1.  The following information is being shared to clarify questions 
regarding the NOMADS systems.  NOAA operates four types of NOMADS 
Servers that host NCEP Model Products:
·         A near-real-time server supported by NCDC is available at 
http://nomads.ncdc.noaa.gov/.  This server provides:
o    access to a subset of NCEP's operational data set (as distributed 
on NOAAPort) shortly after distribution
o    a long-term archive for all data sets
o    many other data sets (see 
http://nomads.ncdc.noaa.gov/data.php?name=inventory)
·         A real-time server supported 24x7 by NCEP is available at 
http://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov/.  This server provides:
o    access to NCEP's operational data sets as they are being generated
o    a short-term archive of up to a month for most data sets
o    24x7 operational monitoring by NCEP staff
o    A geographically-diverse backup server to insure operational 
availability
·         Four non-operational research and development servers used for 
customer testing of new products and services prior to operational 
implementation
o    These servers are not guaranteed to have current data
o    These servers are not guaranteed to be available at all times
o    These servers and their content are supported only during business 
hours and on the basis of staff availability
o    Three non-operational research and development servers managed by 
NCEP are available at:
§  http://nomad1.ncep.noaa.gov/ncep_data/index.html
§  http://nomad3.ncep.noaa.gov/ncep_data/index.html
§  http://nomad5.ncep.noaa.gov/ncep_data/index.html
o    A non-operational research and development server managed by NCDC 
is available at http://nomads6.ncdc.noaa.gov/ncep_data/index.html
·         NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory has select 
Climate Model (CM.x) output for access at:
o    http://nomads.gfdl.noaa.gov/CM2.X/
http://nomads.gfdl.noaa.gov
2.  Upcoming major changes to NCEP's production suite and details on any 
product or timing changes associated with upcoming implementations can 
be viewed at the following website:
http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/changes/
Test data for each of these proposed changes should be available six 
weeks prior to implementation.  Anyone wishing to receive formal notice 
of the final pre-implementation testing and the opportunity to provide 
feedback on the proposed changes can subscribe to the Model Evaluation 
mailing list via: 
https://lstsrv.ncep.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/ncep.list.modelevalinfo