diff --git a/build.properties.sample b/build.properties.sample
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..aa987e3e0b1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build.properties.sample
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+# DSpace build.properties
+# This file should be customised to suit your build environment.
+# Note that not all configuration is handled here, only the most common properties that tend to differ between build environments. 
+# For adjusting global settings or more complex settings, edit the relevant config file.
+
+##########################
+# SERVER CONFIGURATION #
+##########################
+
+# DSpace installation directory. Data will be stored within this directory
+dspace.dir=/dspace
+
+# DSpace host name - should match base URL.  Do not include port number
+dspace.hostname = localhost
+
+# DSpace base host URL.  Include port number etc.
+dspace.baseUrl = http://localhost:8080
+
+# Name of the site
+dspace.name = DSpace at My University
+
+# Solr server
+solr.server=http://localhost:8080/solr
+
+# Default language for metadata values
+default.language = en_US
+
+##########################
+# DATABASE CONFIGURATION #
+##########################
+
+# Database name ("oracle", or "postgres")
+db.name=postgres
+
+# Uncomment the appropriate block below for your database.
+# postgres
+db.driver=org.postgresql.Driver
+db.url=jdbc:postgresql://localhost:5432/dspace
+db.username=dspace
+db.password=dspace
+
+# oracle
+#db.driver= oracle.jdbc.OracleDriver
+#db.url=jdbc:oracle:thin:@//localhost:1521/xe
+#db.username=dspace
+#db.password=dspace
+
+# Schema name - if your database contains multiple schemas, you can avoid problems with
+# retrieving the definitions of duplicate object names by specifying
+# the schema name here that is used for DSpace by uncommenting the following entry
+db.schema = 
+
+# Maximum number of DB connections in pool
+db.maxconnections = 30
+
+# Maximum time to wait before giving up if all connections in pool are busy (milliseconds)
+db.maxwait = 5000
+
+# Maximum number of idle connections in pool (-1 = unlimited)
+db.maxidle = -1
+
+# Determine if prepared statement should be cached. (default is true)
+db.statementpool = true
+
+# Specify a name for the connection pool (useful if you have multiple applications sharing Tomcat's dbcp)
+# If not specified, defaults to 'dspacepool'
+db.poolname = dspacepool
+
+#######################
+# EMAIL CONFIGURATION #
+#######################
+
+# SMTP mail server
+mail.server = smtp.example.com
+
+# SMTP mail server authentication username and password (if required)
+# mail.server.username = myusername
+# mail.server.password = mypassword
+mail.server.username=
+mail.server.password=
+
+# SMTP mail server alternate port (defaults to 25)
+mail.server.port = 25
+
+# From address for mail
+mail.from.address = dspace-noreply@myu.edu
+
+# Currently limited to one recipient!
+mail.feedback.recipient = dspace-help@myu.edu
+
+# General site administration (Webmaster) e-mail
+mail.admin = dspace-help@myu.edu
+
+# Recipient for server errors and alerts
+#mail.alert.recipient = email-address-here
+mail.alert.recipient=
+
+# Recipient for new user registration emails
+#mail.registration.notify = email-address-here
+mail.registration.notify=
+
+
+########################
+# HANDLE CONFIGURATION #
+########################
+
+# Canonical Handle URL prefix
+#
+# By default, DSpace is configured to use http://hdl.handle.net/
+# as the canonical URL prefix when generating dc.identifier.uri
+# during submission, and in the 'identifier' displayed in JSPUI
+# item record pages.
+#
+# If you do not subscribe to CNRI's handle service, you can change this
+# to match the persistent URL service you use, or you can force DSpace
+# to use your site's URL, eg.
+#handle.canonical.prefix = ${dspace.url}/handle/
+#
+# Note that this will not alter dc.identifer.uri metadata for existing
+# items (only for subsequent submissions), but it will alter the URL 
+# in JSPUI's 'identifier' message on item record pages for existing items.
+#
+# If omitted, the canonical URL prefix will be http://hdl.handle.net/
+handle.canonical.prefix = http://hdl.handle.net/
+
+# CNRI Handle prefix
+handle.prefix = 123456789
+
+#######################
+# PROXY CONFIGURATION #
+#######################
+# uncomment and specify both properties if proxy server required
+# proxy server for external http requests - use regular hostname without port number
+http.proxy.host =
+
+# port number of proxy server
+http.proxy.port =