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CK Daily – 05.28.2021

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In This Issue: Cisco3900 ISR G2 Series Router | 7 Tips for Dealing with Uncertainty | News to Start Your Day

Happy Friday & Happy National Road Trip Day! Today is the perfect day to pack up, fuel up, stock up, crank up the tunes, and hit the road! What are your weekend road trip plans? 

The CK Daily – Thank you!

Happy Friday! I’m sure I’m not the only one who is looking forward to a long weekend. I’m excited to spend time with friends and family around the pool and grilling some sort of meat (maybe multiple types of meat, haha). As we can enjoy this long weekend, I would encourage us not to forget why we’re celebrating this week. I’m thankful for those we honor on this Memorial Day weekend!

I’m also reminded of a story in the book of Joshua. After the Israelites cross the Jordan River, God instructed them to set up a memorial using 12 stones declaring the mighty works of God. Memorials are a powerful reminder of where we came from.

What is a way that you remember an important milestone in your life?

Chris

Product Spotlights & Updates:

Happy Friday! Today we are spotlighting the Cisco3900 ISR G2 Series Router, CISCO3925/K9.

Cisco’s second-generation ISR routers take cost savings and scalability to the next level using high capacity DSPs, a new suite of IOS features, and flexibility via expansion slots. The Cisco 3925 ISR has 3 onboard GE, C3900-SPE100/K9, 4 EHWIC slots, 4 DSP slots, 1 ISM slot, 2 SM slots, 256MB CF default, 1 GB DRAM default, IP Base. Better yet, it delivers highly secure data, voice, video, and application services to small branch offices. This router enables Borderless networks at the branch.

Grab one this week as part of our Deals of the Week and get 25% OFF!

7 Tips for Dealing with Uncertainty – Success Blog

1. Uncertainty is never permanent. 

Or better put, uncertainty is always temporary.

No matter what you’re going through, this period of crisis will pass. No matter how long ago March 2020 feels, we all know that at some point our lives will return to normal. Although we don’t know when that will happen, it’s comforting to know that every stressful season of uncertainty is temporary. Hold on to the knowledge that the stress and anxiety has an expiration date, regardless of how acute it feels today.

2. Predictability = safety + security.

In order to feel like we are in control, we need two things: safety and security. Without either, our lives tend to feel like they’re spiraling. That’s why 2020 felt so chaotic and traumatic for so many; our daily routines and coping mechanisms were stripped away because of safety concerns. Without our typical fallbacks, we felt insecure. And for obvious reasons, many of us did not feel safe all year.

3. Hold space for negative emotions.

PSA: It is absolutely OK to not be OK.

Sometimes, it’s absolutely necessary to not feel OK.

We as a culture have a problem with toxic positivity. We love to airbrush over troubled times and pretend that everything is peachy keen, even as the world as we know it is crumbling around us. Thanks, Instagram!

Combat this urge to gloss over the ugly emotions by embracing them. Give them a name. Understand them. Ask them to come inside and offer them a warm beverage and a salty snack. Welcome them with curiosity and compassion. And once you get to know them, release them back to where they came from.

4. Accept your reality.

During times of acute uncertainty, it’s almost instinctual to wish for easier times. We love to recreate reality in our imagination in order to cope.

But we can’t change our reality. And when the dissonance between what we wish was reality and what is actually reality comes to a head, it’s easy to feel despondent and depressed.

Don’t set yourself up for failure. Instead, accept the reality of whatever situation you’re in and work to adapt to that. If you continue to force a false narrative on yourself, you’ll spin your wheels until you are forced to surrender. Instead, get creative within your reality.

5. Simplify your life.

“Michael always says ‘K-I-S-S. Keep it simple, stupid.’ Great advice. Hurts my feelings every time.”  –Dwight Schrute

Great show. Great line.

Take it from Michael Scott—If you try to overwhelm yourself with the complexities of life during any time of uncertainty, you’re just piling it on yourself for absolutely no reason.

Go back to the basics. What do you need to accomplish today? You probably need to get out of bed, feed yourself, clean yourself, clothe yourself, do your job (whatever that entails), take time for yourself, connect with others and sleep.

