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CK Daily Updates

CK Daily – 07.26.2021

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In This Issue:  Cisco 7945G Two line Color Display IP Phone | What are Console Cables and What are they used for? | News to Start Your Day

Happy Monday! We hope you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend! This week we’re kicking things off celebrating National Aunt and Uncle’s Day!  What are some of your favorite memories with your aunts and uncles?  

The CK Daily – Gotta Talk Olympics, Right?

Good Morning CK Fam and Happy Monday!

The weird sleep schedule as a result of newborn fatherhood is only beneficial in one way that I can gather. The Olympics are in Japan and start in the evening (eastern time zone) and end in the early morning.

Personally, I love watching swimming and track, probably due to Phelps and what he did to transform the landscape of USA swimming, but that Katie Ledecky race last night was a blast, even though she got the Silver. Congrats to Titmus from Australia! That’s what makes the Olympics so fun to watch, it’s expectations not met for some, dreams realized for others, and some real heart-racing events for the spectators.

Curiosity killing the cat here, do you enjoy the mainstream sports (basketball, tennis, swimming, and track) or are you a lover of the oddball sports that make their way into their headlines once every four years?

Have a great week!!

Corey

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Monday! Today we’re highlighting the Cisco 7945G Two-line Color Display IP Phone, CP-7945G. This phone has built-in speakerphone and headset capabilities and includes a phone, handset, and a handset cord.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G demonstrates the latest advances in VoIP telephony, including wideband audio support, backlit color display, and an integrated Gigabit Ethernet port. It addresses the needs of transaction-type workers with significant phone traffic and the needs of those working with bandwidth-intensive applications on collocated PCs. This IP phone includes a large, backlit, easy-to-read color display for easy access to communication information, timesaving applications, and features such as date and time, calling party name, calling party number, digits dialed, and presence information. It also accommodates Extensible Markup Language (XML) applications that take advantage of the display.

The phone provides direct access to two telephone lines (or combination of lines, speed dials, and direct access to telephony features), four interactive soft keys that guide you through call features and functions, and an intuitive four-way (plus Select key) navigation cluster. A hands-free speakerphone and handset designed for high-fidelity wideband audio are standard, as is a built-in headset connection.

Snag one for 20% off this week!

What are Console Cables and What are they used for? – CK Learning Center

What is a Console Cable?

Console cables — also known as Cisco cables, rollover cables, and management cables — are designed for a specific purpose. They connect Cisco networking devices to terminals or PCs for configuration. Typically, the Cisco end will connect via RJ45, and the terminal end will conclude in a serial connection.

What matters most about console cables is the specific nature of the connection. This is not an Ethernet or networking connection. It is a terminal connection, and its purpose is to enable the connected computer to configure the networking device. This is true for older Cisco equipment and brand-new devices. Configuration is performed through the serial connection.

What Are the Primary Kinds of Console Cables?

Console cables come in many shapes and sizes and with a variety of connector types. There are three that are used more commonly than the rest, mostly because of the frequency with which you will see these different connectors.

RJ45 to DB9

A RJ45 to DB9 is probably the most well-known console cable today. Once upon a time, console cables were connected with improvised “kits” that were little more than a string of adapters on the end of a serial cable. Today, you can get an RJ45 to DB9 cable that replaces the “kit” with a single cord. As the name implies, one end is RJ45 and the other is DB9.

This is the most direct serial connection available, and it comes packaged with a wide variety of Cisco devices. It’s something of a standard, but despite that, it’s designed to communicate with terminals that have the DB9 port. If you want to connect it to a PC or laptop, you’ll likely need an additional adapter between the DB9 end and your USB port.

USB A to Mini-B

Another common console cable, the CAB-CONSOLE-USB, connects the USB on a terminal to a mini-B port on the Cisco device. You’ll notice the lack of RJ45 connectors. This is a specialized cable that services smaller, often portable devices. Despite the connection pieces, this is still a “serial” cable that enables terminal communication.

USB to RJ45

The CAB-CONSOLE-USB-RJ45 is arguably the most modern console cable. It ditches the less-used DB9 connector and streamlines your communication. It goes seamlessly from the console port on the Cisco device to a standard USB port on a PC. It’s the simplest way to create a terminal connection with modern equipment, and it is not a standard inclusion in Cisco hardware packages. A handful of these cables can make network control substantially faster and easier.

