diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
index 9b67eac..a4a6482 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -5,11 +5,12 @@
         "dockerfile": "../Dockerfile",
         "target": "developer",
         "args": {
-            "TARGET_ARCHITECTURE": "RTEMS-beatnik",
-            // "TARGET_ARCHITECTURE": "linux-x86_64",
-            "EPICS_HOST_ARCH": "linux-x86_64",
-            "BASE_IMAGE": "ghcr.io/epics-containers/rtems6-powerpc-linux-runtime:6.2rc1ec2b2"
-            // "BASE_IMAGE": "ubuntu:22.04"
+            // Native target development settings ==============================
+            "EPICS_TARGET_ARCH": "linux-x86_64",
+            "BASE_IMAGE": "ubuntu:22.04"
+            // Local cross compilation settings ================================
+            // "EPICS_TARGET_ARCH": "RTEMS-beatnik",
+            // "BASE_IMAGE": "ghcr.io/epics-containers/rtems-beatnik-runtime"
         }
     },
     "remoteEnv": {
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 15acdf6..204ffe2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -14,40 +14,36 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        epics-target: [RTEMS-beatnik, linux-x86_64, linux-arm]
-        target: [developer, runtime]
+        epics-target: [RTEMS-beatnik, linux-x86_64, linux-aarch64]
         include:
+          - os: ubuntu-latest # everyone is on os-latest
+
+          # native linux compile
+          - epics-target: linux-x86_64
+            epics-host: linux-x86_64
+            name: epics-base
+            base_image: ubuntu:22.04
+            platform: linux/amd64
+
+          # cross compile for RTEMS to VME5500 (power pc beatnik)
           - epics-target: RTEMS-beatnik
             epics-host: linux-x86_64
-            image_name: rtems-beatnik
+            name: epics-base-rtems-beatnik
             base_image: ghcr.io/epics-containers/rtems-beatnik-runtime:6.1rc2
-            os: ubuntu-latest
             platform: linux/amd64
 
-          - epics-target: linux-x86_64
+          # cross compile to arm64
+          - epics-target: linux-aarch64
             epics-host: linux-x86_64
-            image_name: linux
+            name: epics-base-aarch64
             base_image: ubuntu:22.04
-            os: ubuntu-latest
             platform: linux/amd64
 
-          - epics-target: linux-arm
-            epics-host: linux-arm
-            image_name: linux
-            base_image: ubuntu:22.04
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            platform: linux/arm64
-
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     env:
-      TAG: ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/${{ github.event.repository.name }}-${{  matrix.image_name }}-${{ matrix.target }}:${{ github.ref_name }}
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          submodules: recursive
-          fetch-depth: 1
+      TAG: ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/${{ matrix.name }}
 
+    steps:
       - name: Log in to GitHub Docker Registry
         uses: docker/login-action@v3
         with:
@@ -55,37 +51,44 @@ jobs:
           username: ${{ github.actor }}
           password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
-      - name: Set up QEMU
-        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v3
-
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
 
       - name: Build image
         uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
         with:
-          context: .
           platforms: ${{ matrix.platform }}
-          target: ${{ matrix.target }}
+          target: runtime
           build-args: |
-            TARGET_ARCHITECTURE=${{ matrix.epics-target }}
+            EPICS_TARGET_ARCH=${{ matrix.epics-target }}
             EPICS_HOST_ARCH=${{ matrix.epics-host }}
             BASE_IMAGE=${{ matrix.base_image }}
-          tags: ${{ env.TAG }}
           cache-from: type=gha,scope=${{ matrix.epics-target }}
           cache-to: type=gha,mode=max,scope=${{ matrix.epics-target }}
           load: true
 
-      - name: Push image
+      - name: Push developer image
+        if: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref_type == 'tag' }}
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
+        with:
+          platforms: ${{ matrix.platform }}
+          target: developer
+          build-args: |
+            EPICS_TARGET_ARCH=${{ matrix.epics-target }}
+            EPICS_HOST_ARCH=${{ matrix.epics-host }}
+            BASE_IMAGE=${{ matrix.base_image }}
+          tags: ${{ env.TAG }}-developer:${{ github.ref_name }}
+          push: true
+
+      - name: Push runtime image
         if: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref_type == 'tag' }}
         uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
         with:
-          context: .
           platforms: ${{ matrix.platform }}
-          target: ${{ matrix.target }}
+          target: runtime
           build-args: |
-            TARGET_ARCHITECTURE=${{ matrix.epics-target }}
+            EPICS_TARGET_ARCH=${{ matrix.epics-target }}
             EPICS_HOST_ARCH=${{ matrix.epics-host }}
             BASE_IMAGE=${{ matrix.base_image }}
-          tags: ${{ env.TAG }}
+          tags: ${{ env.TAG }}-runtime:${{ github.ref_name }}
           push: true
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9644380..67a818e 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ repos/
 repos-build/
 *.log
 *.out
+*.code-workspace
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 00597d8..8bf6213 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,35 +1,31 @@
 # EPICS 7 Base Dockerfile
 