6. Set yourself up for success.

Humans love progression. We like feeling in control of our situations, and we like seeing growth happening right before our eyes. So one of the easiest ways to feel better about yourself during times of acute uncertainty, is to create small actionable goals for yourself to cross off a list.

7. Practice self-care.

Self-care can be defined as anything you do to rest, reset or reflect. At its best, self-care is used to refill your cup. We all need to nourish ourselves and our energy, and the best and fastest way to do this is to engage in self-care.

However, self-care is typically the first thing that goes out the window during times of crisis.

We decide we have to focus on everything else—our jobs, our finances, our families, and our friends. But without caring for ourselves first, the rest of these will inevitably suffer.

Even though it feels impossible, carve out time for yourself.  

Want to read the full post, you can find it on Success’s blog here. 

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • As of this morning, in the US, active COVID cases are on a decline and are reported at 5,690,075.
  • NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter on Mars has been a story of triumph, and now one of perseverance. After five successful flights, Ingenuity encountered an “in-flight anomaly” during its sixth flight attempt. The helicopter landed safely despite the problem.
  • Bitcoin was trading at $35,904 around 6 a.m. this morning and has fallen over 7% in the last 24 hours
  • Cases of the Covid-19 variant first identified in India have more than doubled in England within one week.
  • Kroger is offering customers, workers or individuals who get the shot the chance to win $1 million or free groceries for a year

CK Daily – 05.27.2021

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In This Issue: CAT6 Ethernet Patch Cable, Half-Moon, Booted | Understanding the Basics of Network Switches | News to Start Your Day

Happy Thursday! This week has seemed to fly by but also drag itself out, anyone else agree? I’m sure many of us are ready for the long weekend ahead. We hope it’s filled with celebrations, lots of fun, and some time to relax! 

The CK Daily – Time for a Break

If your life has been anything like mine lately it has been C.R.A.Z.Y. I know a lot of people have kids graduating, ending school, work starting to get crazy again, summer vacations, etc. I don’t have any kids (besides the dog) but it has been crazy enough because of the house stuff, health stuff, family health stuff, and work.

All that being said, by the time you are reading this I will be on day 2 of a short vacation time. This will be the longest I have taken off in over a year. I have been super excited about it for a while. I have a buddy coming into town this week to help me with some stuff around the new house. The list includes changing out about 7-8 light fixtures, switching out the kitchen faucet, and building a few things for the garage and patio. Of course, on top of that, I am using this as a good excuse to buy some new tools. It is always a good time to buy new tools and I have had my eye on a new set of Dewalt tools for a while. After all that we will be grilling out a lot this weekend, and trying to enjoy the crazy Georgia heat we are already experiencing down here.

What big plans do you have for the Memorial Day weekend or the summer? Cooking or grilling anything good or what’s your favorite summer holiday cookout food? I will be checking any responses to this email for ideas for the weekend.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week and an awesome, safe holiday weekend.

Jason

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Thursday! Today’s product spotlight is our 20ft. Black CAT6 Ethernet Patch Cable, Half-Moon Booted cables, PC6-BK-20. The CAT6 Half-Moon boot cables have been replaced with the new CAT6 Easyboot Ethernet cables, offering you the same great cable but with an easier to use tabbed boot!

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.

Give them a try and we know you will love the difference!

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.

This post is from the CK Learning Center.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • As of this morning, in the US, active COVID cases are on a decline and are reported at 5,702,760.
  • After years of talking about it, Facebook officially released its likes-hiding option on Facebook and Instagram. Users of both apps can choose to hide the number of likes and reactions for their own posts or others on their feeds.
  • After months of rumors and anticipation, the Friends reunion of our dreams is going to become a reality. The cast is set to gather tonight for a special on HBO’s streaming service, HBO Max, to honor the iconic sitcom’s 25th anniversary!
  • Walmart and Gap will launch a new brand, Gap Home, with bedding, bath, and decor. The initial collection will debut on Walmart’s website on June 24 and eventually be available in the discounter’s stores. With the multi-year deal, Walmart aims to drive more online sales and Gap wants to strengthen its brand among shoppers.
  • Jeff Bezos will formally step down as Amazon CEO on July 5.

