In cases where an organization hires a contractor to implement the WLAN, it is important for the organization to conduct acceptance/verification testing to ensure that all technical system requirements are met and that the overall system is functioning effectively. The tests verify that the overall system has adequate signal coverage, performance, capacity, and security, and that management systems are in place and operating properly. Therefore, acceptance/verification testing includes the testing explained, but it is a formalized process. In fact, it is a good idea to make acceptance/verification testing part of the contract with a system integrator and possibly stipulating successful completion of acceptance/verification testing as a requirement for part of the payment for the system.
The following are benefits of acceptance testing:
- Determines whether the system is fully operational prior to being given operational status, which avoids potential issues with usage and support
- For potential legal purposes, provides expert technical evidence of system elements that do not meet contracted requirements
- Provides a form of insurance to services providers that the system will support intended applications prior to them investing in the deployment of applications.
In addition to the testing covered earlier in this chapter, acceptance/verification testing should address the following elements:
- Installation practices: Tour the facility and ensure that access points are installed properly, antennas are aligned correctly, and cabling is neat and organized. For more information about installation best practices.
- System documentation: Review all documentation, such as system design specifications, as-installed signal coverage maps, cabling diagrams, and operational support plans. The various chapters throughout this book explain what this documentation should include.
- Operations and maintenance: Look over operations and maintenance procedures and make sure that all applicable staff has proper training. Test the reaction time of the support staff by triggering a failure event, such as disabling one or more access points. This should be done without any notice to the support staff. Observe how long it takes the support staff to fix the problem and verify that this falls within required times.
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