That is what you need to know about console cables. In the past, networking staff had to waste valuable time finding creative ways to bridge connections and configure devices. With modern console cables, that time is saved and networking is that much easier.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Japan’s Momiji Nishiya became the second-youngest champion in summer Olympics history, aged 13 years and 330 days, by winning the inaugural women’s skateboarding street competition.
  • California’s largest wildfire so far this year merged with another, smaller fire overnight, swelling to 192,849 acres by Sunday evening as it burned through some area neighborhoods. Authorities on Sunday issued new evacuation orders as the massive Dixie fire in Butte County, north of Sacramento, continued to spread rapidly to the north and east and burned together with the nearby Fly fire, which had previously scorched about 4,300 acres.
  • Naomi Osaka appeared at the Olympics and won her first match since taking a leave of absence from tennis to focus on her mental health.
  • Windows 11 is on the way, and it’s going to bring with it a new look, new colors, and new features when it becomes available later in the year. But not everything that’s currently in Windows 10 is going to survive the upgrade. Here’s everything you’ll lose from Windows 10 when you upgrade. 
  • NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter successfully completed its 10th flight on Mars on Saturday, bringing its total distance flown on the Red Planet to more than one mile.

CK Daily – 07.23.2021

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In This Issue:  Premium Rack Mount Screws | How to Find Your Passion | News to Start Your Day

Happy Friday CK Family! We hope you had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend. Today is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day and what better way is there to kick off the weekend than with a big bowl of ice cream?! 

The CK Daily – Do Your Routines Change in Summer?

Happy Friday folks! If you have school aged children, are you ready for school to start back? 

At this point in the summer, my wife and I start to have bittersweet feelings about summer. Our family is both ready and not ready for school to start back, if that makes sense. On one hand, we are not ready for summer to end. The kids can sleep in, the days are longer and there is just so much that we’re able to do in the summer! On the other hand, we are missing the daily structure that comes during the school year. And what’s funny is both of my daughters LOVE to shop for school supplies so that has already been checked off of our to do list! When they start asking to go school supply shopping, we know they’re ready for school to start back! LOL

How does your family handle the different routines that come with changing seasons? 

Chris

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Friday CK Family! Today we’re spotlighting our Premium Rack Mount Screws, RH-F12B-RKS. While a simple, they are a resource you should always have in your toolbox when you’re mounting network equipment.

These remium black finished rack screws with 12-24 x 5/8″” machine thread come in an easy to use, see-through storage box. The box is branded with an easy to remove CablesAndKits label on the top. The screws are used to mount network and telecom equipment into standard equipment racks.

Grab these while they’re 25% off!

How to Find Your Passion – Ramsey Solutions

Todays article is an excerpt from a Ramsey Solutions post. You can find the full article here. 

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“Work isn’t supposed to be fun.”

“You have to work a draining 9 to 5 to get by.”

“Actually finding meaningful work is a myth.”

Have you ever felt this way?

You’re not alone. Our culture has been fed the lie for far too long that work isn’t meant to be meaningful or satisfying.

Here’s the truth: We were all created to fill a unique role. You are needed. And you must do it. There is someone out there who needs you to be you.

So, how do you make the kind of contribution to this world that you were created to make? By doing work you’re passionate about.

Why Passion Is Important

Passion is one of those words that will either make you roll your eyes because you’re a “realist” who believes work is just supposed to be work, or it will overwhelm you because it’s too big and complex to ever figure out.

But listen: You don’t have to live that way. It is possible to be passionate about the work you do, and it is possible to live a life where you look forward to Monday mornings. The best way to do that is to first discover what you’re passionate about.

2 Questions to Help You Find Your Passion

There are two basic questions I always ask when helping people identify the kind of work that would make them come alive every morning.

But before you get started on these questions, I need you to get out of your head. Put away anything and everything you’ve been programmed to believe since entering the “real world,” and instead keep an open mind to what you (not your parents or your siblings or anyone else in your life) truly desire to do.

