diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index b950918..ee1d17d 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # Use the official Cassandra 4.1.3 image
 FROM cassandra:4.1.3
 
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y iputils-ping less locate
+
+
 # Environment variables to configure Cassandra
 ENV CASSANDRA_CLUSTER_NAME=TestCluster
 ENV CASSANDRA_NUM_TOKENS=256
@@ -17,6 +20,13 @@ COPY data/dev_keyspace_schema.cql /docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/dev_keyspace_schem
 COPY scripts/setup.sh /setup.sh
 RUN chmod +x /setup.sh
 
+# Copy cassandra.yaml
+COPY cassandra.yaml /etc/cassandra/
+
+# Copy cassandra-rackdc.properties and substitute environment variables
+COPY cassandra-rackdc.properties /etc/cassandra/
+RUN envsubst < /etc/cassandra/cassandra-rackdc.properties > /etc/cassandra/cassandra-rackdc.properties
+
 # Set the entrypoint
 ENTRYPOINT ["/setup.sh"]
 
@@ -24,4 +34,4 @@ ENTRYPOINT ["/setup.sh"]
 EXPOSE 7000 7001 7199 9042 9160
 
 # Add health check
-HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=10s --retries=5 CMD cqlsh -e "DESCRIBE KEYSPACES" || exit 1
+# HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=10s --retries=5 CMD cqlsh -e "DESCRIBE KEYSPACES" || exit 1
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 38f17f6..fcd95a7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ run a single service:
 
 open bash on server
 
-* cassandra1: `docker exec -it cassandra-cassandra1 /bin/sh`
-* cassandra2: `docker exec -it cassandra-cassandra2 /bin/sh`
-* cassandra3: `docker exec -it cassandra-cassandra3 /bin/sh`
+* cassandra1: `docker exec -it cassandra1 /bin/bash`
+* cassandra2: `docker exec -it cassandra2 /bin/bash`
+* cassandra3: `docker exec -it cassandra3 /bin/bash`
 
 
diff --git a/cassandra-rackdc.properties b/cassandra-rackdc.properties
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eec8a07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cassandra-rackdc.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+dc=${CASSANDRA_DC}
+rack=${CASSANDRA_RACK}
diff --git a/cassandra.yaml b/cassandra.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51fe15c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cassandra.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Seed provider
+seed_provider:
+  - class_name: org.apache.cassandra.locator.SimpleSeedProvider
+    parameters:
+      - seeds: "${CASSANDRA_SEEDS}"
+
+# Address to bind to and tell other Cassandra nodes to connect to
+listen_address: "${CASSANDRA_LISTEN_ADDRESS}"
+
+# Address to broadcast to other Cassandra nodes
+broadcast_address: "${CASSANDRA_BROADCAST_ADDRESS}"
+
+# Address to bind the RPC server (default: same as listen_address)
+rpc_address: 0.0.0.0
+
+# Address to broadcast to clients
+broadcast_rpc_address: "${CASSANDRA_RPC_ADDRESS}"
+
+# Native transport port for CQL
+native_transport_port: 9042
+
+# Snitch configuration
+endpoint_snitch: GossipingPropertyFileSnitch
+
+# DC and RACK settings
+dc: ${CASSANDRA_DC}
+rack: ${CASSANDRA_RACK}
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index d36fdf0..a8281a5 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -2,12 +2,16 @@ version: '3.8'
 
 services:
   cassandra1:
-    build: .
+    image: cassandra:4.1.3
     container_name: cassandra1
     env_file:
       - .env
     environment:
       - CASSANDRA_BROADCAST_ADDRESS=cassandra1
+      - CASSANDRA_LISTEN_ADDRESS=cassandra1
+      - CASSANDRA_RPC_ADDRESS=cassandra1
+      - CASSANDRA_DC=DC1
+      - CASSANDRA_RACK=RAC1
       - PRIMARY_NODE=true
     volumes:
       - ./data/dumps/node1:/dump
@@ -17,19 +21,23 @@ services:
       - "9042:9042"
     networks:
       - cassandra-net
-    healthcheck:
-      test: ["CMD", "cqlsh", "-e", "DESCRIBE KEYSPACES"]
-      interval: 30s
-      timeout: 10s
-      retries: 5
+    # healthcheck:
+    #   test: ["CMD", "cqlsh", "-e", "DESCRIBE KEYSPACES"]
+    #   interval: 30s
+    #   timeout: 10s
+    #   retries: 5
 
   cassandra2:
-    build: .
+    image: cassandra:4.1.3
     container_name: cassandra2
     env_file:
       - .env
     environment:
       - CASSANDRA_BROADCAST_ADDRESS=cassandra2
+      - CASSANDRA_LISTEN_ADDRESS=cassandra2
+      - CASSANDRA_RPC_ADDRESS=cassandra2
+      - CASSANDRA_DC=DC1
+      - CASSANDRA_RACK=RAC1
       - PRIMARY_NODE=false
     volumes:
       - ./data/dumps/node2:/dump
@@ -37,22 +45,26 @@ services:
       - ./logs/node2:/var/log/cassandra
     networks:
       - cassandra-net
-    depends_on:
-      cassandra1:
-        condition: service_healthy
-    healthcheck:
-      test: ["CMD", "cqlsh", "-e", "DESCRIBE KEYSPACES"]
-      interval: 30s
-      timeout: 10s
-      retries: 5
+    # depends_on:
+    #   cassandra1:
+    #     condition: service_healthy
+    # healthcheck:
+    #   test: ["CMD", "cqlsh", "-e", "DESCRIBE KEYSPACES"]
+    #   interval: 30s
+    #   timeout: 10s
+    #   retries: 5
 
   cassandra3:
-    build: .
+    image: cassandra:4.1.3
     container_name: cassandra3
     env_file:
       - .env
     environment:
       - CASSANDRA_BROADCAST_ADDRESS=cassandra3
+      - CASSANDRA_LISTEN_ADDRESS=cassandra3
+      - CASSANDRA_RPC_ADDRESS=cassandra3
+      - CASSANDRA_DC=DC1
+      - CASSANDRA_RACK=RAC1
       - PRIMARY_NODE=false
     volumes:
       - ./data/dumps/node3:/dump
@@ -60,14 +72,14 @@ services:
       - ./logs/node3:/var/log/cassandra
     networks:
       - cassandra-net
-    depends_on:
-      cassandra2:
-        condition: service_healthy
-    healthcheck:
-      test: ["CMD", "cqlsh", "-e", "DESCRIBE KEYSPACES"]
-      interval: 30s
-      timeout: 10s
-      retries: 5
+    # depends_on:
+    #   cassandra2:
+    #     condition: service_healthy
+    # healthcheck:
+    #   test: ["CMD", "cqlsh", "-e", "DESCRIBE KEYSPACES"]
+    #   interval: 30s
+    #   timeout: 10s
+    #   retries: 5
 
 networks:
   cassandra-net: