Grandpa Ham – Grandpa Can do IT!

1983 Marine Corps had under 200 gigabytes of DASD across 6 data centers. I bought 6 terabytes on Sat for $330. Crazy world.

I went back to re-read my master’s thesis from nearly thirty years ago.  The basic conclusion that there can be actual diseconomies of scale, as opposed to economies of scale, from centralized control of computing assets has not changed.  But the the base numbers are crazy different.  My statistics showed that the U.S. Marine Corps had less than 100 Gigabytes of Direct Access Storage spread across 6 different mainframe computer sites in 1983.  I bought 6 terabytes for my home last weekend for about $300 dollars.  Times have changed.  You can find my thesis here.

If you need appropriate definitions for NWEM event codes check this link:  http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lub/?n=nonweathercemdescriptions

• IPAWS contract gap. Hopefully back by next Monday. #

• Last hour on current IPAWS support contract complete. Doing paperwork on future support. Enforced vacation ????? #

• @AWAREforum @u62 I do not dispute you, but IPAWS is not a message Originator. NWS is the Authority on WX. #

• #IPAWS OPEN 3.02: Running Well in TDL. #

• FEMA TDL for IPAWS-OPEN is down since yesterday night. Not staffed weekends. Expect back up Monday. #
• IPAWS is UP in production and functioning normally. CMAS weather alerts will show on your WEA equipped cell phone. #
• IPAWS TDL is working for posts. Only SOAP queries are failing. #

A recent question from a Commercial Developer:

If I was a public safety or transit organization and wanted to connect to the IPAWS-OPEN for Alert origination and/or dissemination, what administrative (legal, financial, etc.) and technical (information assurance, qualification, etc.) gates would I have to pass?

The answer from the IPAWS Program Office Lead Engineer:

Administrative gates:
1) An MOA is required to connect to our Test Development Lab (TDL) where you can develop interfaces to our system and consume alerts for rebroadcast. The MOA process begins here (http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/ipaws/moa_ipaws_open_app.pdf)
2) Once you have completed your development and have a working system, a separate MOA is required to consume alerts in the Production environment
3) There are no financial obligations by either party

Technical gates:
1) The method you will used to access FEMA systems to consume alerts is through https
2) The MOA contains a rules of behavior that will cover security at a high level
3) The IPAWS Program does not qualify or certify systems but there are a few options for you:
a. First, we have a lab at Indian Head, MD with several alert and warning tools that work with IPAWS. We use this lab to understand the state of the industry for alert and warning. We would welcome you to bring your capability to this lab.
b. Second, the Preparedness Technology Analysis and Coordination Center (P-TAC) performs testing and assessment of emergency management tools. This may be an appropriate avenue for you to have your solution analyzed for suitability for emergency management applications.”

Further Questions? I can help you get started.

• Akamai blows "chunks." Literally, they disable chunking when hosting a SOAP site. Java #axis2 #IPAWS developers must disable chunking. #