The next upgrade to CRS and VIP will be distributed to field sites the week of November 11. CRS Build 8.5/VIP Build 2.0.2 are basically bug fix builds that will improve significantly VIP operations. The software has undergone a successful one-week System Integration Test and a successful two-week System Acceptance Test at NWSHQ. Additionally, a successful 3-week Operational Acceptance Test was performed at MFL, PQR, and ILX. Additional testing has been successfully performed at the Training Center. The following documents are included as links:

1. CRS Build 8.5 Release Notes - These notes explain the nature of each CRS problem and how it was corrected.

2. VIP 2.0.2 Release Notes - These notes explain the nature of each VIP problem and how it was corrected.

3. CRS Build 8.5 Software Installation Instructions - These instructions include the step-by-step procedures for installing the new CRS software build from the installation CD.

4. VIP 2.0.2 Software Installation Instructions - These instructions include the step-by-step procedures for down loading the patch file from the NOAA1 server and installing the changes on the VIP.

5. CRS Build 8.5/VIP Build 2.0.2 EMRS Instructions - These instructions include the directions for entering the installation hours into EMRS.

The five documents described above, plus the CRS Build 8.5 Software Installation CD, plus this e-mail will be mailed via Federal Express Overnight to each site on Tuesday November 12, 2002. The CRS Build 8.5 software has 12 changes, including 2 bug fixes that are included in the current operational 8.1.1 software. Of the other 10 new changes, all but one are bug fixes, most of which are improvements to the VIP interface. Installation will be performed using the installation CD and accompanying instructions. The VIP 2.0.2 software has only 2 new changes, but also includes the current operational 2.0.1 changes. This will simplify the re-installation of the software if there is a VIP application corruption: Use the old installation CDs to recover to version 2.0, then simply install the 2.0.2 patch; there is no need to install the 2.0.1 patch as well. Sites should perform the installation in the following order:

1. Use the CRS Build 8.5 Software Installation instructions to install the CRS 8.5 software. Site personnel should read through the entire document to make sure they understand the instructions before performing the installation. The entire procedure should take about 45 minutes.

2. Use the VIP 2.0.2 Installation Procedure document to install the VIP 2.0.2 software patch. Site personnel should read through the entire document to make sure they understand the instructions before performing the installation. The entire procedure should take about 15 minutes.

3. Use the EMRS instructions to document the changes. Please note that as with previous software build upgrades, once a site has upgraded to the new software builds, it should not revert to an earlier CRS or VIP build. If a site believes it has suffered an operational degradation as a result of the new builds, it should contact the CRS Help Desk to rectify the problem and, if the Help Desk deems necessary, return to an earlier build. Sites should never attempt to revert to an earlier build without direct assistance from the CRS Help Desk.