This series of lectures will cover some of the major issues at the boundary between the LHC machine and the experiments:

1) The physics motivation and expectations of the experiments regarding the machine operation. This will include an overview of the LHC physics programme (in pp and PbPb collisions), of the experimental signatures (from high pT objects to leading nucleons) and of the expected trigger rates as well as the data sets needed for specific measurements. Furthermore, issues related to various modes of operation of the machine (e.g. bunch spacings of 25 ns. vs. 75 ns.) and special requirements of the detectors for their commissioning will be described.

2) The LHC machine aspects: introduction of the main LHC parameters and discussion on how the machine will start up in the initial period of running. Major issues and difficulties will be reviewed and the present view on how to proceed towards the design luminosity will be presented. Some special machine operation modes, such as large b* optics, will be introduced.

3) The experimental areas: presentation of such topics as the design of the experimental zones, radiation shielding issues, design of the experimental beam pipes and vacuum issues.

4) The experiment-machine interface: coverage of such topics as the hardware interface issues for near-beam detectors, machine-induced backgrounds and signal exchange between the experiments and machine.