CK Daily – 05.26.2021

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In This Issue:Deals of the Week | The Future of Ethernet in Data Centers | News to Start Your Day

Happy Hump-Day! Anyone else remember the days of playing outside with friends seeing who could build a paper airplane that would travel the farthest? Today we celebrate the simple aeronautical toy that put lots of smiles on many faces – Happy National Paper Airplane Day! 

The CK Daily – Where has the time gone?

Happy Wednesday! We are halfway to a long weekend! Leo Christopher once said, “There’s only one thing more precious than our time and that’s who we spend it on.”

This quote forced me to take a step back and reevaluate the boundaries I set around how I spend my time and where my time goes. Our time is so precious and something we can never get back so why not be protective over it?

Here are 3 things I’ve reminded myself this week:

1. No amount of money, accolades or personal accomplishments are as important as the time I spend enriching my relationships with those who are important to me.

2. I am in control of my life and I have all the strength needed to succeed in anything I set my mind to.

3. Stress doesn’t help anything! No need to spend time stressing over things I can’t change.

Certainly, there are times in our lives where everything seems to be crazy busy and it’s necessary for use to sacrifice time, but whether we are almost to the finish line of a major work project, navigating how to homeschool your children, or building your passion project, never lose sight of what’s most important.

I challenge you, as I have challenged myself, to value your precious time and stay focus on what’s in front of you!

Shanyce 

Product Spotlights & Updates:

The Deals of the Week just keep on getting better! We’ve highlighted a few so far, but there are many more where those come from!

This week we’ve included, a Cisco 2960-X Series Switch, a Cable Management Kit, a 20 ft-Snagless Ethernet Cable, a singlemode duplex Fiber Cable, and a Cisco Series Router! Enjoy up to 25% off some of these incredible products!

Pretty sweet, right?!

To add to it – we’re still offering free shipping on orders over $250 and $4.99 flat rate shipping on all other orders! What are you waiting for? Snag one of these great deals today!

The Future of Ethernet in Data Centers –  CK Learning Center

Does Copper Cabling Still Have a Place in Data Centers?

More than 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are produced every day. That’s a mind-boggling number. Equally impressive is that roughly 90 percent of all data in the world was produced in the last two years. That second statistic will likely hold true even as years pass. That’s because the rate at which we create new data continues to accelerate. In the face of such overwhelming numbers, it often feels like the entire future of networking rests on the shoulders of fiber optics. While fiber networking is absolutely essential to handling massive, consolidated data streams, it’s a mistake to think that every network needs to completely convert. Ethernet still has a strong place in networking, and that holds true even for the most advanced data centers in the world. Let’s take a look at exactly why Ethernet is still important and how we can expect it to function in the near future.

Ethernet To the Desk

There is no contesting the fact that fiber will continue to do more of the heavy lifting for data centers. IoT and similar concepts are increasing the total amount of information being transmitted by leaps and bounds. Despite that, copper cable’s secure place in all of this is based on a simple fact. None of the endpoint devices building those data tables need high bandwidth. IoT devices themselves tend to be simple and require little bandwidth. It’s an important part of the design. This extends to a large segment of endpoint devices. Sensor networks, digital cameras, long-range detection, monitoring and LED-based power systems all thrive on copper networks. When data rates aren’t needed, the cost of fiber optics is prohibitive. This is to say nothing of the efficiency of running power through copper data lines. PoE saves cost on extending Wi-Fi networks, monitoring systems and an almost innumerable number of additional applications. Basically, Ethernet still has a place in data centers because so many of the devices in the center just don’t need fiber optics.

The Better Ethernet Cables

There’s a second reason that Ethernet is here to stay. It keeps getting better. Cat5 was introduced in 2001. It was the first copper cable to achieve 1Gbps data rates (if inconsistently). In the decades since, Ethernet cables have expanded in capabilities and uses — many of which reside in data centers.

Cat6 Ethernet

While it’s been around for a while, Cat6 has been essential in extending the lifespan of Ethernet networking. Running at frequencies up to 250 MHz and data rates up to 10 Gbps, Cat6 introduced better shielding that protects against crosstalk. It is optimized for VoIP, and in most cases, it’s a superior cable to any other for this purpose. Cat6 can maintain 10 Gbps at distances up to 55 meters, and it is otherwise effective up to 100 meters.

