A method to initiate a verification test within a flow meter , the method comprising: providing a flow meter , connected in line with a pipe, that includes one or more tubes defining an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture through which fluid in the pipe flows; interfacing a flow computer (i) to the flow meter via a first interface and (ii) to a supervisory control and data acquisition system -SCADA- host system via a second interface ; determining, at the flow computer , that a start/stop parameter has been triggered by an operator via the SCADA system ; communicating, via the flow computer , a request to the flow meter to initiate a verification test of componentry of the flow meter , including sending a start code to the flow meter , wherein the flow meter contains internal functionality to measure a parameter indicative of the integrity and performance of the flow meter to produce diagnostics data, as part of the verification test, wherein the verification test includes vibrationally exciting the tubes to cause vibrations of the tubes while material is flowing through the tubes; retrieving diagnostic data from the flow meter upon determining that the flow meter has completed the verification test, the verification test including determining whether a measured value of the parameter is within boundary limits defined by a factory specification for the flow meter , wherein the diagnostic data is based on the vibrations of the tubes and wherein the diagnostic data including information related to the verification test; and logging a result of the verification test in a log of the flow computer , the result based on the diagnostic data. providing a flow meter , connected in line with a pipe, that includes one or more tubes defining an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture through which fluid in the pipe flows; interfacing a flow computer (i) to the flow meter via a first interface and (ii) to a supervisory control and data acquisition system -SCADA- host system via a second interface ; determining, at the flow computer , that a start/stop parameter has been triggered by an operator via the SCADA system ; communicating, via the flow computer , a request to the flow meter to initiate a verification test of componentry of the flow meter , including sending a start code to the flow meter , wherein the flow meter contains internal functionality to measure a parameter indicative of the integrity and performance of the flow meter to produce diagnostics data, as part of the verification test, wherein the verification test includes vibrationally exciting the tubes to cause vibrations of the tubes while material is flowing through the tubes; retrieving diagnostic data from the flow meter upon determining that the flow meter has completed the verification test, the verification test including determining whether a measured value of the parameter is within boundary limits defined by a factory specification for the flow meter , wherein the diagnostic data is based on the vibrations of the tubes and wherein the diagnostic data including information related to the verification test; and logging a result of the verification test in a log of the flow computer , the result based on the diagnostic data. <EOS>