Black Box Networks

The Black Box Network services corporation is essentially divided into two parts: Black Box Solutions and Black Box Products. Black Box Solutions consists of network services that Black Box Corporation offers. These services include IT services, transformation services, sunset services, global rollouts, and IT asset management. These solutions can be applied to maximize technology efficiency and minimize risks of security breaches in environments like conference rooms, classrooms, contact centers, control rooms, and data centers. They assess challenges in numerous business environments and provide solutions. The other half of their corporation, Black Box Products, consists of electrical/technological products and components which we carry at R&J Components. These products run along the lines of…

• Cabinets and Racks
• Cables
• Carts and Storage
• Control Systems
• Cooling Solutions
• Digital Signage
• Jacks, Panels & Hardware
• KVM
• Networking
• Video and Multimedia

Cables:

Copper Patch: Black Box offers 3-Series CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6A Premium lockable patch cables which come equipped with up to three levels of security. The cable can have no pin, designated as “protected” for everyday network connections. The next level up is the green secure locking pin which holds the cable in place and can be released simply by squeezing the pin. The highest level is the red locking pin which requires a removal tool to remove the cable to prevent unauthorized access.

Cabling is an important part of any network. When choosing the right cable, you have to consider factors like cost, mobility, and convergence. These cables come in numerous standards, such as CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6A, CAT7, and CAT7a. “Standards establish technical criteria and ensure uniformity and compatibility in and between networks” –Black Box Product Guide. The CAT5e and CAT6A patch cables are noted to be good for general purpose network connections. The CAT6 series are ideal for preventing accidental disconnects, which is good for industrial, manufacturing, and mission-critical environments.

Fiber: They also offer fiber patch cables which offer a greater bandwidth than standard copper cables, higher security and low attenuation. Black Box even offers them in bulk with no minimum length, so you can order them cut-to-length. Their fiber patch cables come in different types consisting of Economy, Multicolored, Pre-Terminated, Premium, and Black Box Connect.

Other cables include copper bulk, audio/video cables for your AV and multimedia, coax & twinax cables for security systems, computer and data cables, fiber bulk/patch/pigtails/trunk, serial cables, modular/telephone for telephone connections, USB, and speciality cables.

KVM:  A KVM switch, (KVM, short for keyboard, video, and mouse) allows one to control one or more CPU’s or servers with one keyboard, mouse, and monitor. KVM can be used in video control rooms for broadcasting, retail, manufacturing, law enforcement and various other industries that require multiple screens

Black Box offers 2-, 4-, and 8-port KVM switches for desktop KVM  use. This gives a user access to multiple systems while still providing HD video, creating a unified desktop system across multiple monitors.

They also offer IP enabled KVM switches for KVM applications on remote servers over a LAN.

Their air force approved secure KVM line offers 2- and 4- port KVM switches to maximize safety between secure and non-secure networks.

Black Box’s server room/enterprise KVM switches are used for control of remote servers for both local and remote users.

Black Box additionally offers KVM matrix switching, specialty KVM, virtual desktop computing, KVM trays, extenders, cables, and accessories.  

Networking gear: Black Box’s inventory of networking gear helps to develop and expand networks.

Media Converters: These allow you to connect different types of media such as a twister pair, fiber, or coax within one network. It lets a user extend their Ethernet network past the 100-meter limit. They can be commercial grade, industrial, managed, or 10-Gigabit.

Console Servers: Console Servers give a network manager a single, centralized access point to remotely oversee, operate, and troubleshoot IT infrastructure. They ensure maximum uptime, ranging anywhere from 2- to 48- ports. 

Extenders: With an Ethernet extender, you can expand your network beyond the 100-meter limit. This is used to establish networks that are physically separated, such as those across a campus, across a town, or across a building. They’re commonly utilized in commercial and industrial environments, as well as for general wireless applications. Black Box offers extenders over coax, over UTP, over T1, over Ethernet, and more. 

Ethernet Switches: Black Box offers small office/home office, industrial, and commercial/office grade Ethernet switches. The commercial/home office and industrial grade have a wide variety of port options, while the small office/home office grade’s compact size saves space.

Legacy Technologies: Black Box sells legacy technology devices to keep legacy networks functioning smoothly.

PoE:  PoE, or Power over Ethernet, carries data and power over one Ethernet cable. It’s convenient because it powers devices that aren’t near a power outlet or are in a hard to reach area. PoE’s are easy to use and save devices from power failures. You can use extenders, midspan injectors, repeaters, splitters, and switches, all of which are offered by Black Box. 

Video & Multimedia:

Adapters: They offer a remote composite adapter which can be paired with splitter modules to broadcast to more video sources. They offer a VGA DDC Ghost to ensure trouble-free VGA video connections in digital signage systems. They have a Mini DisplayPort Male to VGA Female Adapter to convert video signals from Mini DisplayPort to VGA format, as well as an HDMI Male-DVI-D Female Adapter to convert between HDMI cables/ports to DVI. Their USB 2.0 video adapter allows you to take live digital video from an analog camera, while their DVI-D EDID and HDMI EDID ghosts optimizes video output on any display.