CablesAndKits Blog

Happy Friday! We’ve got a long weekend ahead – we hope that you enjoy time with family and friends. Let us know if there is any way we can be praying for you!

In This Issue: Schools back! | Cisco 8800/8900/9900 IP Phone Power Supply – 25% off! | How to Choose Ethernet Cables for Gaming | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Schools Back!

Happy Friday, folks! Here we are, approaching the end of summer break. It’s a bittersweet time! On the one hand, we’re ready for the routine that comes with the school year. On the other hand, this means another summer has passed (and we only get so many summers with our kids!).

Maybe your kids have started back to school (our kids started back to school on August 8th). I have heard that some schools start back around Labor Day, which is nearly a month after schools start back here in Georgia. When does your family start back to school? And are you excited about a new school year?

Whether or not you’re excited, I’ll add a little humor to your date with this funny parody about returning to school!

Have a great weekend! And Go Dawgs!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

You can’t go wrong with compatible Cisco power supplies from CablesAndKits. Our Cisco IP Phone External Power Supply is the perfect replacement for Cisco CP-88XX, CP-89XX and CP-99XX Series IP Phones. This external power supply will ensure your connection never fails when you need it most. All your purchases with us come individually bagged and labeled so you can easily store and retrieve your stock.

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Learning Center Article – How to Choose Ethernet Cables for Gaming

It’s good that you are looking at Ethernet internet options. As a gamer, you likely understand the horror of laggy games. When it comes to home networks and gaming, latency is a huge deal and can make or break your whole experience – and in the game, whether you live, die, or succeed. Latency is always with us; it’s just a matter of how significant it is. Wi-Fi simply isn’t as stable as Ethernet, and it leads to slower effective experiences due to higher chances of interference. Slow internet speeds can ruin the entire game, so you want something that can keep up. At the same time, you don’t want to spend a life’s fortune just on cables.

The good news is that Ethernet has a lot of options for you these days. From Cat5 to Cat8 cables, there is an option out there that matches the performance you want without committing you to too much money out of your pocket.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured its first direct images of a planet beyond our solar system.
• A paddleboarder in Massachusetts fell into the water and lost her iPhone earlier this month. She figured it was gone for good, but returned the next day and approached a scuba diving instructor and shared what happened. The instructor asked his class to be on the look out, and the phone was found!
• Tennessee will play host to the 39th annual National Rolley Hole Marbles Championship on September 17th.
• On Thursday, students in Ukraine went back to school for the first time since February 24th after Russia’s invasion of their country.

Happy Thursday and Happy September 1st! We hope you have a great rest of the week as we gear up for a long weekend!

In This Issue: Celebrate the Small Wins | CAT6 Ethernet Patch Cable – 54% off! | What are SFP’s? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Celebrate the Small Wins

Happy Thursday!

The long weekend is almost here! I hope you get to have some time off and have some great plans to relax and enjoy it. The weather forecast here keeps going back and forth between nice and rainy. I guess we will know what it is going to do when it gets here. I have a big cookout for my neighbors planned for this weekend so hopefully, the weather holds out.

I was out cutting grass and landscaping this past weekend and things didn’t go exactly as planned while landscaping. It all worked out but I had the thought cross my mind, “Why spend all my energy focusing on what went wrong instead of being thankful for what went right.” I am a “fixer.” I like solving problems and tackling issues that arise to figure out how to avoid them happening again. I am learning when I get in that mindset I forget to be thankful and focus on what did go right and how good that is and feels. I think we all do this from time to time. We want to focus on the problem rather than stopping and celebrating (even the small things) that went well or right. That is a huge mind shift change and, I admit, hard to remember to do at times.

Whether it is nice out or if it rains during the holiday weekend, it will still be a great time spending it with my friends and neighbors…and we will still eat good and watch tons of football. (Maybe get to sneak in the yard games in between any rain showers.)

Like Rebecca mentioned on Tuesday, I also am super excited about college football starting tonight. (Go Vols!) I hope whatever your plans are for this weekend that you have a great time and enjoy it.

