MMAB FAQs

Q: How can I find out about system changes, product changes, and experimental products?
A: We have a low-volume mailing list for such announcements. Please visit http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/mmab/mailing.shtml to sign up.

Q: When are the products made available?
A: In general, as soon as possible after construction. For specifics, please see our product availability timetable at http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/mmab/timetable.shtml.

Q: Are there any alternate locations I can get the files from?
A: Absolutely:

Simplest is to use polar's backup system, http://ursus-marinus.ncep.noaa.gov/ or ftp://ursus-marinus.ncep.noaa.gov/ The same files are in the same place as on polar. This system, since it is not primary, may be unavailable at times.
For ftp service, you can also use ftp://ftp.polar.ncep.noaa.gov/. Files are in almost the same location; you need to omit the /pub/ from the path (ex, it is ftp://ftp.polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/latest_run/ on that system). Files have the same name as on polar.
Finally, the production system ftp://ftpprd.ncep.noaa.gov/ has many of the branch's products. For the listing of which ones, and what they're called, please see http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/mmab/translation.shtml.

Q: Polar is not letting me in to ftp files, do I need a special account or password? Have you discontinued public service?
A: There are no special accounts or passwords required to access our products. If public access were ever discontinued, the fact would be mentioned prominently on the web site. What probably happened to you is that you have a firewall in place now that is not identifying itself correctly. If your apparent address does not respond to an identity query, ftp connection will be refused. Please talk to your system administrator about how to fix this problem on your side.

Q: I'm trying to retrieve files, have a correctly established firewall, and polar is still refusing service after the initial login.
A: For some connections, the 'passive' setting is important and may need to be toggled.

ncftp (ncftpget) may need the -E option.
ftp may need you to issue the "passive" command (this will flip your current setting, whatever that is)
Some ftp software, command line ftp from Windows 98 and XP is known to have this problem, produces failures if you attempt to open multiple connections.

Q: Can I have the products emailed to me?
A: Yes. Please see http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/ftpmail.txt for the instructions.

Q: I would like to link to your site, or to images, is that ok? Is there anything special I need to do, permissions to be obtained?
A: It is not only permitted but welcome for people to link to our products. It is generally better to link to the html pages than to the graphics themselves, as we change graphic file names more often and graphics don't lend themselves to messages of impending changes as html pages do. Please see http://www.weather.gov/disclaimer.php for the NWS disclaimer on product distribution, which includes the details. You may find it better for your site's appearance, when it comes to the graphics, to construct your own, as many sites do. The model and analysis output are available for ftp for all our operational products. See the web pages for those products for the details of where to ftp them from.

Q: I hear that polar won't be around much longer. What is its future and its replacement?
A: A machine named polar is expected to be around for some time to come. What hardware stands behind that name can be expected to change, as has already happened 4 times in the history of the name. See also the question about where else MMAB products may be found.

Still have questions?

If they're about:

ftp and web access, please write NCEP.EMC.MarineWeb@noaa.gov
wave products and the wavewatch model, write NCEP.EMC.Waves@noaa.gov
sea ice products NCEP.EMC.Seaice@noaa.gov
marine meteorology products NCEP.EMC.Marine.Meteorology@noaa.gov
Coastal ocean and Gulf Stream NCEP.EMC.Coastal.Ocean@noaa.gov

Last Modified 26 May 2005
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