Cat6a Ethernet

Cat6a took improvements in Cat6 and expanded them. It still caps at 10 Gbps, but it can maintain this rate up to 100 meters. It also operates at a frequency of 500 MHz. Perhaps the signature changes is the Cat6a further expanded on shielding to eliminate crosstalk struggles in cable-dense networks. That stronger shielding also makes it well-suited for industrial work and rugged environments.

Cat8 Ethernet

Cat8 is the latest and greatest. It is an Ethernet platform designed for significantly higher data rates. It supports 25GBASE-T and 40GBASE-T applications, meaning it can get up to 20 Gbps. Part of the advancement of Cat8 resides in its 2 GHz transmission frequency. With greater data transmission capabilities, Cat8 is at its best in switch-to-server interconnections. It’s clear to see why it’s a powerful option in data centers. The fact that it still uses copper wires just shows that the future is not fully dominated by fiber optics. Copper cables still have a place in this world, and that isn’t going to be changing anytime soon. While the continued expanse of data transmissions will require some emphasis on fiber cables, applications are increasingly favoring copper at the endpoint. Decentralized networking and hyper-efficient data collection both favor less-expensive networking cable, and copper will continue to be essential in that function. By all means, look for opportunities to utilize fiber where it fits, but never make the mistake of overlooking Ethernet solutions.

This post is from the CK Learning Center. 

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • As of this morning, in the US, active COVID cases are on a decline and are reported at 5,735,539.
  • Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 infections per million people — on a seven-day rolling basis — have exceeded that of India. Malaysia has been battling a surge in coronavirus cases since the last few months of 2020. India has been experiencing a devastating second wave since April and has the world’s second largest Covid caseload.
  • Amazon Prime Day is expected to kick off next month. Look for deep discounts on headphones, TVs, exercise gear and Amazon devices.
  • The San Jose city council has approved Google’s big plans for a mega campus that’s been in the works for the last four years. Construction may begin as soon as next year, but the campus will still take around a decade to fully build. It’s Google’s first mixed-use campus and aims to be a model for other tech campuses as soaring real estate prices drive growing alienation toward tech companies.
  • The Chinese government wants to crack down on Bitcoin mining and trading. Meanwhile, the US Treasury will require all cryptocurrency transfers worth more than $10,000 be reported to the government.

CK Daily – 05.25.2021

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In This Issue:Cisco 1RU Cable Management Kit | How to test whether your VPN is working? | News to Start Your Day

Happy Tuesday! We’re almost halfway through this week, and today we’re paying tribute to one of America’s original art forms. Tap dancing! Get your toes tapping, your rhythm in check, and hit the dance floor! Happy National Tap Dance Day!

The CK Daily – Tech I’m Loving

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone is off to a strong start this week!

Are you someone who is into “smart home” types of products? These days it seems like there are no limits to what you can buy to make your home smarter (and your life easier!). The technology out there is incredible, but I’m actually a pretty low-tech person when it comes to my house. I don’t have smart lights, locks, thermostats, or anything like that. I don’t even have an Alexa or other voice assistant. Simple is my jam, but back in November I made a purchase that I described to my family as “either the best $100 I’ve ever spent, or the most frivolous $100 I’ve ever spent”. I knew that only time would tell. So, what did I buy? A robot vacuum cleaner, of course! I got it for around $150 off its normal price (gotta love Black Friday sales!) so that was how I justified it in my mind, but it still felt like a questionable decision.

Now that I’ve been using it for a while, I’m happy to report that it was a GREAT decision! So good, in fact, that I had to share it with all of you! I’m slightly obsessed with having a clean floor and am someone who used to vacuum every. single. day. This little vacuum has given me so much time back that it’s kind of unbelievable! It does a phenomenal job and requires zero effort from me! As an added bonus, it’s hands-down the most entertaining thing my 1 year old niece has ever seen. She could literally watch that little vacuum go for hours (cheering and clapping for it all the while… pretty cute!). All this to say, if you have had your eye on one of these, go for it! It’ll change your life! 

