Cisco Switch

PoE vs. PoE+: What is the Best Switch to Meet your Network Needs?

October 3, 2017 by Shanyce Watkins

If you’re new to networking, you might be wondering what in the world is the difference between PoE and PoE+ switches. And, why should I care?

With numerous variations of series, port counts, sizes, and types of switches out there, it’s challenging for the non-technical elite to make sense of it all. So, we’ve rounded up some knowledge and insights to help you understand what a PoE switch is and how it’s different than the plus version. By the time you finish this post, you’ll be mentally sparring with the best CTO’s out there.

Power-over-Ethernet, often referred to as PoE, is a system used to distribute data and power to a targeted network of devices via safe Ethernet cabling. It uses basic copper cables and a switch to send power to the network. Recently, PoE+ has also become popular. Use this guide to help you determine which one best meets your needs.

If you love to see Jonathan’s shiny forehead, we’ve got a lovely video of him communicating a few tidbits about PoE in this video about our WS-C2960X-48FPS-L 48-port switch.

What is an SFP and How is it Used?

July 14, 2017 by Shanyce Watkins

UPDATE: Please visit the update and more indepth version of the “What is an SFP?” article in our new CK Learning Center.

Mayday, mayday. We have a problem! We have two switches who desperately want to talk to each other but the walls of their switch cabinets are restricting conversation and they are located 7 feet away from each other. Luckily there is a transceiver that can help us out: the small form-factor pluggable.

Does the Name Brand Really Matter?

June 6, 2017 by CablesAndKits

Any Costco fans out there?

I certainly am…for some things. I am also the first to admit that it took most of my entire lifetime to arrive at that point. There was just some unfounded stigma about using an item that wasn’t a name brand. Not to mention, I didn’t want my guests to see anything in my cabinets like that.

Top 9 Reasons You Need Ethernet

August 3, 2015 by Shanyce Watkins

Nowadays, we are always looking for the greatest and fastest technology. Regardless of the ever-changing landscape of that industry- we will always need Ethernet. Ethernet is one of the most important forms of networking cable used on wired networks. Here are the top nine reasons you will need Ethernet for your company or home network.

Achieve high speeds on stabilized internet

With wired Ethernet, you will see a much more stable connection and increase in speed. Ethernet eliminates the possibility of Wi-Fi interferences or drops and gives you a piece of mind. We all know what it is like to drop a connection and run around frantically until the bar goes up on the Wi-Fi signal.

Ethernet Friendship Bracelets

You can make friendship bracelets for all of your co-workers with the many different Ethernet colors. Relive your childhood and show those “special someone’s” at your office how much they mean to you by giving them their very own Ethernet friendship bracelet. It is the gift that will last forever. (Remember that Lifetime Warranty?)

Direct file sharing

Transferring files over WiFi may not be the most efficient way to move large files. Instead, consider direct file sharing with Ethernet to increase stability and speed. If at least one of the computer’s network card supports auto-crossover, you can connect both with a direct cable.

Real-time Inventory with Expert Sourcing

June 30, 2015 by Shanyce Watkins

You were just asked to order a long grocery list of products for your IT network that have a wide variety of functions. As the person responsible for keeping your business or organization’s network up and running, you probably have days where you have to procure everything from cabling to network equipment. From new builds, upgrades, to changing out broken equipment, availability is key to any IT person’s network.

Buying equipment or accessories is not always as simple as going to a website and choosing one item of many from a page. When you are in the purchasing process, you look for reviews and advice from others on what you should buy. Important questions need to be asked: will your network increase in size? Will you be adding devices to your network?

We understand that product selection and availability are essential to serving you well, so we’ve taken it upon ourselves to ensure we always have the products you need, whenever you need them. And, to make things even easier, our real-time inventory system lets you know exactly what’s in stock before you order. If we don’t have what you need on hand, or you need more than shown, we’ll do everything we can to have those products to you as quickly as possible with our expert sourcing. We’ve got what you need, as well as great turnaround time on those hard to find products.

As you enter into the last phase of your buying process, the thought of shipping comes to mind. Will it be expensive? How long will it take to get to you? When placing an order, you will be presented with several shipping options. You will also be pleasantly surprised that we offer same-day shipping. Yup, you read that correctly! All expedited orders placed with CablesAndKits by 8:00 pm EST will ship the same day. We understand the value in having the needed products in stock and delivering them to you in a timely fashion.

When you don’t have access to the products you need to keep your business up and running, it can cost hours of time and productivity. The CablesAndKits team is committed to providing the largest possible selection of Cisco equipment and accessories for your business.

Our AWESOME Week in Review! – 1.18.2013

January 18, 2013 by Jason Gazaway

It was a very eventful week here at the CK office! Lots of hype, lots of work and lots of weather…

On Wednesday, we had our first Quarterly meeting of 2013! It was an absolute blast! As you can see from the picture, our theme for this year is a “building/construction” theme – we are looking to build CablesAndKits into the best it can be and truly become ‘Experts in Awesome” in every way possible to better support and take care of our customers! This quarter we are starting it off right by laying the foundation and “Doing the Right Things”. It is going to be an exciting year here at CK.

Our “rock star” Sales Director celebrated his 40th birthday this week! He is getting a little slow in his old age, so we had to put up a [Read more…] about Our AWESOME Week in Review! – 1.18.2013