Commissioning and the Initial Operation of the LHC

A brief review of Run 1 and Run 2 is given below, firstly to outline the progress made, and secondly to highlight the issues encountered and surmounted along the way. An overview of operational features of the machine and the lessons learnt is then presented. The chapter concludes with brief look at consolidation activities in view of the need to sustain high availability and safe operation given the considerable challenges of the HL-LHC operational regime and the time-frame over which it will operate.