Deal? Okay, let’s get started. Ask yourself these questions:

1. What kind of work excites me?

2. What kind of work am I committed to?

If you have high emotion and high devotion for something, that means you’ve found something you’re passionate about. It’s not enough to have one element or the other—you need both ingredients to truly be able to stick with the work long term.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • The Tokyo 2020 (err…2021) Olympics are underway! The $1.5 billion stadium built for the 2020 Olympics can hold nearly 70,000 people, but athletes from around the world were parading at the opening ceremony in a near-empty venue. Only about 950 VIPs will take part in the event, Tokyo 2020 spokesperson Hidemasa Nakamura told CNN. The total will include around 800 foreign guests and 150 from Japan.
  • Just outside Zurich, more than a dozen massive fans are fast at work, cleaning the air of carbon dioxide. So-called direct air capture is the leading edge of what could become the largest environmental industry aimed at saving the planet. The company behind it, Climeworks, is one of the few offering the technology to basically vacuum the atmosphere of carbon.
  • While the CDC recommendation hasn’t changed, New Orleans and Los Angeles have issued new mask mandates for all citizens regardless of vaccination status to wear masks in indoor public spaces.
  • The Bootleg Fire is now the third-largest fire in Oregon state history as firefighters try to limit its spread amid extremely dry conditions. The blaze had grown to nearly 400,000 acres in southern Oregon by Thursday morning and remained just 38% contained.
  • More than two dozen types of muffins sold in stores nationwide have been recalled due to potential contamination with listeria. Give and Go Prepared Foods (U.S.A.) Corp. Conducts Voluntary Recall of Certain Muffin Products Due to Possible Health Risk https://go.usa.gov/xF4bv

CK Daily – 07.22.2021

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In This Issue:  Cisco Aironet Flush Ceiling Grid Clip | 10 Ways to Be a Great Teammate | News to Start Your Day

Happy Thursday! Friday is almost here. To get you through, spend your day celebrating National Mango, Hammock, and Refreshment Day! Seems like the perfect excuse to cut up a mango, enjoy an ice-cold refreshment, and relax in a hammock for a while! Maybe even spend some time daydreaming about all of your exciting weekend plans!

The CK Daily – Customer Service Travel Woes

We have heard and read a lot about customer service lately and we have been discussing “service” a lot in the business over the past couple of months. Customer service can make or break a business. It can completely defuse a situation or in some cases make things worse if it is bad customer service. I had an experience with a company lately that left me beside myself and pretty frustrated.

I booked a flight last Sunday to go visit my buddy up in Ohio in September. Everything was good and went smoothly. Five minutes after I booked my flight, I got an email from the airline stating my flight had changed. I looked it up again and my flight there moved 30 minutes later and went from non-stop to one-stop with a layover over in Chicago. I tried changing it, but the only other non-stop flight was at 9:00 pm that night or 6:55 am the next morning. Fine, I will deal with it.

Last night, I got another email stating my return flight had now changed. Same situation. It changed from non-stop to a one-stop flight and went from 1 hour to 5 hours. I was livid! So, here I am this morning trying to deal with this issue and their customer service line has a hold of over two hours. I reached out through chat and the only response was, “We are sorry. we are moving around a lot of our flights to make our schedule more efficient.”

That’s what I wanted to hit on. This company (I will not throw them under the bus in this email by name, but I am sure you can easily guess who they are.) gave a response centered around what was best for them and not what was best for the customer or even being attentive to the customer’s needs. Efficient for who? Businesses have to make decisions that affect their customers from time to time but do not have a plan that shows compassion, understanding, and concern for their customers with something major like this is not very good customer service.

I wanted to give a personal shoutout in this email to Shanyce, our Customer Service Manager, and her team. They are phenomenal. There were several times during this process that I had the thought, “This would not fly at CK if we did it that way.” BUT…I know we wouldn’t do it that way because of the awesome customer service team we have. I am very thankful for them.

Jason

Product Spotlights & Updates

Hope you are having a great Thursday! Today’s product spotlight brings you to the Cisco Aironet Flush Ceiling Grid Clip, AIR-AP-T-RAIL-F. This grid clip will allow you to install Aironet Access Points flush onto ceiling grids for a clean installation. The ceiling grid clip attaches to the mounting bracket and can accommodate ceiling grid widths of 1 and 1/2 inch, 15/16 of an inch, and 9/16 of an inch.

CablesAndKits carries a wide variety of Cisco Aironet accessories from antennas, power supplies, mounting brackets, and even have the version of the ceiling grid clip for recessed ceiling grids.

Grab your AIR-AP-T-RAIL-F for 20% for this week only!

