For each NMS project, the Product’s Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) procedure should be carefully followed. The FAT protocol includes references to project specific documents if available. For more complex systems this project specific documentation usually includes the MCN/NIN network topology and configuration data such as the IP address plan and OSPF areas if implemented.

The FAT protocol also documents version and patches of the installed software including project specific configurations such as configured options and created user accounts. A checklist is included which demands the execution of basic system tests and the creation of backups. Backups include the configuration files of the managed devices, a backup of the NMS database and a complete snapshot of the NMS computer’s hard disk to be used for a system recovery should it be necessary.