See ya next week!

Jason

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Product Spotlights & Updates

With demands on network performance, each segment and part must perform with precision and accuracy. Cabling is no exception. Our CAT6 standard boot patch cables offer the reliability of pure copper leads (no copper coated aluminum or CCA) and the durability of CM jackets and boots. CAT6 Cables are the standard for gigabit networks and enable high-speed networks to function at optimal performance.

CablesAndKits CAT6 cables conform to the standards both network administrators and end users rely on for conformity and functionality.

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Learning Center Article – What are SFP’s?

High-end networking demands high-end equipment. You have many options, but eventually, you have to decide which technology covers each of your applications. When considering all of those options, understanding 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:

• Disney is exploring a subscription that bundles streaming, theme parks, and merchandise.
• An evacuation order telling residents to leave Los Angeles immediately was accidentally broadcast on television Wednesday. Viewers in Ventura County who were watching TV at the time received the frightening alert.
• Serena Williams eliminated No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 in the U.S. Open’s second round Wednesday night to ensure that the 23-time Grand Slam champion will play at least one more singles match at what she’s hinted will be the last tournament of her illustrious career.
• Four birds escaped the Minnesota Zoo’s tropics area in early July and officials there are asking for help from Minnesota’s birding community in returning them. The four African magpie shrikes, also known as African long-tailed shrikes, flew out through an emergency exit that had been mistakenly left open in the aviary. One of the birds has been recovered so far and returned to its zoo habitat.

Happy National Trail Mix Day! Filled with nuts, dried fruit, and grains – trail mix is the snack we all know best! Perfect for a stroll on a trail, camping, in the car, or just because – it always hits the spot! What are your favorite things to add to your trail mix?

In This Issue: Outgrowing the Pot You Are In | Cisco 10GBase-SR SFP+ Module | Layer 2 vs Layer 3 Switches: Which is best for your network? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Outgrowing the Pot You Are In

Happy Wednesday!

This weekend I spent quite a bit of time repotting several of my house plants. My love for plants really began a few years ago, when my husband and I moved into our first apartment together and had the perfect window to put them in. I have carried several of these plants with me through the numerous moves I’ve taken in the last several years.

Many of my plants were at a point where they were outgrowing the pots they were in, needed some new fresh soil and fertilizer, and just some general tender love and care. As I was doing this, I was reminded that we also have to do this for ourselves. Day in and day out we are all working, caring for family, working to maintain relationships, and much more. But do we take the time to give ourselves the TLC that we need? It’s so crucial to make sure you spend time reflecting on where you are. If your roots are outgrowing the pot you’re in, you need a new pot. If your leaves are starting to feel droopy or are starting to dry up, you need water! All this to say – take care of yourself!

How do you take time for yourself? When you start feeling like you’re outgrowing your pot or your leaves are drying out, how do you navigate?

Have a great week!

Ashley

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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. This 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, making upgrades and maintenance easy. Cisco 10GBASE-SR SFP+ modules also feature Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) functionality, which allows you to monitor the signal strength, the temperature of the SFP, and the transceiver voltage.

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Learning Center Article – Layer 2 vs Layer 3 Switches: Which is best for your network?

When it comes to network switches, you have a lot of options. Finding the perfect switch for every occasion can be a monstrous task. Sometimes, the easiest way to find a good choice is to take a step back and learn more about the primary differences that exist between switches.

One major difference that you will see is the OSI connection layer. Most of the switches you will see will be labeled as either Layer 2 or Layer 3. When you take a deeper look at the key aspects of each layer, you can make an informed decision that ensures you have the right equipment for the job at hand.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Bed Bath & Beyond said Wednesday that it secured more than $500 million in new financing and that it is closing stores and laying off staff as it seeks to fix its struggling business.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($647,200 or less) increased to 5.80% last week from 5.65% the previous week. Mortgage applications to purchase a home dropped 2% for the week and were 23% lower than the same week one year ago.
• NASA announced it will make another attempt to launch the Artemis I lunar mission on Saturday.
• Starting Oct. 28, Facebook Gaming will no longer be available on iOS and Android.