Rebecca

Product Spotlights & Updates:

Today we’re highlighting a product that is perfect for controling you cables and clutter. It’s a fast and easy solution to your organization needs and better yet…it’s 10% off! The Cisco 1RU Cable Management Kit, CABLEMGMT-1RU, is essential for proper hardware management. Not only do they save you time and frustration, they also save you money by keeping your cables organized and preventing them from getting damaged. Cable management kits also make your networking closet look clean and may prevent fire hazards.

Keep your cables organized with this cable management kit for a 1RU rackmount kit. It will fit any rack kit that has the appropriate screw hole, but is specifically made for the STK-RACKMOUNT-1RU and RCKMNT-1RU kits. This is the standard (or shorter) 1RU cable management kit, the length is 3.25 inches and the width is approximately 1.5 inches.

How to Test Whether Your VPN is Working (and spot VPN Leaks)

If you signed up to a VPN and want to make sure it’s safe to use before browsing the web, then the best way to do so is to test it yourself. There are several free tools that allow you to test your connection’s security and determine whether or not your VPN is doing its job. You need no special knowledge to do so, so let’s get started. 

What are VPNs?

In short, VPNs are services that will let you connect to the internet through their servers, effectively changing your IP address and partially protecting you from tracking by your ISP and any websites that you visit. If you want to keep yourself undetected while browsing, they’re an important part of your toolkit, although you’ll also need to use Incognito Mode and follow some other steps for anything resembling anonymity.

However, VPNs aren’t bulletproof: There are some problems that can pop up in even the best of VPNs that can potentially reveal your IP address to the sites or services that you visit, thus rendering your VPN useless. Thankfully, there are a number of free tools available on the web that can help you track down these issues and deal with them.

Types of VPN Leaks

When a VPN broadcasts your IP address instead of that of the VPN’s server, that’s called a leak. There are three types of leaks that you can easily detect with simple tools: IP leaks, WebRTC leaks, and DNS leaks.

IP leaks come in two flavors: IPv4 and IPv6 leaks. (We have an article on the difference between IPv4 and IPv6). An IPv4 leak is when the VPN fails to protect your connection, pure and simple. You won’t see too many of these, if ever, as they only happen when a VPN fails.

According to Dimitar Dobrev, founder of VPNArea, IPv6 leaks happen if both you and the website you connect to support IPv6, but your VPN only supports IPv4. With the IPv6 connection effectively unprotected, the site can see your IP address. The only good way to prevent this is to upgrade to a VPN that uses IPv6 protection or has the option to shut it off. If your VPN has neither, then get another.

WebRTC leaks are a different issue: In the words of ExpressVPN Vice President Harold Li, Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) is a collection of standardized technologies that allows web browsers to communicate with each other directly without the need for an intermediate server. As this goes on, occasionally, a browser can accidentally reveal your IPv4 address and with it, your location. If this happens, you can disable WebRTC requests with a browser extension.

Last but not least are DNS leaks, which are quite common, and even high-end VPNs will occasionally suffer from them. They happen when your DNS requests are sent to your standard DNS servers directly without going through the VPN and using the VPN’s DNS servers. Changing servers should fix it, but if it happens regularly, you probably need to change VPNs.

Want to read more about the testing tools, testing the connection, and learn more about bad results? You can check out the rest of this post from HowToGeek here!

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • As of this morning, in the US, active COVID cases are on a decline and are reported at 5,754,650.
  • Moderna reported that its Covid-19 vaccine was 100% effective in a study of adolescents ages 12 to 17. The company said it plans to ask the FDA to expand the emergency use of its Covid vaccine for teens early next month. It is the second vaccine behind Pfizer’s to demonstrate high efficacy in younger age groups.
  • Amazon is close to a deal to buy MGM Studios for between $8.5 billion and $9 billion. It would be Amazon’s biggest acquisition since it bought Whole Foods in 2017 for $13.7 billion.
  • Airbnb announced more than 100 new changes and updates to its platform Monday with a focus on flexibility, ahead of a widely anticipated boost in travel as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to subside in some parts of the world.
  • As high heels gathered dust during the pandemic, sales of Birdies  “stylish flat that’s secretly a slipper” soared 300% year-over-year in April 2021. 

