diff --git a/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/.env.example b/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/.env.example
index 296dcca5..c5519ce6 100644
--- a/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/.env.example
+++ b/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/.env.example
@@ -1,6 +1,38 @@
-# Docker Compose Configuration
+# Inference API Configuration
+# Note: model names must match one of the deployed models with Enterprise Inference.
+# INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT: URL to your inference service (without /v1 suffix). Uncomment ONE of the below.
+#   - For GenAI Gateway:
+#INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT=https://api.example.com
+#   - For APISIX Gateway (default), requires the model name in the URL path: 
+INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT=https://api.example.com/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct
+
+# INFERENCE_API_TOKEN: Authentication token/API key for the inference service
+#   - For GenAI Gateway: Your GenAI Gateway API key
+#   - For APISIX Gateway: Your APISIX authentication token
+INFERENCE_API_TOKEN=your-pre-generated-token-here
+
+# Model Configuration
+# IMPORTANT: Use the full model name i.e. model card
+INFERENCE_MODEL_NAME=meta-llama/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct
+
+# LLM Configuration
+LLM_TEMPERATURE=0.7
+LLM_MAX_TOKENS=2000
+
 # Local URL Endpoint (only needed for non-public domains)
-# If using a local domain like api.example.com mapped to localhost:
-#   Set this to: api.example.com (domain without https://)
-# If using a public domain, set any placeholder value like: not-needed
+# If using a local domain like api.example.com mapped to localhost, set to the domain without https://
+# Otherwise, set to: not-needed
 LOCAL_URL_ENDPOINT=not-needed
+
+# Service Configuration
+SERVICE_PORT=8000
+LOG_LEVEL=INFO
+
+# File Upload Limits
+MAX_FILE_SIZE=524288000
+MAX_PDF_SIZE=52428800
+MAX_PDF_PAGES=100
+
+# SSL Verification Settings
+# Set to false only for dev with self-signed certs
+VERIFY_SSL=true
diff --git a/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/README.md b/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/README.md
index 144e4148..1715e56e 100644
--- a/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/README.md
+++ b/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/README.md
@@ -101,7 +101,16 @@ The application consists of:
 Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:
 
 - **Docker and Docker Compose**
-- **Enterprise inference endpoint access** (token-based authentication)
+- **Enterprise Inference endpoint access** (token-based authentication, see below for models and configs)
+
+#### Deploy Required Models
+
+See the table below for supported models, hardware, and gateway configuration.
+
+| Model | Xeon w/APISIX/Keycloak | Xeon w/GenAI Gateway | Gaudi w/APISIX/Keycloak | Gaudi w/GenAI Gateway |
+|---|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
+| **meta-llama/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct** | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Validated on Dell XE7740 | ✅ Validated on Dell XE7740 |
+| **Qwen/Qwen3-4B-Instruct-2507** | ✅ Validated on Dell XE7740 | ✅ Validated on Dell XE7740 | ❌ | ❌ |
 
 ### Required API Configuration
 
@@ -109,30 +118,17 @@ Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:
 
 This application supports multiple inference deployment patterns:
 
-- **GenAI Gateway**: Provide your GenAI Gateway URL and API key
+**GenAI Gateway**: Provide your GenAI Gateway URL and API key
+  - URL format: https://api.example.com
   - To generate the GenAI Gateway API key, use the [generate-vault-secrets.sh](https://github.com/opea-project/Enterprise-Inference/blob/main/core/scripts/generate-vault-secrets.sh) script
-  - The API key is the `litellm_master_key` value from the generated `vault.yml` file
-  
-- **APISIX Gateway**: Provide your APISIX Gateway URL and authentication token
+  - The API key is the litellm_master_key value from the generated vault.yml file
+
+**APISIX Gateway**: Provide your APISIX Gateway URL and authentication token
+  - URL format: https://api.example.com/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct
+  - Note: APISIX requires the model name in the URL path
   - To generate the APISIX authentication token, use the [generate-token.sh](https://github.com/opea-project/Enterprise-Inference/blob/main/core/scripts/generate-token.sh) script
   - The token is generated using Keycloak client credentials
 