Today we celebrate America’s favorite fire-roasted treats – marshmallows! Grab a long stick and some marshmallows and enjoy a night around the fire!

In This Issue: It’s Game Week! | Cisco Original UCS 1TB 6G SAS 7200 RPM SFF HDD | DHCP vs Static IP | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – It’s Game Week!

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday! Not to sound overly excited or anything, but…. IT’S GAME WEEK!!!!

The countdown is almost over to the first UGA game of the season and it’s a big one! I think that has made the anticipation even stronger (and made time seem to move even slower these past couple of weeks!). I have a feeling this week may move at a snail’s pace, but thankfully today I’m getting a nice distraction with the opportunity to play for CK in a charity golf tournament supporting iServe Ministries. They’re an awesome local organization with a vision to end generational poverty in the communities they serve through meeting practical needs and teaching life skills.

I love the focus on serving the local community through giving, while also teaching life skills to help lift others up so that they can grow, learn new habits, and elevate their lives. It’s a great mission and I’m really excited to play in the tournament…. Even if I am terrible at golf! 😉

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

CablesAndkits.com is proud to offer the best of both worlds, Cisco, HP and Dell hard drives. These hard drives are HP and Dell original. 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 capacity. Each hard drive is wiped of previous information and is fully tested.

When you purchase a hard drive from CablesAndkits, you are backed by our industry-leading advanced replacement lifetime warranty. – Yes, we do mean FREE hard drive replacement.

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Learning Center Article – DHCP vs Static IP

When it comes to managing a network, one of the pivotal aspects is controlling IP addresses. Every device on a network needs an IP address, so how do you assign them?

For the most part, you can choose between DHCP and static IP. Which is right for your network? Keep reading to learn more about the differences and learn for yourself.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• In early August, a team of Portuguese and Spanish researchers exhumed parts of what they believe is a fossilized brachiosaurid sauropod skeleton in Monte Agudo, Pombal, in Portugal.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill is testing chicken al pastor in the Denver and Indianapolis regions. It’s the second time in less than a year that the burrito chain has tried out a new chicken option. Chipotle aims to announce additions to its menu two to three times a year.
• Uber is rolling out new safety features that will allow users to talk to a live safety agent and text 911 operators in the case of an emergency.
• A Chinese puzzle enthusiast broke a Guinness World Record by solving three Rubik’s cubes in 3 minutes and 29.29 seconds while juggling the puzzles.

Happy Monday! We hope you had a fun and relaxing weekend with family and friends. Here’s to a great week!

In This Issue: Landing on the Moon | Cisco Meraki MX64 Security Appliance | How to Repair Cut Fiber | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Landing on the Moon

Greetings and Happy Monday!

Hopefully this week NASA’s Artemis 1 should be launching and headed toward the moon. This will be the first moon mission that will have occurred in my lifetime (the last one I believe was Apollo 17 in 1972). Back in elementary school, the teachers showed clips of the moon landing and also John F. Kennedy’s “Address at Rice University on the Nation’s Space effort from 1962“. I keep ruminating on a phrase in that address “We choose to go to the Moon”. The whole speech is inspiring, but the ending was very impactful –

“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.”

This first unmanned Artemis mission is essentially a test run for the other Artemis. Artemis 2 will send people around the moon similar to today’s launch and in 2024 and hopefully, if all goes well Artemis 3 will have people (including the first woman) landing on the lunar surface in 2025.

I think I’m more excited for my children in the prospect of landing on the moon. I want my daughters to see that with enough energy and effort the seemingly insurmountable can be overcome. I look at my daughters and hope that they will be inspired by the launches (whether that inspiration leads them to science or art, or whatever endeavor they choose) – and that they are inspired by the possibilities.

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Meraki MX64-HW security device is an excellent solution for small branch locations with support for up to 50 users, 250 Mbps of stateful firewall throughput, and 200 Mbps of advanced security throughput. The MX is 100% cloud-managed, so installation and remote management is truly zero-touch, making it ideal for distributed branches, campuses, and data center locations.