CK Daily – 05.24.2021

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In This Issue:Cisco 2960-X Series 24 Port Lan Lite Switch | What is Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing Technology? | News to Start Your Day

Happy Monday and Happy National Scavenger Hunt Day! Today is a great day to adventure out and find random items all in the name of good fun. What’s one of the most exciting things you’ve found on a grand scavenger hunt? We’d love to hear about it!

The CK Daily – Healing Power of Water

Happy, Happy Monday, CK Fam!!

From anywhere in the midwest to the east coast, the last few days and upcoming week are providing some very hot weather. Many  of us wish away the cold weather in the winter, get about 2-3 weeks of nice 60s-70s and then it becomes scorched plains 80s and 90s with high humidity and we begin to wish away the heat. Personally, I love having the four seasons and fluctuating weather, always trying to turn lemons into lemonade on those rough weather days.

When it gets very hot, like it was this weekend and upcoming week will be – I always try to remind myself of the healing power of water. This USA Today article really sums it up well: 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2017/11/13/blue-mind/857903001/

Being in, on, near, or under water benefits the mind and body. So on these scorching days, get to a body of water, a river, lake, pond, pool, or beach- and give yourself the mental or physically break (or both) you need to reset.

Have a blessed and wonderful Monday,

Corey 

Product Spotlights & Updates:

Happy Monday! Today we are spotlighting the Cisco 2960-X Series 24 Port Lan Lite Switch, WS-C2960X-24TS-LL and it’s 15% off this week! This beast of a switch has 24 ports with two 1 Gig SFP ports with LAN Lite software.

Cisco has always done an amazing job with catering to small and medium-sized business. The Cisco 2960-X series is another generation that was added to the already popular 2960 and 2960S series that will enable the typical small to medium-sized business to function at an enterprise level without the enterprise budget. The 2960-X series switches offer a fixed configuration of Ethernet switches that are not only Gigabit, but also stackable in most cases. The 2960-X was specifically designed for easy deployment and operational efficiency. These switches are also energy cautious and have a large range of IOS software features.

Within the 2960-X family, the switches come in either 24 or 48 variations and have gigabit Small Form Factor (SFP) or 10G SFP+ uplinks. Each switch is equipped with FlexStack Plus. This enables the switch to be stacked up to eight switches and can produce 80 Gbps of stack throughput. Along with stacking, each unit will feature USB and Ethernet managed interfaces, LAN Base or LAN Lite, and energy management features. Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) is available on most models.

Switching capacity on the 2960-X series come in twenty-two percent higher than the 2960-S units as they have a total capacity of 216 Gbps. Each switch will offer either two 10 gig uplinks or four 1 gig uplinks and zero-touch configuration as well as IOS software updates when you are deploying the 2960-X switch.

What is Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing Technology? – CK Learning Center

No matter what kind of network you maintain, you always have the same demands: more speed, less cost, and larger capacity. For any network with heavy demands on data and/or distance, this always results in implementing fiber optics. This is technology that grows and shifts every day, and it can be exhausting to stay on top of the mountains of information out there. To help with that, a few simple explanations of popular fiber optic tech can make your life a lot easier. In that effort, today’s lesson is on CWDM technology. It’s one of several fiber optic cable choices, and it can fill many roles.

What Is CWDM?

The acronym stands for Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing. As the name states, it is a form of multiplexed fiber optics, so CWDM networks can send simultaneous, two-way communication. The term “coarse” refers to the wavelength spacing between channels. CWDM utilizes laser signals that differ in increments of 20 nm. A total of 18 different channels are available — with a wavelength range from 1610 nm to 1270 nm — and 8 can be utilized in a single system. Since each channel is capable of data rates of 3.125 Gbps, the aggregate ability is 10 Gbps for any CWDM cable.

Sometimes, it’s easier to understand the value of a piece of technology by comparing it to alternatives. In wavelength division multiplexing, DWDM (Dense WDM) is the other popular choice. DWDM has a wavelength spacing of 0.4 nm. That enables a denser packing of signals (hence the name) and can produce much higher data rates — up to 100 Gbps. The primary difference between CWDM and DWDM is that chromatic spacing. While DWDM can send and receive more information, the smaller differences reduce the tolerance of the signal and require far more precision in the laser design. This is why DWDM is much costlier per foot of cable than DWDM.