10 Ways to Be a Great Teammate – Jon Gordon

Thursday’s can be hard to get through as we patiently wait for the weekend to arrive. Today’s motivation is coming from Jon Gordon. You can find the full post here.

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WORK HARD – do the best you can. Don’t focus on the outcome or results. Each day be your best for yourself and your team.

EFFORT – it takes time and energy to be a great teammate. Your team doesn’t care if you are a superstar. They care if you are a super teammate. When you put forth the effort to help others the team will improve.

BELIEVE – believe in yourself. Believe in your team. Believe in what you can do together. When you believe in your team members their confidence and performance will rise.

ENCOURAGE – we don’t give up because it’s hard. We often give up because we get discouraged. Your team members need encouragement. Encourage them. Speak life into them. We all need encouragement and when you encourage your team members you share the positivity they need to keep moving forward.

FRIEND – is defined as a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another person: a person who helps or supports someone else. Being a friend to your team members means you support and help them. You let them know that you are there for them.

OPTIMISM – no matter what challenges you are facing believe the best is yet to come. Don’t focus on your setbacks and challenges. Learn from them and know that your vision and optimism are greater than your circumstances. See a positive future and work with your team to create it.

RESPECT – not everyone on your team is like you. It’s important to respect your team members for who they are and the contribution they make.

ENERGY – you can give it or take it. Be a giver and fuel yourself and your team with positive energy.

MOTIVATE – one of the most rewarding parts about being on a team is the opportunity to raise other people up and to experience being raised up yourself. When you motivate your team members and they motivate you anything seems possible. Teams full of energy who motivate each other become a powerful force.

ENTHUSIASM – it’s contagious just like optimism and belief. When you are enthusiastic you lift up yourself and your team. Share your enthusiasm today.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Bed Bath & Beyond will officially swing open the doors of its newly remodeled flagship location in New York City. For nearly three decades, the roughly 92,000-square-foot location on 6th Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood sat mostly untouched. Fixtures became dated. Merchandise was piled higher and higher to the ceiling. Signage was dark, and the lower level felt akin to a dungeon. The remodeled space looks nothing like it did before. You can find some photos here!
  • Local officials across the U.S. are starting to reimpose Covid mask rules as the delta variant takes hold.
  • Google Maps has announced several new features expanding to 10,000 cities across 100 countries. One feature will show you how crowded a transit line is so that you can avoid crowds on your commute. 
  • The demand for Crocs continues to keep the company on the rise. As Crocs have been deemed the “it-shoe” of the pandemic the company is seeing record revenue each quarter. 
  • The 82-year-old passenger on Tuesday’s Blue Origin mission enthusiastically thanked Jeff Bezos for the flight but also offered some less-than-stellar comments on the 11-minute trip. “We went right on up and I saw darkness. I thought I was going to see the world, but we weren’t quite high enough,” said Funk.

CK Daily – 07.20.2021

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In This Issue:  Cisco Aironet 3700 Series Access Point | How to Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping | News to Start Your Day

Today we celebrate the cookie that is a traditional part of Chinese take-out, the Fortune Cookie!  These crisp, folded cookies have a hint of buttery sweetness. Break them open, and you will find a slip of paper tucked inside with a message on it. The phrase will range from profound words of wisdom or tricky riddles to simple bits of common sense. Happy National Fortune Cookie Day!

The CK Daily – Heard of Meraki? If Not, It’s Worth Your Time

Happy Tuesday!

Hope everyone is having a great week so far! I am super excited about this week because it’s the week we officially launch Meraki products on our website! We are huge fans of Meraki and the way that they have done a masterful job of combining performance and simplicity. They really have removed a lot of the barriers that have made networking a pain for a lot of businesses over the years!

We’ve had our eye on adding these products for years, so it’s really exciting that the time has finally come! It was a big undertaking and, as with anything new, we learned a lot along the way. We tweaked some processes, hit a few snags, but all in all our team worked together to make it happen! Looking forward to serving our customers with Meraki gear, and looking forward to even more awesome product launches in the future!

Rebecca

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Tuesday! Today we’re highlighting the Cisco Aironet 3700 Series Access Point, AIR-CAP37021-A-K9.

