sony’s PlayStation console at the same time as the Xbox.
• Two explosions at major Russian military bases, including the Dyagilevo base near Ryazan just 150 miles from Moscow, mean the war in Ukraine has come right to Vladimir Putin’s doorstep.

Happy Monday! We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and you are looking forward to the week ahead. If there is anything we can be praying for, please let us know!

In This Issue: The Perfect Checklist | Cisco 3800 Series Router | Choosing the Right Network Card | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – The Perfect Checklist

Happy Monday!

Only 20 more days until Christmas! If you’re like me, you’re in a slight state of controlled panic, haha. We’ve been in high gear in our household getting ready for the day, and we found a checklist is helpful to make sure we don’t miss anything or anyone – from gifts to Christmas cards, to planning out the day. A checklist helps us keep our sanity and not stress out as much. Christmas isn’t supposed to be about stress right?!

Speaking of checklists, we’re working on an IT project purchase checklist to help our customers at CK. We get calls and emails all of the time requesting all kinds of things that often get missed during or after a project. These commonly missed items include SFPs, Cable Management, Power Cords, Rack Mount Kits, and Shelves. A lot of times we’re focused on the big-ticket items, like Switches, Routers, and Racks, and miss the little things, and this could lead to costly delays in rollouts. That’s where a checklist can come in handy, to reduce stress and help make projects easier. This checklist aligns with our Vision statement which is to enable customers to complete 100% of IT projects on time. What are some things that you think are a must-have for an IT project purchase checklist?

I hope you have a great and productive week!

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Cisco builds on its industry-standard line of Integrated Services Routers with the 3800 series. These routers offer superior scalability and investment protection through their built-in modular design. Application Layer functions, intelligent network services, and converged communications provide a truly seamless, robust, intelligent routing solution. With added support for over 90 new and existing modules, the Cisco 3800 series will lower your TCO (total cost of ownership) while providing a voice, data, and security backbone for today’s growing business network infrastructure needs.

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Learning Center Article – Choosing the Right Network Card

When you think about networking, there’s a lot of focus on switches, panels, racks, cables, and the backbone infrastructure that makes it all work.

It’s easy to forget about devices that enable individual networking components to function. One such case is a network interface card (NIC). They allow your computerized devices to connect to the network, so they’re absolutely essential. Many devices have NICs built into them, which is why they are easy to overlook. But, there are times when you need to purchase NICs. When that happens, this guide will help you choose the right option.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• With no suspects or motive announced, the FBI is joining the investigation into power outages in a North Carolina county believed to have been caused by “intentional” and “targeted” attacks on substations that left around 40,000 customers in the dark Saturday night, prompting a curfew and emergency declaration.
• A child was killed and the body of a woman was found after the wreckage of a small airplane was discovered in the Gulf of Mexico. Crews were still searching for another person who may have been the pilot.
• OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei’s new startup wants to launch smartphones in the U.S. to take on Apple.
• Another Google service will soon join the company’s graveyard of apps. The search giant quietly announced this week it is shutting down Duplex on the Web.

Happy Friday! The countdown to Christmas is on – we’re 23 days away! Who’s ready?!

In This Issue: Need something fast? We offer Curbside Pickup! | Rack Mount Adjustable Rails | All About Aruba 2930M Series Switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Need something fast? We offer Curbside Pickup!

Happy Friday, folks! One of our recent customers was traveling through Atlanta. Their address indicated they were in Puerto Rico. However, they were completing a project in Atlanta and were heading back to Puerto Rico that evening. Within a couple of hours of placing the order, they arrived at our warehouse to pick up the transceiver modules to take with them for a project the next day…in Puerto Rico!

Why am I sharing this story? Our vision at CablesAndKits is to enable our customers to complete their IT projects on time. We understand that lead times are critical in getting the products needed to complete projects. We’ve even heard of some gear having over 200-day lead times. That is just crazy!!

To fulfill our vision, we have to do things differently. This is why we stock so much equipment and cabling to be able to ship it out the same day.

But what happens if you need it on the same day? That’s why we offer Curbside Pickup! If you’re in the Atlanta, GA, area or traveling through, you can place an order and select Curbside Pickup for the Same Day! And if you can’t swing by, we can schedule a courier to deliver across town. Just give us a call, and we’ll do everything we can to help you be successful!

Whether you need to complete your IT projects in the next few weeks or today, we’ve got you covered. Order by 8 PM for same-day shipping, or if you’re local, select Curbside Pickup and stop by our warehouse. We’re ready to serve you now and not in 200 days.

Have a great weekend!

