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 # Ready to use Docker containers and Vagrant templates
 
+If you need some help on how to start, read the [quickstart][] guide.
+
+[quickstart]: ./quickstart.md
+
 ## Build Docker containers
 
     cd docker/xenial/base/
diff --git a/quickstart.md b/quickstart.md
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+# Quickstart
+
+This guide is was made to help you to start using this repository. It's only showing the steps to build and run a Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial) base image, other images in this repository might depend on this or a different base image. You need to build base images first to be able to build derived images.
+
+## Install Docker and Vagrant
+
+To install Docker and Vagrant, type the commands in a terminal emulator. The links are here if you want to read about these tools - recommended, but optional.
+
+- https://www.docker.com/
+- https://www.vagrantup.com/
+
+### Linux
+
+Install the packages and start the docker service. The package names and the configuration differ a bit by distribution, but here are a few tips:
+
+- Make sure you're in the *docker* group
+- Make sure the docker service is running
+- `docker ps` should exit without an error
+
+#### Ubuntu
+
+    sudo apt-get install make docker.io vagrant
+    sudo usermod --append --groups docker <username>
+    sudo service docker start
+
+#### OPTIONAL configuration
+
+My personal recommendation is not to use AuFS - the default storage driver. You can read the details [here][storage_drivers].
+
+Devicemapper is a simple alternative if you're already using and comfortable with LVM.
+
+Add the following into `/etc/docker/daemon.json`:
+
+    {
+      "storage-driver": "devicemapper"
+    }
+
+Restart the docker service.
+
+[storage_drivers]: https://docs.docker.com/engine/userguide/storagedriver/selectadriver/
+
+### macOS / OS X
+
+1. Install Homebrew
+
+   https://brew.sh/
+
+       /usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
+
+2. Install Cask
+
+   https://caskroom.github.io/
+
+       brew tap caskroom/cask
+
+3. Install Docker
+
+       brew cask install docker
+
+4. Start Docker
+
+   *Start it from the Launchpad.*
+
+5. Install Vagrant
+
+       brew cask install vagrant
+
+## Build a base image and start a container
+
+1. Clone this git repo if you haven't already
+
+       git clone https://github.com/farkasmate/vm.git
+
+2. Build a base image
+
+       cd vm/docker/xenial/base
+       make
+
+   To run a quick test you can run:
+
+       make test
+
+   If everything went according to the plan you will find yourself in the container's shell with a prompt like: `root@77a40185ed64:/# `
+
+   Exit the shell by typing `exit`.
+
+3. Start a container with Vagrant
+
+   If you're still in the `vm/docker/xenial/base` directory, type:
+
+       cd ../../..
+
+   Copy the template Vagrantfile.
+
+       cd vagrant
+       cp -a TEMPLATE xenial-base
+
+   Create and start the container.
+
+       cd xenial-base
+       vagrant up
+
+   SSH into the container.
+
+       vagrant ssh
+