This ready-to-install, easy-to-manage access point offers high capacity, high security, enterprise-class features to deliver wireless LAN access with a low total cost of ownership. Designed for coverage in offices and similar RF environments, this unobtrusive access point features integrated antennas and dual IEEE 802.11a/g/n/ac radios for comprehensive and predictable coverage, providing a combined capacity of 450 Mbps.

One of our customers, Joel, wrote, “The product work well as we use it inside all of our offices for Wi-Fi access. We especially enjoy the price compared to purchasing. We pair the AP’s with a Cisco Wireless controller to gain the full functionality of the AP’s. With a lifetime replacement warranty from Cables and Kits, this is a great deal. The product was packaged great and each AP was wrapped individually. The product came as described on the website. We received it on time and the product exceeded our expectations. I rate this product 5 stars.”

Grab this product while it’s 25% off this week!

How to Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping – Ramsey Solutions

There it is. The list of school supplies a mile long. And then your kid walks by in a shirt that wasn’t a crop top last season and tells you their feet grew a size and a half during flip flop season.

You’ve got a lot to buy, but these 14 tips on back-to-school shopping can help you prioritize your spending and save money.

1. Create and prioritize your list of back-to-school shopping needs.

Before you start spending money on the school year, create a list of needs and put them in order from most pressing to least. You may not be able to cover everything right away—but this list will help you see what to tackle first.

2. Make a back-to-school budget.

Once you have that list of needs, you need to create a budget to make it all happen. What school-related needs will occur every month (like after-school care or an extracurricular activity fee)?

3. Save on clothing by seeing what you already have.

Kids grow. And growing means outgrowing clothing. Before you start back-to-school shopping for longer pants and wider shirts, shop your kids’ closets and drawers.

4. Spread out the shopping.

Don’t feel like you have to buy a completely new wardrobe before school starts—because you don’t. Spread out the spending over several months.

5. See what supplies you already have.

At the end of last year, your child emptied their cubby, desk or locker and brought home a mixed bag of stuff: part trash, part memories, and part still-useable supplies. If you kept any of that good stuff, can you use it this year?

6. Know the difference between “cheap” and “value.”

Tacos, sandcastles, zoo fences and school supplies. What do these things have in common? No one wants them to fall apart. Inexpensive things sometimes do just that with daily use. As you hunt for deals, think more about the word “value” than the word “cheap.”

7. Use the dollar store for some back-to-school shopping.

Using your “cheap” vs. “value” thinking, check out your local dollar store. Yes, you’ll see plenty of junk, but you might be surprised at the quality finds awaiting you.

8. Don’t rule out the prepared back-to-school supply box.

Here’s the thing: We can put a lot of stress on ourselves doing all that extra shopping and end up saving only a couple of dollars—or really no dollars at all! Check into the prepared supply box your school probably offers each grade.

9. Buy used.

Don’t force your preteen to sport a used Dora the Explorer backpack because it was the only one at the thrift store. But also, don’t feel like everything has to be brand-new every year.

10. Take advantage of that back-to-school tax-free weekend.

If your state has sales tax and is having a tax-free weekend this year, find out when and get in on those savings!

11. Download apps to your favorite stores.

Target and Walmart have apps with some serious savings perks when you’re back-to-school shopping (or doing any shopping, to be honest). You can get special offers, see store pickup options, and check out clearance items, all from the palm of your hand.

12. Use coupons while back-to-school shopping.

Hey, coupons aren’t just for grandmas. You can save so much money by finding coupons online or even those old-fashioned paper sales ads.

13. Find stores that price match.

Some stores will offer to match prices if you find a better deal elsewhere. Office Depot, Walmart, Michael’s, Kohl’s, and Target are a few stores that offer this shopping benefit.

Want to read the full article? You can find it on Ramsey solutions here. 

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Blue Origin is live-streaming its first passenger spaceflight on Tuesday, carrying founder Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, aerospace pioneer Wally Funk, and Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen. You can find a live broadcast here. 
  • Dish reached a 10-year agreement to use AT&T as its primary network provider as it attempts to transition to a nationwide wireless operator.
  • YouTube says it will try to surface more credible health information and add labels with information viewers will have to click on. The measures come as the company has faced repeated criticism for hosting health misinformation amid the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccines.
  • As hot, dry weather conditions continue to fuel wildfires across much of the United States, the Bootleg Fire in Oregon has become so intense that it is creating its own weather. The Bootleg Fire has scorched 537 square miles — It grew to nearly 364,113 acres Monday and is 30% contained.
  • The fast-food chain announced this week that it would be adding a new super-spicy Ghost Pepper Ranch dipping sauce to locations around the country, but at the seeming expense of another beloved condiment. Hungry fans noticed that in stores where the Ghost Pepper Ranch Sauce has been rolled out, the beloved Creamy Sriracha Sauce has been removed. Understandably, people were up in arms about the quiet removal of the fan favorite.

