CBS Expert team on WIS-GTS (EC-CTS) 24-27 April 2006 Tokyo, Japan

1. CBS Expert team on WIS-GTS (EC-CTS) 24-27 April 2006 Tokyo, Japan Phil Chamberlain, The Met Office

2. The Met Office [UK] TCP/IP Status Report RTH & NMS connectivity from Exeter Message switching systems – Frost Message switching systems – Netlink Migration to TCP/IP Usage of WMO sockets Usage of File Naming Conventions Usage of FTP Procedures Usage of e-mail procedures Usage of internet IT Security issues

3. RTH GTS connectivity from Exeter

4. NMC GTS connectivity from Exeter

5. Frost WMO Message Switching System WMO message switch Replacement for ageing TROPICS systems, in 2003 HP UNIX servers running HP-UX Active and Hot Stand-by set-up Synchronisation via 1Gbs-1 Fibre 100Mbs-1 to LAN for data transfers. Upgrading to 1Gbs-1 Corobor Messir-Comm software for WMO switching Nexor Mailer software for X.400 & SMTP functionality Growth 6-months ahead of system predictions – 8Gbytes output by Dec 2005

6. Frost WMO Message Switching System

7. Frost WMO Message Switching System

8. Netlink FTP File Switch Non-WMO format file switch (high volume model data and satellite data) Dec Alpha DS15 servers running VMS Active and Hot Stand-by set-up 100Mbs-1 to LAN for data transfers In-House application for file switching Non WMO switch for Model & Sat products Switches fewer messages than Frost, but 10 times data volume. Upgrade completed Oct 2004 Project started to replace these (DEC VMS) systems.

9. Netlink FTP File Switch – data volumes (main)

10. Netlink FTP File Switch – data volumes (remote)

11. Status – TCP/IP migration Status of migration to TCP/IP • Complete for WMO links. • A few remaining other X.25 links- • NATS & SADIS X.25 to be removed in 2008 • The rest of the X.25 connections to be removed during 2006/7 • Internal X.400 messaging systems to be replaced this year

12. Status – WMO sockets Status of usage of WMO sockets • Of 33 GTS circuits, 13 are socket-based. • Washington (3) • Copenhagen (2) • Madrid (1) • De Bilt (1) • Oslo (1) • Melbourne (3) • Montreal (2) • In securing our message switch, the number of socket-based connections will reduce.

13. Status – file naming convention Status of file naming conventions • As described in the Frost connectivity guide, GTS data is batched and the batch filename will have the format <ICAO>.<8digit-id>.<type> • Non-WMO format data transferred as files (typically large binary objects - model output & satellite data) from NETLINK to other WMO centres. File names are variable, user specified, and conform to VMS naming conventions. • A example of NETLINK filenames can be found in the Meteo France circuit, where a filename of “TTAAii_CCCC_YYGGgg.type” is generated according to the Abbreviated Heading Line of the product.

14. Status – FTP procedures Status of usage of FTP procedures • FTP widely used internally & externally. Frost Messir Com application written by Corobor. • NETLINK written & maintained internally. • In both cases, temporary filenames are normally used when files are in transit. • NETLINK being migrated this year to using AFD software developed by DWD, onto a Linux platform and using commodity hardware. • AFD “toolkit” to be made widely available this year internally to form common data exchange processes.

15. Status – email procedures Status of usage of email procedures • Email (SMTP) is used internally to collect both land and sea-based observations. • Email (SMTP) is used to disseminate a wide range of commercial products. • Email (SMTP) is not used to communicate GTS data with other WMO centres.

16. Status – Internet Status of usage of Internet • Recently upgraded 40Mbps (which can flex to 100Mbps) link. • Used as a primary means of dissemination to a number of customers. • Used as a backup for a number of customers who have point-to-point links. • VPN has been tested and our capability is being enhanced this year. • The use of digital certificates and product signing is to be defined.

17. Status – IT Security IT Security issues • Our Message Switches sit in the heart of our network. Direct connection to them places them and the rest of the network under threat. • As a result, we will be using “staging-post” servers in de-militarised zones (DMZ’s) to deliver to/collect from the customer. They can be configured to examine the data before it passes into the rest of our organisation, and will include virus checking. • These “staging-post” servers will not be as WMO-intelligent as the message switches. As a result, it is likely that socket connectivity will be lost. • Does anyone know of any off-the-shelf content checkers which understand WMO coded message forms?