diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
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+# ndn-tools Build Instructions
+
+This document describes how to build and install ndn-tools.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+Building ndn-tools requires [ndn-cxx](http://named-data.net/doc/ndn-cxx/current/)
+to be installed.  
+Please see [Getting Started with ndn-cxx](http://named-data.net/doc/ndn-cxx/current/INSTALL.html)
+on how to install ndn-cxx.  
+Note: if you have installed ndn-cxx from a binary package, please make sure development headers
+are installed (if using Ubuntu PPA, `ndn-cxx-dev` package is needed).
+
+Any operating system and compiler supported by ndn-cxx are supported by ndn-tools.
+
+## Build Steps
+
+Waf meta build system is used by ndn-tools.
+
+To configure, compile, and install ndn-tools, type the following commands
+in ndn-tools source directory:
+
+    ./waf configure
+    ./waf
+    sudo ./waf install
+
+To uninstall ndn-tools:
+
+    sudo ./waf uninstall
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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+# NDN Essential Tools
+
+**ndn-tools** is a collection of essential tools for
+[Named Data Networking](http://named-data.net/).
+These tools are recommended to be installed on all NDN nodes.  
+Tools in this collection include:
+
+* [ping](tools/ping): test reachability between two nodes
+* [peek](tools/peek): transmit a single packet between a consumer and a producer
+
+See [INSTALL.md](INSTALL.md) for build instructions.
+
+Please file bug reports and feature requests on
+[ndn-tools Redmine site](http://redmine.named-data.net/projects/ndn-tools).  
+You may contribute code on [NDN Gerrit](http://gerrit.named-data.net).
+GitHub pull requests are not accepted.