NCEP planning-jifmemo: jif_memo_030307 (fwd)

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: NCEP planning-jifmemo: jif_memo_030307 (fwd)
• From: Linda Miller <lmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Friday, March 07, 2003 1:44 PM -0500

---------- Forwarded Message ----------


SUBJECT:          Changes to the NWS Production Suite

    A test of the backup operations for the IBM SP will be
conducted during the last week in March.  This test will only
involve the delivery of two RUC forecasts (tentatively 13Z & 14Z)
from the backup workstation at the NWS Telecommunication
Operations Center (TOC).  A test of the full backup capability
from the TOC system will be conducted sometime during a 30-day
period beginning 15 June 2003.  More details on the dates and
times of these tests will be provided when they become available.

    The next NCEP Central Computer System (CCS) is tentatively
schedule to become operational during the first week of April
2003.  The 30-day parallel test was restarted on 4 March 2003.  A
Production Status WEB page for the parallel runs on the CCS is
available at:

  http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwpara/prodstat/index.html

    As the month progresses and these times become more
representative of the 30-day average, they should closely mirror
the schedule on the IBM SP prior to the T254 Global Forecast
System (GFS) implementation.  The only noticeable differences in
the schedule should be the delivery of AVN products approximately
20 minutes earlier and the NGM products approximately 30 minutes
earlier.  No changes in product content or format will be made
during the switch to the CCS.  The only differences that should
be noted by the end-users of NCEP products are these minor
adjustments in the production schedule.

    The moratorium on changes to the Production Suite will
continue until the CCS is fully operational.  During March, user
access to the CCS may be interrupted for testing and minor system
configuration changes.  Whenever possible, prior notice of system
downtime or unavailability will be provided.

    An on-line user guide for code conversion to the CCS is
available on the NCEP internal WEB server at:

    http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/ccs_guide/

    The guide will be continually updated as new features or
problems with the code conversion are uncovered.

    The AVN and MRF descriptors on the NCEP Model Analysis &
Forecast WEB page are tentatively scheduled to be replaced with
the GFS on Tuesday, 15 April.  During the next year all
references to the AVN descriptor will be replaced by GFS on NWS
WEB sites and ftp servers.  A schedule will be provided when it
becomes available.

    A preliminary list of implementations for 2003 can be found
at:

         http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/changes

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