diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5359d26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Copy to .env and adjust.
+
+# DSpace backend REST API base (…/server). The backend must have
+# handle.remote-resolver.enabled = true.
+#   - backend on the same host:      http://host.docker.internal:8082/server
+#   - backend reachable by hostname: http://dspace.example.org/server
+DSPACE_HANDLE_ENDPOINT=http://host.docker.internal:8082/server
+
+# Host ports to publish (change if they clash with something else).
+HANDLE_HTTP_PORT=8000
+HANDLE_NATIVE_PORT=2641
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
index 8218efd..be1ecf2 100644
--- a/.gitattributes
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -1 +1,5 @@
-*.sh eol=lf
\ No newline at end of file
+*.sh eol=lf
+# Handle.Net launcher scripts have NO extension, so `*.sh eol=lf` misses them.
+# Force LF or the shebang breaks when the image is built from a Windows clone.
+assets/handle-9.3.1/bin/hdl text eol=lf
+assets/handle-9.3.1/bin/hdl-* text eol=lf
diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index f046e7e..d855dfd 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -5,6 +5,37 @@
 
 Dockerized https://github.com/DSpace/Remote-Handle-Resolver.
 
+The Handle server runs as a **standalone service** and resolves handles through
+the DSpace backend REST API — it does not connect to the database itself:
+
+```
+client -> handle-server(:8000) --HTTP /server/resolve--> DSpace backend --> database
+```
+
+## Quick start (docker compose)
+
+Clone & run — the container points the resolver plugin at your backend, waits
+for it, and starts the Handle server:
+
+```
+git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/dataquest-dev/docker-handle-server.git
+cd docker-handle-server
+cp .env.example .env          # set DSPACE_HANDLE_ENDPOINT to your backend (…/server)
+docker compose up -d
+```
+
+Requirements on the backend side:
+
+```
+handle.remote-resolver.enabled = true
+```
+
+Test a resolve once it is up (use a handle that exists in your repository):
+
+```
+curl http://localhost:8000/api/handles/123456789/0
+```
+
 ## Installation
 
 1. Generate your own configuration by running:
diff --git a/assets/config/config.dct b/assets/config/config.dct
index 077db58..9ad6227 100644
--- a/assets/config/config.dct
+++ b/assets/config/config.dct
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
   )
 
   "server_config" = {
+    "storage_type" = "CUSTOM"
+    "storage_class" = "org.dspace.handle.MultiRemoteDSpaceRepositoryHandlePlugin"
+
     "server_admins" = (
       "300:0.NA/YOUR_PREFIX"
     )
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a68f71e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Clone & run: a SEPARATE DSpace Handle server.
+#
+#   git clone --recurse-submodules <this repo>
+#   cp .env.example .env        # set DSPACE_HANDLE_ENDPOINT to your backend
+#   docker compose up -d
+#
+# The Handle server resolves via the DSpace backend's remote-resolver
+# endpoints (the backend must have `handle.remote-resolver.enabled = true`).
+# It does NOT connect to the database itself.
+#
+#   client -> handle-server(:8000) --HTTP--> DSpace backend --> database
+#
+services:
+  handle-server:
+    build:
+      context: .
+      dockerfile: Dockerfile
+    image: docker-handle-server:local
+    container_name: handle-server
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    environment:
+      # Where the DSpace backend REST API lives (…/server).
+      # Default assumes a backend published on the host at :8082.
+      DSPACE_HANDLE_ENDPOINT: ${DSPACE_HANDLE_ENDPOINT:-http://host.docker.internal:8082/server}
+    extra_hosts:
+      # lets the container reach a backend running on the host
+      - "host.docker.internal:host-gateway"
+    ports:
+      - "${HANDLE_HTTP_PORT:-8000}:8000"                 # HTTP resolver
+      - "${HANDLE_NATIVE_PORT:-2641}:2641/tcp"           # native Handle protocol
+      - "${HANDLE_NATIVE_PORT:-2641}:2641/udp"
+    entrypoint:
+      - /bin/sh
+      - -c
+      - |
+        # 1) point the resolver plugin at the backend
+        echo "dspace.handle.endpoint1 = $$DSPACE_HANDLE_ENDPOINT" > /app/config/handle-dspace-plugin.cfg
+        echo "Backend endpoint: $$DSPACE_HANDLE_ENDPOINT"
+        # 2) wait for the backend (the plugin loads the prefix list on startup
+        #    and aborts if the backend is unreachable)
+        until wget -q -O- "$$DSPACE_HANDLE_ENDPOINT/listprefixes" >/dev/null 2>&1; do
+          echo "  waiting for backend $$DSPACE_HANDLE_ENDPOINT ...";
+          sleep 5;
+        done
+        echo "Backend is up. Starting Handle server."
+        # 3) run the Handle server
+        exec /app/hs/bin/hdl-server /app/config/