Where Is CWDM Best Used?

With high data rates, a low cost and good transmission range (up to 60 km), CWDM shines in many instances. It’s best at city-level applications. Many broadband internet providers build the bulk of their infrastructure on CWDM lines. Large campuses and data centers also benefit from integrating CWDM.

One of the often overlooked advantages of coarse WDM is its compatibility with both GBIC and SFP connections. This makes it ideal for upgrading legacy systems that still use the older interface.

To summarize, CWDM is ideal for fast and long networks that don’t need more expensive speeds. It’s also ideal for a gradual upgrade of older systems.

The most important thing to remember is that you never have to marry a cable choice. Networks are living animals, and you’ll always find various niches within the design. CWDM can be your flexible line that keeps your options open, but you can still utilize other cable designs where the need arises.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • As of this morning, in the US, active COVID cases are on a decline and are reported at 5,790,408.
  • Covid cases in the U.S. have dropped to their lowest level in nearly a year, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The declining cases come as many Americans plan to travel, spend days at the beach and gather with friends and family over the summer. 
  • NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover took this 360-degree panoramawhile atop “Mont Mercou,” a rock formation that offered a view into Gale Crater below. The panorama is stitched together from 132 individual images taken on April 15, 2021, the 3,090th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The panorama has been white-balanced so that the colors of the rock materials resemble how they would appear under daytime lighting conditions on Earth.
  • Phil Mickelson, 50, wins the PGA Championship to become the oldest major champion in golf history.
  • Virgin Galactic took a step closer to completing development of its space tourism system on Saturday, successfully flying its first spaceflight in more than two years. The company’s spacecraft, named VSS Unity, was carried up to an altitude of about 44,000 feet by a carrier aircraft called VMS Eve. The aircraft then released the spacecraft, which fired its rocket engine and accelerated to more than three times the speed of sound.

CK Daily – 05.21.2021

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In This Issue: 50ft, CAT5e Ethernet Patch Cable, Half-Moon, Booted | 7 Ways to Build Greatness | News to Start Your Day

Happy Friday and Happy National Pizza Party Day! Whether you’re in the office or still working from home, today is a day to extoll all the qualities of pizza! What are your favorite pizza toppings? 

The CK Daily – How do you manage your day?

Hey there folks! Another week has passed, and this one FLEW by! Even though this week has gone by in a blur, I know that I made progress on a few big things. Until a few years ago, I didn’t have a weekly routine to define priorities for the coming week. The weeks flew by then as well, and I wasn’t always sure that I had invested my time into the highest impact things. It was easy to say “yes” to whatever request came my way. You ever felt like this?

Then I learned about the Full Focus Planner (no, I’m not getting paid to put this here). The critical thing the planner has taught me was to take one hour EVERY week and review the last week and pick the one to three things that I must move forward this week. I find the review time immensely valuable now! I think about the wins from the past week and also think about the areas I could improve. And I have a unique set of post-it notes that I only write the one to three things on that must move forward this week. This post-it note gets put in a prominent place on my desk so that it’s easy to see!

What ways have you found to improve your focus and productivity?

Chris

Product Spotlights & Updates:

Friday is finally here and today we are highlighting the 50ft, CAT5e Ethernet Patch Cable, Half-Moon, PC5-YL-50.

Our Snagless CAT5e Ethernet cables are made with the highest quality copper wire construction to support networking Gigabit Ethernet speeds (up to 1000 Mbps) over short distances. This makes these patch cables perfect for general use, and are the most popular network cable for home or office networking.

The molded half-moon boots, referred to as “Standard boots”, on our CAT5e cables are specifically designed to prevent catching when being manipulated in hard-to-reach areas. 

CablesAndKits’ ethernet cables are individually bagged and labeled in clean, clear packaging, which makes them easy to store and the length and type is easily identifiable.

This week, enjoy 15% off! Grab one while you can!

7 Ways to Build Greatness – The Jon Gordon Blog

Today’s encouragement is from Jon Gordon’s blog. You can read the full post here.