Chris

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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 to be 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. Front to back these rails are adjustable from 20.25″ to 33.25″. Left to right, these can be installed in any 19″, 23″ or 30″ four-post rack.

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Learning Center Article – All About Aruba 2930M Series Switches

When it comes to data centers and other high-bandwidth networking, finding the perfect Ethernet switches is an endless task. There are many out there that can provide a lot of ports and possibly high speeds, but you need a combination of features and smart design choices to really optimize your network.

There are a few switch series that really stand out for this kind of work, and one of them is the Aruba 2930M. Owned by HP, Aruba has been making high-end networking equipment for decades, and they are a leading brand for networks that push performance above all else.

The 2930M series has a handful of different switch options, all providing multi-gigabit speeds with stackable switches. Take a tour of the series to see if it might be the right fit for your network.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Marvel Studios unveiled the first official teaser for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The first trailer of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 provides fans with the first full look at the upcoming third installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise.
• Epson recently announced a significant shift in its printing strategy, doubling down on inkjet technology while vowing to pull out of the laser printer market. The Japanese electronics company in announcing its new WorkForce Enterprise AM-Series of business-focused products said it would end global sales and distribution of laser printers by 2026.
• Google’s Waze officially has roughly 140 million active users. But since Covid the crowdsourced navigation app has become more in use for errand runs and travel than for commuting.
• Elon Musk’s health tech venture Neuralink shared updates to its brain-implant technology during a “show and tell” recruitment event Wednesday night. Musk said two of the company’s applications will aim to restore vision, even for people who were born blind, and a third application will focus on the motor cortex, restoring “full body functionality” for people with severed spinal cords.

Happy National Pie Day – pie is so good, we celebrate it twice in one year. There are so many flavors of pies to choose from – which is your favorite?

In This Issue: Same Day Shipping & #Goals | Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series | What are SFP’s? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Same Day Shipping & #Goals

Happy Thursday!

I hope everyone has recovered from their food coma a week ago. I ate like crazy at Thanksgiving. The food was so good, but it also helped that I ran a half marathon early that morning. Haha! It was my first half in over 3 years. My goal, besides just surviving, was to run it in 2 hours. It was a struggle at times. I never knew that area had so many mountains! (I know…I know…they were just hills but they sure felt like mountains.) It was a relief to finally turn that corner and see the finish line. My official time was 1:52:16, which was a new personal best for me. I was happy, relieved, and tired, but most of all I was ready to eat after that! It amazes me how fast some of the people there ran the 13.1 miles. The overall winner ran it in 1:23:08…that is just ridiculous!

Speaking of fast, I have been working on some new content and stuff for the new website this week. It continues to amaze me at the feedback we get on our same-day, fast shipping. (I know this sounds like a marketing plug…well, it kinda is but it fits so well with the topic of being fast. LOL!) If you need cables for your business or network, all of our in-stock Ethernet, fiber, and power cables usually ship same day. I can’t promise that you will get them in 1:23:08 but it will be lightning fast! Everyone likes getting packages in the mail, even if it is at work, so this just gives you something else to look forward to quickly arriving there and brightening your day.

After recovering from the last race and the Thanksgiving feast, I have started training for my next bucket list item…a full marathon. (What am I thinking?!?) That will be crazy, but we all need something to stretch us and a goal to strive for, otherwise, life gets boring. Here we go!

I hope everyone has an awesome rest of the week and weekend! Christmas is right around the corner!

Jason

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The C9300-NM-8X network expansion module is an optional modular uplink that is compatible with Cisco Catalyst 9300 series switches. This plug-in module features eight SFP+ uplinks. As with all products from CablesAndKits, this module comes with a Lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty.

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Learning Center Article – What are SFP’s?

High-end networking demands high-end equipment. You have a plethora of options, but eventually, you have to make decisions on which technology covers each of your applications. When considering all of those options, an understanding of SFP transceivers is pivotal. It’s a core technology that serves as a primary workhorse in many networks. This guide is going to explain all about SFP and its primary uses.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The House passed legislation that would force a tentative rail labor agreement and thwart a national strike. The bill now goes to the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has promised swift passage.
• Delta is clamping down on access to its airport lounges starting next year. The airline is raising the prices for lounge access memberships and adding other restrictions.
• US President Joe Biden will spend Thursday taking part in a flurry of events as part of his first state visit since taking office, welcoming the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse, Brigitte Macron.
• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are finally giving fans a look at their highly anticipated Netflix docuseries.

Happy Wednesday and Happy Computer Security Day! As computers become faster and more advanced it’s key that we protect our computers and the resources, tools, and information on them. How do you protect your computer?

