The present disclosure includes: establishing, by a network management system (NMS), a network configuration protocol (NETCONF) configuration template library including a plurality of configuration templates, based on a network configuration protocol (NETCONF). Each configuration template includes a type of a network device which supports the NETCONF, transport layer protocols which are supported by the network device, and configuration parameters corresponding to each of the transport layer protocols to set up NETCONF sessions of the network device. In response to a network device joining the NMS, searching the NETCONF configuration template library to find a matching NETCONF configuration template which matches a type of the network device which has joined the NMS. Establishing a NETCONF session with the network device which has joined the NMS, based on a transport layer protocol and corresponding configuration parameters of the matching NETCONF configuration template.