# Automation Channels The automation and integration of the day-to-day work in the lab requires different Automated Informatics (AI) nodes/automation workers to perform different tasks. For BaseSpace Clarity LIMS v5.0, several terms are deprecated: * Automation replaced External Program Integration Plug-in (EPP). * Automation Worker (AW) node replaced EPP/AI node. ### Specifying Channels Channels are manually named, and ideally clearly represent the task performed (eg. Type\_2\_Analysis). To make sure that dispatched automation work is routed to the correct destination, specify a channel in the following places: * On the AI node / automation worker * Clarity LIMS v5 and later: When configuring step and derived sample automations on the Automation tab ### How Channels Work 1. When the automation trigger conditions are met in the LIMS, the automation job first enters a channel-specific 'first in, first out' (FIFO) queue of work for completion. 2. Jobs queue in this channel until one of the AI nodes/automation workers operating on the channel completes its previous work, and indicates it is free to accept more. 3. The next job is then dispatched from the channel queue to the node. This strategy allows a single channel queue to receive service by one, or many, AI nodes/automation workers servicing the specified channel. It is possible to have multiple AI nodes/automation workers performing the same type of work all configured on the same channel, allowing a simple but effective way to increase throughput of a particular analysis bottleneck, or to ensure redundancy during a single node failure. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.claritylims.illumina.com/api-and-database/api-docs/automation/automation-channels.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.