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SUBJECT: Changes to the NWS Production Suite1. Installation of the CCS Phase II system has begun. The transition of NCEP operations to the Phase II system is expected to begin in mid September 2004, with the system expected to become operational in January 2005. A moratorium on changes to the Production Suite is expected to begin on or about 14 September and end in January 2005. Changes required to correct operational failures will continue to be made during the moratorium. More details will be provided as they become available.
2. The transition in the file naming convention for the Global Forecast System (GFS) has begun. Over the next six to nine months all references to AVN will be replaced by GFS. On 14 June 2004, a duplicate file structure was established on both the TOC and NCEP FTP servers. All file structures containing AVN now have a duplicate link containing GFS. These duplicate file structures will remain in place for six months. On approximately 15 January 2005, all file structures containing AVN will be eliminated. Additional details about this transition can be found at the following web site:
http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/changes/avn-gfs_rename.html
3. Currently, on both the NCEP and TOC FTP servers, over 50% of the gridded NCEP
model data sets are not being accessed. A review of file access on both FTP servers
was conducted during the months of January and February 2004. From this review a
list of the unaccessed data sets has been generated. It is NCEP's intention to
remove these data sets, but we would like to first solicit feedback from our users.
The proposed list of data sets to be removed has been posted on the NCEP web site at
the following location:
http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/products/ftp_removal_list.html
This list has been updated to reflect customer requests to retain files originally
scheduled for deletion.
On 29 June 2004, all files deemed unnecessary will be removed from the NCEP ftp server. This process will provide the additional server resources to host higher temporal and spatial resolution data not currently available.
4. NCEP will perform a quarterly super computer backup exercise on Wednesday, 14 July 2004 during the 12 UTC forecast cycle (1200-1700 UTC models). If weather conditions preclude performing this exercise on this date, we will attempt it again the following day, Thursday, 15 July 2004 (again during the 12 UTC forecast cycle).
For this current exercise NCEP model data will not be made available during the 12 UTC forecast cycle. The only exception to this is that the 12 UTC NGM MOS and GFS MOS products will be distributed at the end of the test (approximately 3 hours late).
Further information on the type of products available from the backup processing and their approximate delivery times can be found at the following web site:
http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/ncepbk/ncep_backup.html
Example data sets from our backup partners (AFWA, FNMOC, and NOAA/FSL) can be found
at:
ftp://ftpprd.ncep.noaa.gov/pub/data/nccf_backup/
5. NCEP Central Operations is implementing a new DNS solution for World Weather
Building (WWB), Camp Springs, MD. The deployment of the new DNS solution is
scheduled to commence 23 August 2004. A component of the DNS solution is the
retirement of the "wwb.noaa.gov" and "fb4.noaa.gov" DNS domains. The domain
"ncep.noaa.gov" will be supported in lieu of the "fb4" and "wwb" domains.
Scripts that access NCEP hostnames using the "wwb.noaa.gov" should be changed to "ncep.noaa.gov". For example, if accessing "ftpprd.wwb.noaa.gov", change to "ftpprd.ncep.noaa.gov". Changes to scripts should be made by 1 August 2004. This will allow time to address problems before the deployment of the new DNS system. For internal NCEP users, a separate communications will provide further instructions. If there are any questions or concerns, please email ncep.helpdesk@xxxxxxxx and copy Luis.Cano@xxxxxxxx.
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