Release Notes

CLASS Release 6.2.1.2

Release 6.2.1.2, released 22 May 2013, has the following significant enhancements:

• Support for IASI 1C
• Corrected average calculation on completed order statistics for metrics reporting

CLASS Release 6.2.1

Release 6.2.1, released 8 May 2013, has the following significant enhancements:

• Improvements to Dissemination services
• Improved error handling in the system will ensure that orders are completed in a more timely manner even if one file fails processing
• Added integrity checks for files recalled from tape, ensuring that data delivered to customers is validated before distribution
• Various improvements to the process that stores daily NPP data in an FTP accessible folder: ftp://ftp-npp.class.ngdc.noaa.gov/
• Bookmarks to CLASS web site will have the same name: NOAA's Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System

CLASS Release 6.2

Release 6.2, released 9 April 2013, has the following significant enhancements:

• Increased search speed for Quick Search and Order function
• Users of this search option will see a faster response time, this enhancement will be more noticeable by our Metop and NPP users
• Future releases will incorporate these performance enhancements to the search functionality
• Enhancements for support of NPP include:
• Display the collection short name on details page
• Add information to the CLASS Process Complete email to inform users that (RIPs) are not intended for operational use and do not go through vigorous validation and evaluation process as other operational products
• Correctly handle NPP granule delivery when one or more granules are missing and de-aggregation and/or packaging is selected. With this enhancement NPP users will be able to request granules when an aggregate has missing granules
• Added the ability for operations to add notes to the search pages for a product
• Users will see less messages on the home page and more product specific information when they reach the search pages
• All users in the system as of 4/9/13 have been granted CLASS Subscription permission (or standing orders). See the following link for help. http://www.class.ncdc.noaa.gov/release/system_help/subs/index.htm
• Assorted performance and stability improvements

Additionally, release 6.2 has a large number of internal improvements that are not immediately noticeable to the user community but will be implemented with future core internal enhancements.

CLASS Release 6.0

With release 6.0 CLASS has migrated to a Linux based operational environment. With new, more powerful processors and more memory available, users should see faster response times, more reliable service and faster data delivery. As the size of the Archive increases and the daily incoming data volumes keep growing, this change in infrastructure support gives CLASS a spring board for faster, more cost efficient future technology upgrades.

CLASS Release 5.5.3
Release 5.5.3, released 15 March 2012, has the following significant enhancements:

• CLASS changes to support searching CORS and ingest report include enhancements
  to:
  • allow users to select day of year in addition to current search functionality,
• display on the CORS search page a start and ending date in the day of year
  format,
• automation of CORS station updates.
• CLASS changes to support weather analysis and forecasts charts include
  enhancements to:
  • ingest and archival storage of NCEP Weather Analyses and Forecasts Charts
    data,
  • ingest report for NCEP Weather Analyses and Forecasts Charts data,
  • search and order NCEP Weather Analyses and Forecasts Charts data,
  • dissemination NCEP Weather Analyses and Forecasts Charts data.
• CLASS changes to support NDE include enhancements to
  • utilization of the FTP-S protocol used for NDE data transmissions,
  • ingest MIRS NUP data,
  • search and order, including subscriptions, MIRS NUP data,
  • dissemination of MIRS NUP data.
• CLASS changes to support JAXA GCOM include enhancements to
  • ingest and archival storage of GCOM-W1 AMSR2 data,
  • retransmission of GCOM-W1 AMSR2 data,
  • search and order, including subscriptions, GCOM-W1 AMSR2 data,
  • dissemination GCOM-W1 AMSR2 data.
• CLASS changes to support Jason include enhancements to
  • ingest and archival storage of Telemetry data (HKTMR, PLTM1, PLTM2),
  • search and order Telemetry data (HKTMR, PLTM1, PLTM2),
  • add new file extension ".nc" on netCDF xGDRs.
• CLASS changes to support Ocean Color include enhancements to
  • ingest and archival storage of MODIS Terra Level2 Data (compressed) and
    MODIS Aqua SWIR L2 data (compressed),
  • search and order MODIS Terra Level 2 Data (compressed) and MODIS
    Aqua SWIR L2 data (compressed).

CLASS release 5.5

Release 5.5, released 25 May 2011, has the following significant enhancements:

•  Performance improvements to data dissemination activities,
  • reduced the number of copy operations in dissemination,
  • optimized the tape recall mechanism and improved management of recall queues,
  • increased size of disk cache, therefore reducing number of tape recalls
• Users will be able to search and order e.huxley data
•  Enhancements to geographic search algorithm. Removed limit for searches to a maximum of 78 degrees; this allows for better searches around the poles. Future enhancements will allow the mapping tool to support different projections.
•  Added a total files tag in the dissemination manifest
•  Enhanced GVAR order size estimates and map overlays
•   Initiated migration out of AIX into RHEL Linux. This migration will complete by June 2012. Users will see performance improvements by the additional processing power provided by the new servers
•        Assorted bug fixes.