CK Daily – 07.19.2021

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In This Issue:  Cisco 40GBase-SR Bi-Directional QSFP Module | Understanding The Basics of Network Switches | News to Start Your Day

We hope you had a relaxing and restful weekend. We’re looking forward to the week as we have some new exciting things coming your way! We’re praying for you as you navigate through this week. Enjoy your Monday!

The CK Daily – Feeding the Body and Soul

Happy Monday CK Fam!!

I’m 11 days into fatherhood and it’s been a whirlwind. Thanks for all the messages and prayers, I’m truly blessed for all the outpouring of love I’ve received from brothers and sisters in Christ.

I’ve become so much more in tune with what my physical body desires as it’s lost sleep and good eating habits the last week and a half. Which is why I’m so thankful that even through lost routine and regular awake / eating times, daily scripture and devotionals are keeping my soul full and that is what carries me the most.

From today’s Jesus Calling: Concentrate on trusting Me, and fearfulness will gradually lose its foothold within you.

I needed this more than I realized. So blessed to not carry the burden of life on my own shoulders.

Much love and blessings to you all,

Corey

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Monday! We hope you had a great wekend! Looking for a way to achieve 40Gbps of bi-directional connectivity using your existing multimode fiber? This Cisco 40GBase-SR Bi-Directional QSFP Module is just that!

The QSFP-40G-SR-BD Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable (QSFP) bi-directional transceiver module is one of Cisco’s most innovative products to date. The technology leveraged in these modules allows for 40Gbps of bidirectional connectivity over OM3 or OM4 multimode fiber. These modules utilize two 20Gbps channels which transmit and receive on the same strand at the same time. This module is an excellent solution for those looking to migrate to a 40G network while using using your existing 10G duplex LC MMF cabling infrastructure.

This module supports link lengths of up to 100 meters over laser-optimized OM3 and up to 150 meters over laser optimized OM4/OM5 multimode fiber (MMF).

The QSFP-40G-SR-BD is on sale this week for a whopping 20% off… be sure to pick one up today!

Understanding The Basics of Network Switches – CK Learning Center

Networking is a big topic. In fact, it’s too big for a single conversation. In order to distill such a massive concept into manageable bites, it’s best to look at one component of a network at a time. This time around, that bite is network switches. They come in many shapes and sizes, but you can navigate through the field of options pretty easily when you break switch features into three categories.

Managed vs Unmanaged

These two options have a simple trade-off. Unmanaged switches are much easier to deploy. They come with pre-configured networking protocols, security and traffic management. They are typically plug-and-play devices that can make simple and fast additions to an existing network.

Managed switches are the opposite. They require manual configuration before they can be fully deployed. That component grants vastly superior control over security, resource distribution and the overall functionality of the switch. The time and effort spent on deploying managed switches returns a more secure, better managed network (provided the network administrator does the job correctly).

Choosing between these configurations is not a matter of want. They serve separate roles in a robust network. Major nodes should be run by managed switches. They can do the heavy lifting. Where a network might need rapid changes, unmanaged switches shine. Since they are ultimately tied into the properly managed nodes anyway, the easy deployment makes them perfect for simple additions to the whole.

Ports

The point of a switch is to add ports to a network. When choosing, you have to consider three points. The first that comes to mind is speed. Everyone wants a fast network, and in enterprise networks, that want is more of a need. If a switch cannot match the bandwidth capacity of the greater network, then it creates a bottleneck. That isn’t always bad, but you absolutely need to consider the speed of the switch. It can range from 10/100 (fast Ethernet) to tens of Gigabits per second.

Your second consideration is interface. Fast networks often have fiber optics carrying the workload, but fiber optic cables don’t come with a single connector type (unlike Ethernet). In a large enough network, there’s a good chance you’ll be working with a variety of connectors (ST, SC and LC just for starters), and each switch needs to support all of the interfaces expected of it. Double check your connectors before any purchase.