 #  build args
-#   TARGET_ARCHITECTURE: the epics cross compile target platform
+#   EPICS_TARGET_ARCH: the epics cross compile target platform
 #     note that linux-x86_64 is shortened to linux and is the default
 #   EPICS_HOST_ARCH: the epics host architecture name
 #   BASE_IMAGE: can be used to bring in cross compilation tools
 
 ARG BASE_IMAGE=ubuntu:22.04
+ARG RUNTIME_BASE=ubuntu:22.04
 
-##### shared environment stage #################################################
-FROM ${BASE_IMAGE} AS environment
+##### developer stage ##########################################################
+FROM ${BASE_IMAGE} AS developer
 
-ARG TARGET_ARCHITECTURE=linux-x86_64
+ARG EPICS_TARGET_ARCH=linux-x86_64
 ARG EPICS_HOST_ARCH=linux-x86_64
 
-ENV TARGET_ARCHITECTURE=${TARGET_ARCHITECTURE}
+# environment variables - must be duplicated in the runtime stage
+ENV EPICS_VERSION=R7.0.8
+ENV EPICS_TARGET_ARCH=${EPICS_TARGET_ARCH}
 ENV EPICS_HOST_ARCH=${EPICS_HOST_ARCH}
 ENV EPICS_ROOT=/epics
 ENV EPICS_BASE=${EPICS_ROOT}/epics-base
 ENV SUPPORT ${EPICS_ROOT}/support
 ENV IOC ${EPICS_ROOT}/ioc
+ENV PATH=/venv/bin:${EPICS_BASE}/bin/${EPICS_HOST_ARCH}:${PATH}
 ENV LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${EPICS_BASE}/lib/${EPICS_HOST_ARCH}
 
-ENV VIRTUALENV /venv
-ENV PATH=${VIRTUALENV}/bin:${EPICS_BASE}/bin/${EPICS_HOST_ARCH}:${PATH}
-
-ENV EPICS_VERSION=R7.0.8
-
-##### developer stage ##########################################################
-FROM environment AS developer
-
 # install build tools and utilities
 RUN apt-get update -y && apt-get upgrade -y && \
     apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
@@ -38,6 +34,7 @@ RUN apt-get update -y && apt-get upgrade -y && \
     build-essential \
     busybox \
     git \
+    inotify-tools \
     libreadline-dev \
     python3-minimal \
     python3-pip \
@@ -45,27 +42,44 @@ RUN apt-get update -y && apt-get upgrade -y && \
     re2c \
     rsync \
     ssh-client \
+    telnet \
     vim \
-    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
-    && busybox --install
+    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
 # get and build EPICS base
-COPY epics /epics
-RUN bash epics/scripts/get-base.sh && \
-    bash /epics/scripts/patch-epics-base.sh
+COPY epics ${EPICS_ROOT}
+RUN bash ${EPICS_ROOT}/scripts/get-base.sh && \
+    bash ${EPICS_ROOT}/scripts/patch-epics-base.sh
 RUN make -C ${EPICS_BASE} -j $(nproc); make -C ${EPICS_BASE} clean
 
-COPY requirements.txt /requirements.txt
-RUN python3 -m venv ${VIRTUALENV} && pip install -r /requirements.txt
+# create a virtual environment to be used by IOCs to install ibek
+RUN python3 -m venv /venv
 
 ##### runtime preparation stage ################################################
 FROM developer AS runtime_prep
 
 # get the products from the build stage and reduce to runtime assets only
-RUN ibek ioc extract-runtime-assets /assets --no-defaults /venv
+RUN bash epics/scripts/move_runtime.sh /assets
 
 ##### runtime stage ############################################################
-FROM environment as runtime
+FROM ${RUNTIME_BASE} as runtime
+
+ARG EPICS_TARGET_ARCH=linux-x86_64
+ARG EPICS_HOST_ARCH=linux-x86_64
+
+# environment variables - must be duplicated in the developer stage
+ENV EPICS_VERSION=R7.0.8
+ENV EPICS_TARGET_ARCH=${EPICS_TARGET_ARCH}
+ENV EPICS_HOST_ARCH=${EPICS_HOST_ARCH}
+ENV EPICS_ROOT=/epics
+ENV EPICS_BASE=${EPICS_ROOT}/epics-base
+ENV SUPPORT ${EPICS_ROOT}/support
+ENV IOC ${EPICS_ROOT}/ioc
+ENV PATH=/venv/bin:${EPICS_BASE}/bin/${EPICS_HOST_ARCH}:${PATH}
+ENV LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${EPICS_BASE}/lib/${EPICS_HOST_ARCH}z
+
+# add products from build stage
+COPY --from=runtime_prep /assets /
 
 # add runtime system dependencies
 RUN apt-get update -y && apt-get upgrade -y && \
@@ -73,6 +87,7 @@ RUN apt-get update -y && apt-get upgrade -y && \
     libpython3-stdlib \
     libreadline8 \
     python3-minimal \
+    telnet \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
 # add products from build stage
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2bd8e3f..6737318 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,11 +1,3 @@
 # epics-base
 