CLASS Release 5.4
Release 5.4, released 26 October 2010, has the following significant enhancements:

• Enhanced the Order Query page to allow users:
• Query by order type (Web, Subscription, Multi-Block)
• Set filters to see only orders on a specific state
• Select different sort options
• Select number of items (25, 50, 100) per page
  
• Enhanced search by file name option (Dataset name button in the search page) to allow for Boolean 'or' and 'and' operators 
  
• Enhanced geographic search algorithm for Polar Orbiting satellites to better identify data near the poles. The previous version of the algorithm would not find all data available for searches near the poles.  
• Enhanced subscription management options to allow
• Deletion of subscriptions (not only enabling or disabling subscriptions)
• Define a time range for validity; this will allow subscribers interested in seasonal data set their subscriptions and do not have to worry about enabling and disabling them
  
• Better display options to indicate the status of a subscription
• Enhanced data dissemination activities to accelerate data delivery to the user community. We expect that you will see a small increment on the speed of data delivery from CLASS
• Future releases will have additional improvements in this area
• Reorganized subscribers ftp areas to separate files for each subscription on a different directory; this will allow subscribers to better relate files to subscriptions
  
• New directory structure is: /sub/<userkey>/<sub id>/
• Subscribers are now able to select the periodicity of their Dissemination Manifests. Default will remain the current one manifest per order, but subscribers can now select Dissemination Manifests to be time dependent.
• Subscription confirmation email format changes.
  • 1.) A bug has been fixed so the sub id will be displayed in the directory path listed in the email, for example sub/<userkey>/<sub_id>.
  • 2.) sub id was also added to the 'http' line of the confirmation email.
  • 3.) The <cr> is not included in the 'cd' line of the confirmation email. This will be fixed in a future release.
• Subscription expiration period for data can be extended greater than 5 days. Send an email request to the CLASS Help Desk.
• All items in one order will now have the same expiration date/time. Previously, items expired 120 hours after they are put in the ftp area.
  
• Assorted internal changes to ready the system to receive new data types. Stay tuned as in the next few months, additional data will be available via CLASS!

CLASS Release 5.3
Release 5.3, released 21 April 2010, has the following significant enhancements:

• Enhanced the web functionality and display. We look forward to your comments and suggestions.
• The Search results page and the Data Set Details page will be displayed in the same browser rather than opening a new window or tab, except for visual produce search results such as AERO100, AVHRRPR, and SST. Since search results will remain in the same browser window, CLASS will support direct navigation to the results via a new Search Results link in the left-hand menu and footer.  Navigation to the search results page will be included on the left-hand menu. The search results page will have the same look and feel as the other web pages.
• The Search criteria page and search results page will work correctly with a browser’s Back button.
• The Search results page will display the datatype short name and long name.
• Alerts will be displayed if the browser settings will not allow the CLASS web site to work correctly.
• Order Now was renamed to Simple Search to eliminate confusion. Once the Simple Search is selected, a popup window will be displayed notifying the user that the search is in progress.
• Since JASON J2-XGDR cross-references have been enabled, user’s can elect to have companion data delivered with their datasets and/or metadata.
• Format, datatype family short name, and title will be searchable and displayed for the collection metadata search.
• Upon invalid data entry, the User Profile page will state which field is invalid.
• Users of Jason data will notice new fields on the details page.
• Users of GOES data – VISSR/VAS (GOES-7 and earlier) will be able to select dissemination options such as output format, bands, and digital signatures.
• A checksum can be added to the delivery manifest for orders.

CLASS Release 5.2

Release 5.2, released 1 October2009, has the following significant enhancements:

• Enhanced the home page and the overall site look. We look forward to your comments and suggestions.
• The new home page, still preserves the drop down menu where all types of data are available, but additionally, we have included at the right most section of the page a new list of data categories that can be expanded or contracted to facilitate finding a data type.
• We have also included at the right most section of the page, just below the list of data categories a new search box. This search box will search the collection metadata and it is intended to help CLASS users to find the type of data that they are interested in. This new box is not intended to be used to search specific files.
  
• We have made system enhancements to allow users to place larger orders (up to six months worth of data). This is restricted functionality and it will be enabled on case by case basis. If you need to have this functionality enabled, please send and email to class.help@noaa.gov describing the reason why you need this new functionality and how are you planning to use the data.
• Users of MIRS data will notice two new search criteria
• Subscribers will notice that the same spatial restrictions (an area cannot span more than 78 degrees of longitude) available for online orders will be now enforced for subscription orders.
• Users accustomed to downloading data using the web server, will notice a new URL, this change will allow for faster delivery of the data and will reduce the load of the main web server.

CLASS Release 5.1

Release 5.1, released 7 April 2009, has the following significant enhancements:

• Replaced the mapping tool. The new tool has various features that we expect CLASS users will appreciate. This tool will allow us to provide new capabilities in future releases. We look forward to your comments and suggestions.
• Users of Jason data will now have the capability for selecting delivery of either Jason data, XML formatted metadata files or both. The default will be that both data and metadata are included when a user requests Jason data.
• Users will receive notification emails, almost immediately upon placing an order. We have streamlined the start order process to improve response time.
• We have improved our background processes to make data acquisition more reliable, flexible and extensible. As a user you will see less delays on making current data available.
• Assorted bug fixes.

CLASS Release 5.0.2

CLASS Version 5.0.2, released 14 January 2009 offers encryption when logging on or changing your password. Encryption is provided by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates. The CLASS certificates are self-signed. These certificates allow encryption but have not been verified by a third-party entity.

• When accessing the secured portions of the web site, you may be prompted to accept or install the certificates. They may be permanently installed as trusted by your client browser, and warnings would thereafter be automatically bypassed.