diff --git a/docker/docker-compose-rest.yml b/docker/docker-compose-rest.yml
index 55543984ccb..e62da488676 100644
--- a/docker/docker-compose-rest.yml
+++ b/docker/docker-compose-rest.yml
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ services:
       # BE server port
     - published: 808${INSTANCE}
       target: 8080
-      host_ip: 127.0.0.1
+      host_ip: ${HOST_IP:-127.0.0.1}
       # original debug port
     - published: 800${INSTANCE}
       target: 8000
-      host_ip: 127.0.0.1
+      host_ip: ${HOST_IP:-127.0.0.1}
       # handle binary port as per https://www.handle.net/hnr_support.html (5th paragraph)
     - published: 264${INSTANCE}
       target: 2641
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ services:
     entrypoint:
     - /bin/bash
     - '-c'
+    # When customizing the namespace, add the following command to the entrypoint command below (after `while ...`):
+    # `pushd ../webapps && unlink server && ln -s /dspace/webapps/server/ 'repository#server' && popd`
+    # This will create a symlink from the webapps directory to the server directory with the custom namespace
+    # (e.g. /dspace/webapps/server -> /dspace/webapps/repository#server)
     - |
       while (!</dev/tcp/dspacedb/543${INSTANCE}) > /dev/null 2>&1; do sleep 1; done;
       /dspace/bin/dspace database migrate force
@@ -112,7 +116,7 @@ services:
     ports:
     - published: 543${INSTANCE}
       target: 543${INSTANCE}
-      host_ip: 127.0.0.1
+      host_ip: ${HOST_IP:-127.0.0.1}
     stdin_open: true
     tty: true
     volumes:
@@ -133,7 +137,7 @@ services:
     ports:
     - published: 898${INSTANCE}
       target: 898${INSTANCE}
-      host_ip: 127.0.0.1
+      host_ip: ${HOST_IP:-127.0.0.1}
     stdin_open: true
     tty: true
     working_dir: /var/solr/data
diff --git a/docker/docker-compose.yml b/docker/docker-compose.yml
index 001a6b91b0a..96d20fc42ab 100644
--- a/docker/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker/docker-compose.yml
@@ -17,15 +17,16 @@ services:
       TZ: ${TIMEZONE:-Europe/Bratislava}
       DSPACE_UI_SSL: 'false'
       DSPACE_UI_HOST: dspace-angular
-      DSPACE_UI_PORT: 4000
-      DSPACE_UI_NAMESPACE: /
+      DSPACE_UI_PORT: ${UI_PORT:-4000}
+      DSPACE_UI_NAMESPACE: ${DSPACE_UI_NAMESPACE:-/}
       DSPACE_REST_SSL: ${DSPACE_SSL:-false}
       DSPACE_REST_HOST: ${DSPACE_HOST:-localhost}
-      DSPACE_REST_PORT: ${DSPACE_REST_PORT}
-      DSPACE_REST_NAMESPACE: /server
+      DSPACE_REST_PORT: ${DSPACE_REST_PORT:-8080}
+      DSPACE_REST_NAMESPACE: ${DSPACE_REST_NAMESPACE:-/server}
     image: ${DSPACE_UI_IMAGE:-dataquest/dspace-angular:dspace-7_x}
     volumes:
     - ./config.prod.yml:/app/config/config.prod.yml
+#    - ./aai.js:/app/dist/browser/aai.js
 #    - ./dspace-ui.json:/app/docker/dspace-ui.json:rw
     build:
       context: ..
@@ -36,9 +37,9 @@ services:
     ports:
     - published: 400${INSTANCE}
       target: 4000
-      host_ip: 127.0.0.1
+      host_ip: ${HOST_IP:-127.0.0.1}
     - published: 987${INSTANCE}
       target: 987${INSTANCE}
-      host_ip: 127.0.0.1
+      host_ip: ${HOST_IP:-127.0.0.1}
     stdin_open: true
     tty: true