-An container image for EPICS base libraries and tools built for linux-x86_64 and RTEMS powerpc mvme5500.
-
-This repository supports 
-
-- cross compilation to supported EPICS targets
-- native compilation x86_64
-- native compilation using non x86 github runners or qemu
-
-At present only two target architecures are provided. Future expansion is available via the build matrix in build.yml.
+An container image for EPICS base libraries and tools built for linux-x86_64 and RTEMS
diff --git a/build b/build
index 5e1da02..9cd8951 100755
--- a/build
+++ b/build
@@ -4,36 +4,34 @@
 # generic local build script for epics-containers repositories                 #
 ################################################################################
 
-# set TARGET_ARCHITECTURE to rtems for RTEMS based targets
-T_A=${TARGET_ARCHITECTURE:-linux_x86_64}
+set -e
+
+# set EPICS_TARGET_ARCH to rtems for RTEMS based targets
+T_A=${EPICS_TARGET_ARCH:-linux_x86_64}
 # set TARGET to runtime for runtime images
 TARGET=${TARGET:-developer}
 # set TAG to override the default tag
 TAG=${TAG:-ec_test}
 
 if [ "$T_A" = "RTEMS-beatnik" ]; then
-    base="ghcr.io/epics-containers/rtems6-powerpc-linux-runtime:6.2rc1ec2b2"
+    base="ghcr.io/epics-containers/rtems-beatnik-runtime"
 else
     base="ubuntu:22.04"
 fi
 
-# log commands and stop on errors
-set -xe
-
 cd $(dirname ${0})
 
 # use docker if available else use podman
 if ! docker version &>/dev/null; then docker=podman; else docker=docker; fi
-if $docker buildx version &>/dev/null; then builx=buildx; load=--load; fi
+if $docker buildx version &>/dev/null; then builx=buildx; load='--load --progress=plain'; fi
 
 # make sure new repos get their submodule ibek-support
 if [ ! -d ibek-support ] ; then git submodule update --init ; fi
 
 # build and developer images
 set -x
-$docker build $buildx -t ${TAG} \
-    --build-arg TARGET_ARCHITECTURE=$T_A \
+$docker build $buildx -t ${TAG} "${@}" $load \
+    --build-arg EPICS_TARGET_ARCH=$T_A \
     --build-arg BASE_IMAGE=$base \
-    "${@}" \
-    $load --target $TARGET .
+    --target $TARGET .
 
diff --git a/epics/scripts/get-base.sh b/epics/scripts/get-base.sh
index 74f92a3..146024d 100644
--- a/epics/scripts/get-base.sh
+++ b/epics/scripts/get-base.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # get the version of epics-base indicated by the environment unless we
 # are building for RTEMS6 which is temporarily in a forked version
 
-if [[ ${TARGET_ARCHITECTURE} == "RTEMS-beatnik" ]] ; then
+if [[ ${EPICS_TARGET_ARCH} == "RTEMS-beatnik" ]] ; then
     git clone https://github.com/kiwichris/epics-base.git \
       --branch rtems-legacy-net-support -q \
       --recursive ${EPICS_BASE}
diff --git a/epics/scripts/move_runtime.sh b/epics/scripts/move_runtime.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5890ab3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/epics/scripts/move_runtime.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# A script to extract the runtime files from the developer stage for use in
+# the runtime stage.
+
+# The first argument is the destination directory for the runtime files.
+DEST=${1}
+
+cd /
+
+for i in epics/epics-base/bin epics/epics-base/lib venv epics/support; do
+    # strip any binaries
+    strip $(find ${i}) 2>/dev/null
+
+    # make sure the path to the parent exists
+    if [ ! -d ${DEST}/$(dirname ${i}) ]; then
+        mkdir -p ${DEST}/$(dirname ${i})
+    fi
+
+    # move the directory to the new location
+    mv ${i} ${DEST}/${i}
+done
diff --git a/epics/scripts/patch-epics-base.sh b/epics/scripts/patch-epics-base.sh
index 1f03d37..9ba3f4b 100755
--- a/epics/scripts/patch-epics-base.sh
+++ b/epics/scripts/patch-epics-base.sh
@@ -7,8 +7,14 @@ sed -i -E 's/(^[^#].*+= test.*$)/# \1/' \
     /epics/epics-base/Makefile \
     /epics/epics-base/modules/*/Makefile
 
-if [[ $TARGET_ARCHITECTURE == "RTEMS-beatnik" ]]; then
+if [[ ${EPICS_TARGET_ARCH} == "RTEMS-beatnik" ]]; then
     echo "Configuring epics-base to build RTEMS beatnik"
 
     cp ${THIS_DIR}/rtems/CONFIG_SITE.local ${EPICS_BASE}/configure/CONFIG_SITE.local
-fi
+elif [[ ${EPICS_TARGET_ARCH} != "linux-x86_64" ]]; then
+    echo "Configuring epics-base for target ${EPICS_TARGET_ARCH}"
+
+    touch ${EPICS_BASE}/configure/CONFIG_SITE.local
+    echo CROSS_COMPILER_TARGET_ARCHS=${EPICS_TARGET_ARCH} >> \
+      ${EPICS_BASE}/configure/CONFIG_SITE.local
+fi
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 8cc9393..0000000
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-ibek==1.7.1