The National Ignition Facility (NIF) will have a large suite of sophisticated target diagnostics. This will allow thoroughly diagnosed experiments to be performed both at the ignition and pre-ignition levels. As part of the national effort Los Alamos National Laboratory will design, construct and implement a number of diagnostics for the NIF. This paper describes Los Alamos contributions to the “phase 1” diagnostics. Phase 1 represents the most fundamental and basic measurement systems that will form the core for most work on the NIF. The Los Alamos effort falls into four categories: moderate to hard X-ray time-resolved imaging; neutron spectroscopy-primarily with neutron time of flight devices; burn diagnostics utilizing gamma ray measurements; and testing measurement concepts (e.g., some soft X-ray ideas) on the TRIDENT laser system at Los Alamos. Because of the large blast, debris and radiation environment, the design of high resolution X-ray imaging systems present significant challenges. Systems with close target proximity require special protection and methods for such protection are described. The system design specifications based on expected target performance parameters are also described. Diagnosis of nuclear yield and burn will be essential to the NIF operation. Nuclear reaction diagnosis utilizing both neutron and gamma ray detection is discussed. The Los Alamos TRIDENT laser system will be used extensively for the development of new measurement concepts and diagnostic instrumentation. Some of its potential roles in the development of diagnostics for NIF are given.