1) Design Your Masterpiece – In order to build something, you must first design it. You must know what you want to build. You must have a vision of the masterpiece you are creating. If you can see it, you can create it. If you have a vision you also have the power to make it happen. The key is to be intentional and decide what you truly want to build and create.

2) Work Your Craft – You don’t master your craft or build a masterpiece overnight. It takes a lot of years, hard work, sweat, and tears. It’s why Michelangelo said, “If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” It’s a process that requires you to continuously work at your craft in order to improve and grow. A great example of this is Pablo Casals, the famous cellist, who was asked at the age of 90 why he continued to practice. He said, “Because I think I’m making progress.” If you want to master your craft you have to be willing to show up each day and do the work that greatness requires.

3) Build With Optimism – When a craftswoman is building something, she is so focused on creating her vision and masterpiece that she is filled with optimism and belief about what she is building. While there are challenges during the building process the craftswoman uses those challenges as opportunities to innovate and adapt. You must believe in what you are building and find a way to get it done. What you believe determines what you create. So, make sure you maintain your belief and optimism as you build greatness.

4) Love It – The famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti was asked about his exceptional discipline to continuously work on his craft. He said, “People think it’s discipline but it’s not discipline. It’s devotion.” As a craftsman, it’s your love and devotion that will drive your discipline. Your love for what you do will drive you to build greatness. If you don’t love it you’ll never work to be great at it. This means if you want to become a master of your craft then make sure you choose a craft you love. If you love it you’ll be more likely to invest the time to work your craft and be devoted to it.

5) Care More – The difference between just showing up to build something and intentionally creating a masterpiece is reflected in the heart, soul, passion, and care that you put into what you are building. If you care more you will do more, give more and create more. To build something great you must care more about what you are building than all of the distractions vying for your attention. Distractions are the enemy of greatness and if you care about your craft you won’t let these distractions get in the way of your growth.

6) Create Inside-Out – A craftsman creates from the inside out. From their spirit, heart, soul, and essence inside them, they create the masterpieces we see in the world. It’s the same way with your life or anything you create. What you see in your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. There’s a word called Meraki. It means to do something with love, creativity, and soul; to leave a piece of yourself in your work; to leave something behind. Being a craftsman/craftswoman is all about Meraki. Put your love and soul into it. Leave a piece of yourself in whatever it is you are building. Leave something behind. Create a masterpiece that reflects the essence of your love, energy, effort, and craft.

7) Take on New Challenges – A craftsman always wants to make their next work their best work and they’re willing to take on new challenges in order to grow. I read a piece by Charles Killian where he shares the story of Donatello rejecting a three-ton block of marble stone because it had too many flaws and cracks in it. The haulers decided to bring it to Michelangelo to see if he wanted the stone. Michelangelo inspected the stone and discovered the flaws and cracks in it as well. But he decided to do something with it. He thought it would be a challenge to his craftsmanship. From that flawed block of marble, he would go on to create the statue of David, the greatest art treasure in the world.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • As of this morning, in the US, active COVID cases are on a decline and are reported at 5,871,914.
  • You can now take a ride in Jeff Bezos’ rocket ship for $2.8 million. Online bidding for the coveted inaugural spot about Blue Origin’s New Shepard will continue until June 19th 
  • Amazon will discontinue its standalone Prime Now app and website by the end of this year. The service launched in 2014 as a way for Prime members to get one- or two-hour delivery on a range of goods, from household essentials and books to toys or groceries. Shoppers will still be able to get fast delivery on the Amazon app or site.
  • The U.S. government has seized almost 70 big cats from an Oklahoma animal park operated by a star of “Tiger King.” Sixty-eight lions, tigers and lion-tiger hybrids, and one jaguar, were taken from Tiger King Park in Thackerville, which is run by Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe.
  • Snap announced a new version of its Spectacles smart glasses. These augmented reality glasses allow you to overlay digital objects on the real world. The Spectacles include two cameras, four microphones, a touchpad, and buttons for controls. Users can also give audio commands to the device by saying, “Hey Snapchat.” The new Spectacles are equipped with 30 minutes of battery life.