  The first-generation of BrainScaleS, also referred to as BrainScaleS-1, is a
neuromorphic system for emulating large-scale networks of spiking neurons.
Following a "physical modeling" principle, its VLSI circuits are designed to
emulate the dynamics of biological examples: analog circuits implement neurons
and synapses with time constants that arise from their electronic components'
intrinsic properties. It operates in continuous time, with dynamics typically
matching an acceleration factor of 10000 compared to the biological regime. A
fault-tolerant design allows it to achieve wafer-scale integration despite
unavoidable analog variability and component failures. In this paper, we
present the commissioning process of a BrainScaleS-1 wafer module, providing a
short description of the system's physical components, illustrating the steps
taken during its assembly and the measures taken to operate it. Furthermore, we
reflect on the system's development process and the lessons learned to conclude
with a demonstration of its functionality by emulating a wafer-scale
synchronous firing chain, the largest spiking network emulation ran with analog
components and individual synapses to date.

Emerging Technologies;Neural and Evolutionary Computing