This presentation will describe the unique testing of AWIPSII at the NWS WFO Omaha (OAX) using a dual operations approach. For a period of several weeks, one forecast crew operated AWIPS 1 in the traditional sense, while another set of forecasters operated AWIPSII and essentially replicated the WFO operations. Initially the live transmissions of products and services was on the AWIPS1 system, however eventually the AWIPSII system became the live, operational system to produce and transmit products and services.

Many lessons were learned from this experience, and the results have implications for a large scale, nation-wide deployment of an operational computer system.