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Learning Center Article – How to Repair Cut Fiber

As we all know, fiber optic lines are complicated, powerful, and delicate. They provide incredibly powerful communication signals with high bandwidths and great reliability. But, because they are so delicate, they can be damaged.

When damage occurs, you can either repair it or replace it, and the former option is much cheaper. Here are the steps to repair a cut fiber cable.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• NASA delayed the debut of its towering moon rocket Monday after issues emerged during countdown, postponing the launch from the Kennedy Space Center.
• The Biden administration will end its giveaway of Covid-19 at-home tests on Friday because of insufficient congressional funding.
• A Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant in Lansing, Michigan, became the chain’s first location to vote to unionize.
• He may not be playing football for Detroit anymore, but quarterback Matthew Stafford is still on Detroit’s pizza team. The Super Bowl-winning Los Angeles Rams player will appear in a commercial for Little Caesars. The ad, which airs Monday, is set at a training camp with employees and football fans trying to secure a Little Caesars pizza.

Happy Friday! We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Have any big weekend plans? We’d love to hear about them!

In This Issue: Warranty Horror Stories | MPO Cable, 12-Strand | Should I upgrade from 3750X switch to the 3850 Series switch? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Warranty Horror Stories

Happy Friday, folks! I want to rant a bit about how some companies handle warranty redemptions. I recently read the article “…home warranty horror stories” on clark.com, and it seems like some companies that provide these are looking for a way to say no to the customer, which is appalling! You shouldn’t have to jump through hoops and promise your firstborn to redeem a warranty.

This brings me to my question. Have you used our Lifetime Warranty?

Every order from CablesAndKits INCLUDES a Lifetime Warranty in the purchase price. We know you wear many hats, so we’ve made the Warranty Claim process as simple as possible. All you need is the serial number from the unit or the order number (in the case of cabling). We’ll advance ship a replacement out (same day in most cases). This warranty even covers hard drives, power supplies, and fans. If you’ve ever managed a server, then you know those three items fail the most often. We’ve got your back!

Don’t just take our word for it; here is what Troy said recently: “Quick response and no hassle to replace a bad switch. I have used Cables And Kits for years in my home lab and in my work network. I would highly recommend them.”

Have a great weekend!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Our MPO Essentials line of fiber cables features high-quality, precision-built connectors that ensure secure connections for stable transmission with minimal optical loss. This female-to-female cable features 12 strands of laser-optimized cable that allows you to drastically increase your network bandwidth. Additionally, this cable is made with a durable, Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) jacket. As with all of our products, these cables come with a Lifetime Advanced Replacement Warranty meaning that you can purchase risk-free knowing your satisfaction is guaranteed!

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Learning Center Article – Should I upgrade from 3750X switch to the 3850 Series switch?

Cisco has established its brand through consistency, innovation and performance. It’s no accident that the Cisco name remains one of the most recognizable and respected brands in networking. Even though the Cisco label is enough to inspire certain confidence in the quality of their products, it’s not always enough to determine which device really is the best option for a given network.

When considering high-level, enterprise networks, there are a number of viable switches that can handle the workload. Two of those switches are the 3750X and the 3850X. The former has been around for close to a decade, and it still remains relevant in many active networks. Is it time to upgrade to the newer 3850X switch? Hopefully, this breakdown can help you answer that question.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Water cuts proposed for southern Nevada to cope with drought could change the face of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, where thousands of visitors amble by gentle rivers fronting hotel-casinos and watch colorful water shows at night.
• Authorities have found 2 U.S. tons of methamphetamine hidden in marble tiles shipped from the Middle East to Sydney in what police describe as the largest-ever seizure of the illicit drug in Australia.
• Trainer Daniel Cone has flown so often with exotic animals that he doesn’t think much of it. Though a bald eagle sighting at a North Carolina airport turned heads this week, with video from the security checkpoint going viral.
• Google-owned navigation service Waze is shutting down its six-year-old carpooling service.