The third consideration only applies to Ethernet, but it’s widely important since most of your devices will tie into the network via Ethernet or WiFi. In particular, Power over Ethernet (PoE) adds a lot of versatility to any network switch. As the name implies, it can carry power for a device through the Ethernet line. This is ideal for endpoint devices that don’t thrive on battery power. Security cameras and WiFi repeaters are two devices that come to mind.

Housing

Switches have to be stored somewhere, and the housing design is going to have a lot of say in where you can put it. Mostly, the two varieties are stackable and standalone. Standalone switches are best when they are physically isolated. If you have a single switch working as a relay for a few devices, standalone is the way to go. Stackable are designed for networking closets and server-style housing. They can be organized more efficiently than standalones, and they can be configured in bulk. They’re a requirement for major nodes on a large network.

This covers the basics of switches. There are still plenty of additional considerations. We haven’t touched on routers, firewalls, signal repeaters, cables or any of the other big topics, but with this overview, you should have a good feel for what you want out of your switches. When you know the ports you need, the housing style and how a switch will be managed, the rest is just trying to get the most performance and features for you buck.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Chipotle, Target and Shopify are using TikTok Resumes, a pilot program that lets job candidates submit video resumes on the social platform. The recruitment tool is yet another way for companies to connect with potential employees as the talent war rages on.
  • Panera is working to adapt its catering business for the remote and hybrid workforce. 
  • Apple’s recently-launched iPhone privacy feature, App Tracking Transparency (ATT) is proving to be a triumphant success—that is, if you care about privacy. Apple’s iOS 14.5’s ATT, as predicted, has really hurt the likes of Facebook and its advertisers. In fact, the latest figures show that 75% of iPhone users are opting out of being tracked across their iPhones.
  • Airline stocks slipped in a market sell-off amid the spread of Covid-19. Concerns over the fast-spreading delta variant of Covid, now the dominant strain in the U.S., weighed on the market broadly. U.S. travel demand has surged since the spring and early summer demand but is falling off slightly. 
  • An alternate on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team tested positive for the coronavirus just days before the Tokyo Olympics was set to begin. 

CK Daily – 07.16.2021

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In This Issue:  Cat6A RJ45 110 Type Keystone Jack | How does Cat8 Ethernet Compare to 40G Fiber Optic Solutions? | News to Start Your Day

Happy Friday! We hope you’ve had a great week! Looks like we will have some rainy weather around us this weekend, so it’s a perfect time to finish up some of those inside house projects or just spend time relaxing. However you decide spend your weekend, we hope you enjoy it!

The CK Daily – We Love Serving You!

Happy Friday, folks! It’s hard to believe that another week has flown by!

We recently received the following feedback from two customers. Feedback like this encourages us and pushes us to continue to wow you. We really do love serving you!

C & K is my absolute “go to” vendor for Cisco switches and routers. Our org has saved tens of thousands of dollars since we started using C&K. And the service is top of the line with superfast shipping. Great company to work with. We highly recommend C&K!!!

All I ordered was a pair of Ethernet cables. The C&K folks got them sent off almost immediately and they arrived ahead of time. Can’t argue with that. The cables look sturdy and well made. — Plus they arrived with a gift of a measuring tape (English/ metric) and a pack of M&Ms! Wow, that’s how you build customer loyalty. Great work and thanks to C & Ks!

We are continually looking for ways to improve our service. With that in mind, do you have any stories of excellent service from other companies?

And if we happen to have let you down along the way, please reply to me. I’d love the opportunity to make it right. 

Thanks,

Chris 

Product Spotlights & Updates:

Friday is here! Today, we’ve got a small, but mighty gadget to showcase. The Cat6A RJ45 110 Type Keystone Jack, KEY1106ARE.

This Red CAT6A RJ45 keystone jack supports both T568A and T568B wiring and uses the industry standard 110 interface. In addition, it is UL listed, interchangeable with many industry brands and has a four by four termination layout.

Like all of our products, this Jack is backed by our Lifetime Warranty and comes in many different fun colors.

Enjoy 20% off the red one this week!

How does Cat8 Ethernet Compare to 40G Fiber Optic Solutions? – CK Learning Center

Enterprise networking is in an exciting place right now. Cat8 Ethernet cabling is finally becoming widely available. With that availability comes a drop in price and a viable alternative to fiber optics for 40G networking. This means that enterprise servers and networking systems have substantially widened options for all manner of applications. With that excitement comes the need for careful review. Today, we’re going to compare Cat8 and fiber optics in 40G networks to help you determine which is best for your own foray into 40G.

