diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 994fd835b..1458651b0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ rpcpassword=71b61986da5b03a5694d7c7d5165ece5
 txindex=1
 ```
 
+## mempool config
+Make a copy of the sample config and edit it
+```
+cp mempool-config.sample.json mempool-config.json
+```
+
 Edit mempool-config.json to add your Bitcoin node RPC credentials:
 ```
   "BITCOIN_NODE_HOST": "192.168.1.5",
@@ -67,16 +73,6 @@ Initialize database structure:
 mysql -u mempool -p mempool < mariadb-structure.sql
 ```
 
-Edit mempool-config.json to add your MySQL/MariaDB credentials:
-
-```
-  "DB_HOST": "127.0.0.1",
-  "DB_PORT": 3306,
-  "DB_USER": "mempool",
-  "DB_PASSWORD": "mempool",
-  "DB_DATABASE": "mempool",
-```
-
 ## mempool backend
 
 Create an initial empty cache and start the app:
diff --git a/backend/.gitignore b/backend/.gitignore
index 381e034e0..ba8416a23 100644
--- a/backend/.gitignore
+++ b/backend/.gitignore
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # See http://help.github.com/ignore-files/ for more about ignoring files.
 
+# production config
+mempool-config.json
+
 # compiled output
 /dist
 /tmp
diff --git a/backend/mempool-config.json b/backend/mempool-config.sample.json
similarity index 77%
rename from backend/mempool-config.json
rename to backend/mempool-config.sample.json
index b981a2483..6834e213e 100644
--- a/backend/mempool-config.json
+++ b/backend/mempool-config.sample.json
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 {
   "ENV": "dev",
   "DB_HOST": "localhost",
-  "DB_PORT": 8889,
-  "DB_USER": "",
-  "DB_PASSWORD": "",
-  "DB_DATABASE": "",
+  "DB_PORT": 3306,
+  "DB_USER": "mempool",
+  "DB_PASSWORD": "mempool",
+  "DB_DATABASE": "mempool",
   "HTTP_PORT": 3000,
   "API_ENDPOINT": "/api/v1/",
   "CHAT_SSL_ENABLED": false,
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
   "DEFAULT_PROJECTED_BLOCKS_AMOUNT": 3,
   "KEEP_BLOCK_AMOUNT": 24,
   "BITCOIN_NODE_HOST": "localhost",
-  "BITCOIN_NODE_PORT": 18332,
+  "BITCOIN_NODE_PORT": 8332,
   "BITCOIN_NODE_USER": "",
   "BITCOIN_NODE_PASS": "",
   "TX_PER_SECOND_SPAN_SECONDS": 150
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}