In This Issue: Games and Holiday Fun! | Cisco 3750X Series 24 Port Switch | Data Center Server Rack Sizing Guide | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Games and Holiday Fun!

Good morning!

Happy Wednesday! I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve been working my way out of my inbox for some time now – and feel like I’m finally caught up from being away for a few days. My goal is to go after inbox zero this week, as Chris has shared and I’m going to try and do that through Craig’s recommendations.

Over the holidays I took a little extra time off and feel so grateful I was able to do that. It was such a wonderful time to be able to do some of the things I’ve been putting off for a while and also just to spend undivided time with family.

Now, I must know – what was everyone’s favorite part of Thanksgiving this year? I enjoyed playing new games with family and also really enjoyed the stuffing that my husband’s grandmother made. It was some of the best stuffing I’ve ever had and normally I’m not a big stuffing fan!

Anywho, what a sweet season of time we are in where we get to gather with friends and family in hopes to spread holiday cheer. Who’s ready for Christmas?

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

This Cisco Catalyst 3750X series layer 3 switch comes with (24) 10/100/1000 PoE+ ports, a 435 Watt POE Budget, 64 MB of Flash, and 256 MB of RAM. This switch is stackable and has dual redundant fans, 4,000 VLAN IDs, a network module slot, and a slot for an additional power supply.

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Learning Center Article – Data Center Server Rack Sizing Guide

Data centers run on server stacks, and they are usually stored in server racks. So, if you need a lot of processing power and/or data storage, then you’ll need to understand rack sizes in order to strategize.

Unfortunately, server racks are not measured according to specific official dimensions. Fortunately, they are standardized, and you can read those standards when you understand the measuring unit utilized across the industry.

This quick guide will explain how racks are measured and what you need to know in order to pick the correct server rack for your operation.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Airbnb is partnering with several major landlords and management companies to list designated apartment buildings where renters are allowed to offer short-term sublets on the site. The company said that a new page on its website will list so-called Airbnb-friendly buildings, which will give tenants the option to host their apartments just as homeowners can.
• Delivery service DoorDash is laying off 1,250 corporate workers as part of a continued cost-cutting effort, driven by tapering growth and overhiring.
• Tesla is still the top-selling electric vehicle brand in the U.S., but its dominance is eroding as more affordable models proliferate. S&P Global Mobility reports Tesla’s market share of new registered electric vehicles in the U.S. stood at 65% through the third quarter, down from 71% last year.
• State Farm is no longer the largest car insurer in the United States. It has been overtaken by Progressive Corporation, which took a 14% market share in 2021, compared to State Farm’s 13.9%.

Now that the deals have started to settle, we must know…what was your best Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal that you snagged?

In This Issue: Traditions at Meemaw’s Continue | TP-Link Gigabit Fiber Converter | What is Switch Stacking & Why is it Important? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Traditions at Meemaw’s Continue

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that my family would be getting together for Thanksgiving dinner at my Meemaw’s house. Back during the height of the pandemic, we stopped doing family get-togethers at her house due to her age putting her in a high-risk group, and I think many of us subconsciously thought we’d spent our last holiday with her hosting. We were all a bit surprised when (at 86 years old) she said she wanted to host Thanksgiving this year, but it was certainly welcomed news as that was a family tradition we thought we had ”lost” so to speak.

It turned out to be a wonderful time at her house and I know she was so happy to have a home filled with family! Sadly, there were quite a few folks absent this year (ironically) due to being sick. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that she may want to host Christmas and hopefully we’ll all get another chance to be together under her roof!

How did you spend your Thanksgiving? I’d love to know!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

This gadget might be small, but it sure is mighty! The MC220L SFP to 1000Base-T media converter is used to interconnect 1000Base-T to 1000Base-SX/LX/LH single mode or multimode fiber cable within an existing network.

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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:

• NATO allies reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine on Tuesday saying that the war-torn nation will one day become a member of the world’s largest security alliance, and promising more help — from winter aid to artillery — to help Ukraine’s beleaguered armed forces to fight off Russia.
• The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in a long-running dispute over how to enforce the nation’s immigration laws. President Biden’s administration wants to set guidelines for whom immigration authorities can target for arrest and deportation.
• What’s almost as great as Cyber Monday? Extended Cyber Monday! That’s right; there’s still a lot of life in Amazon’s Cyber Monday sale.
• NASA’s Orion spacecraft reached the farthest outbound point in its journey from Earth on Monday, a distance of more than 430,000 km from humanity’s home world. This is nearly double the distance between Earth and the Moon and is farther than the Apollo capsule traveled during NASA’s lunar missions in the late 1960s and early 1970s.