Cat8 Ethernet

Before we look into Cat8 as a means of cabling 40G applications, it’s important to overview the basics. It’s a fairly new addition to the copper family, and it’s made specifically for high-speed service. Cat8 utilizes the same two-pair concept as other copper cables. The secret to the extremely high-performance speeds lies in the transmission frequency. Cat8 operates at 2 GHz. This enables a much larger stream of data through the cable each second, but it requires substantially more shielding to combat interference and cross-talk.

Cat8 can handle 10G, 25G and 40G networking demands at distances up to 30 meters. It still works with RJ-45 connectors, but it can also be sourced with Class II non-RJ45 connections when needed.

Why Is Cat8 Good for 40G?

Cat8 was made for 25G and 40G networks. They still represent an extremely large section of enterprise networking, so it makes sense that Cat8 is seeing rapid growth in market share. It is designed to be forward and reverse compatible with 10G, 25G and 40G networking equipment. This makes it a great choice for networks that are in transition to servicing higher data loads.

The biggest advantage of Cat8 is that it’s a copper-based cable. This eliminates the need for fiber transceivers, and it makes Cat8 significantly more cost-effective than fiber optics when it can be used. The thicker, more heavily shielded Cat8 cables cost more than other copper solutions, but it’s a clear means to saving money on 40G networks.

The other advantage of Cat8 is the RJ45 connection. This enables it to work perfectly with a wide range of networking devices. The flexibility is a powerful tool for upgrading systems under a budget. The legacy and newest systems can all be serviced by the same cable, and that reduces timeline and spending stresses that can occur with less-flexible technology.

Fiber Optics

Fiber optics have formed the backbone of elite data transmissions for decades. The technology has the highest capacity for sending large amounts of data across long distances at high speeds. It’s unparalleled when performance is all that matters. That said, 40G networks don’t require the most elite equipment on the market, and they amply service the majority of enterprise applications. Because of that, we’re going to focus on fiber optics that are optimized for 40G networking. That primarily consists of OM3 and OM4 cables.

Why Use Fiber Optics for 40G?

First, we have to acknowledge the drawbacks. Aside from cost, OM3 and OM4 cables are designed to work at distances of 100 & 150 meters. Those distances can certainly be expanded with additional equipment, but that feeds back into the cost problem.

That said, fiber optics are still prominent in countless 40G systems. There are two strong reasons for this. To start, fiber optics were servicing 40G before Cat8 existed. Because of this, fiber designs are more prominent, and it’s easier to learn from the experience of network designers who have been working with this technology for a long time. The experience gap matters, and it can sometimes overcome the additional hardware costs.

The bigger reason fiber is still great in 40G is future proofing. Cat8 has data limits ceilings that are much lower than fiber alternatives. You might be upgrading to 40G today, but in a few years, you may need to go faster. The fiber optics you install today can be selected to handle 100G or 400G down the road. It is a more expensive short-term investment, but you can recover that money through proper long-term planning.

Ultimately, there is no clear victor. The pros and cons of each cable solution are clear. Making the right choice will require you to decide how you prioritize your spending both today and down the road.

Today’s New to Start Your Day:

  • In Germany, heavy rains pounded the country’s western states and caused rivers to burst their banks, turning streets into torrential rivers. Several have lots their lives and many are still missing. 
  • Lyft said it’s bringing back its shared rides booking option in select U.S. markets for the first time since the pandemic. Starting Monday, consumers in Philadelphia, Chicago and Denver can book the option that allows multiple passengers to split a car that’s going in the same direction.
  • Netflix has hired Facebook’s gaming executive Mike Verdu as part of a deeper push into entertainment. 
  • Jeff Bezos’ rocket company Blue Origin announced its first paying customer, who at 18 years old will be the youngest person to travel to space. 
  • Singapore is introducing differentiated Covid measures for dining in as new cases continue to rise. Only fully vaccinated individuals and people who have recovered from Covid-19 will be able to dine in in groups of five without taking Covid tests. Unvaccinated people have to take antigen rapid tests to join in groups of five for meals. Dining in will otherwise be limited to groups of two.