diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile.windows
similarity index 100%
rename from Makefile
rename to Makefile.windows
diff --git a/README.linux b/README.linux
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9c3a43fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.linux
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+Building on a Linux host
+========================
+
+build-time requirements
+-----------------------
+
+Make sure you have the necessary build-time requirements installed
+
+- scons
+- python-argparse or python >= 2.7
+- libssl-dev
+- libcurl4-openssl-dev
+- libboost-system-dev
+- libboost-thread-dev,
+- libboost-program-options-dev
+- libboost-filesystem-dev,
+- libboost-iostreams-dev
+
+building from source
+--------------------
+
+check out the git master branch of freelan-all and issue the "scons all" command
+
+building for Debian, Ubuntu and derivates
+-----------------------------------------
+
+There is work going on to have proper Debian packaging available.  Please check back soon.
+
+Install "debhelper libssl-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libboost-system-dev libboost-thread-dev libboost-program-options-dev libboost-filesystem-dev libboost-iostreams-dev scons python-argparse" packages as root to satisfy compile-time dependencies.
+
+
+building for other distros
+--------------------------
+
+Packaging patches and instructions will be gladly accepted
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3e3e9040..c939d008 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ It contains the following projects:
 Building
 --------
 
+See the README file specific to your host environment for general setup instructions.
+
 ### Third-party
 
 The build relies on several third-parties. Generally Linux users won't need these, but other platforms such as MacOS or Windows may need these.