We discuss the strategy to commission the LHC experiments and understand
standard physics at sqrt{s}=14TeV before data taking starts and in the early
phases of the LHC operation. In particular, we review the various steps needed
to understand and calibrate the ATLAS and CMS detectors, from construction
quality checks, to beam tests, to cosmics runs, to first collisions. We also
review the preparation and tuning of Monte Carlo tools, and present a few
examples of physics goals for integrated luminosities of up to a few inverse
fb.Comment: Proceedings of the 2nd Italian Workshop on the physics of Atlas and
CM