-### Local Development Configuration
-
-**For Local Testing Only (Optional)**
-
-If you're testing with a local inference endpoint using a custom domain (e.g., `api.example.com` mapped to localhost in your hosts file):
-
-1. Edit `backend/.env` and set:
-   ```bash
-   LOCAL_URL_ENDPOINT=api.example.com
-   ```
-   (Use the domain name from your INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT without `https://`)
-
-2. This allows Docker containers to resolve your local domain correctly.
-
-**Note:** For public domains or cloud-hosted endpoints, leave the default value `not-needed`.
-
 ### Verify Docker Installation
 
 ```bash
@@ -159,95 +155,28 @@ cd Enterprise-Inference/sample_solutions/DocSummarization
 
 ### Set up the Environment
 
-This application requires **two `.env` files** for proper configuration:
-
-1. **Root `.env` file** (for Docker Compose variables)
-2. **`backend/.env` file** (for backend application configuration)
-
-#### Step 1: Create Root `.env` File
-
-You can either copy from the example file:
+This application requires an `.env` file in the root directory for proper configuration. Create it using [.env.example](./.env.example) with the commands below:
 
 ```bash
 cp .env.example .env
 ```
-
-Then edit `.env` if needed, **OR** create it directly:
-
-```bash
-# From the DocSummarization directory
-cat > .env << EOF
-# Docker Compose Configuration
-LOCAL_URL_ENDPOINT=not-needed
-EOF
-```
-
-**Note:** If using a local domain (e.g., `api.example.com` mapped to localhost), replace `not-needed` with your domain name (without `https://`).
-
-#### Step 2: Create `backend/.env` File
-
-You can either copy from the example file:
-
-```bash
-cp backend/.env.example backend/.env
-```
-
-Then edit `backend/.env` with your actual credentials, **OR** create it directly:
-
-```bash
-cat > backend/.env << EOF
-# Inference API Configuration
-# INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT: URL to your inference service (without /v1 suffix)
-#   - For GenAI Gateway: https://genai-gateway.example.com
-#   - For APISIX Gateway: https://apisix-gateway.example.com/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct
-#     Note: APISIX Gateway requires the model name in the URL path
-#
-# INFERENCE_API_TOKEN: Authentication token/API key for the inference service
-#   - For GenAI Gateway: Your GenAI Gateway API key
-#   - For APISIX Gateway: Your APISIX authentication token
-INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT=https://your-actual-api-endpoint.com
-INFERENCE_API_TOKEN=your-actual-token-here
-
-# Model Configuration
-# IMPORTANT: Use the full model names as they appear in your inference service
-# Check available models: curl https://your-api-endpoint.com/v1/models -H "Authorization: Bearer your-token"
-INFERENCE_MODEL_NAME=meta-llama/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct
-
-# LLM Configuration
-LLM_TEMPERATURE=0.7
-LLM_MAX_TOKENS=2000
-
-# Local URL Endpoint (for Docker)
-LOCAL_URL_ENDPOINT=not-needed
-
-# Service Configuration
-SERVICE_PORT=8000
-LOG_LEVEL=INFO
-
-# File Upload Limits
-MAX_FILE_SIZE=524288000
-MAX_PDF_SIZE=52428800
-MAX_PDF_PAGES=100
-
-# SSL Verification Settings
-# Set to false only for dev with self-signed certs
-VERIFY_SSL=true
-EOF
-```
+Then modify it as needed, with special consideration to certain environment variables mentioned below. Read through the .env file for full instructions.
 
 **Important Configuration Notes:**
 
-- **INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT**: Your actual inference service URL (replace `https://your-actual-api-endpoint.com`)
-  - For APISIX/Keycloak deployments, the model name must be included in the endpoint URL (e.g., `https://apisix-gateway.example.com/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct`)
+- **INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT**: Your actual inference service URL (replace `https://api.example.com`)
+  - For APISIX/Keycloak deployments, the model name must be included in the endpoint URL (e.g., `https://api.example.com/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct`)
 - **INFERENCE_API_TOKEN**: Your actual pre-generated authentication token
 - **INFERENCE_MODEL_NAME**: Use the exact model name from your inference service
-  - To check available models: `curl https://your-api-endpoint.com/v1/models -H "Authorization: Bearer your-token"`
-- **LOCAL_URL_ENDPOINT**: Only needed if using local domain mapping
+  - To check available models: `curl https://api.example.com/v1/models -H "Authorization: Bearer your-token"`
+- **LOCAL_URL_ENDPOINT**: Only needed if using local domain mapping (i.e. `api.example.com` mapped to localhost) for Docker containers to resolve correctly.
+  - Use the domain name from INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT without `https://`
+  - For public domains or cloud-hosted endpoints, leave the default value `not-needed`
 - **VERIFY_SSL**: Controls SSL certificate verification (default: `true`)
   - Set to `false` only for development environments with self-signed certificates
   - Keep as `true` for production environments
 
-**Note**: The docker-compose.yml file automatically loads environment variables from both `.env` (root) and `./backend/.env` (backend) files.
+**Note**: The docker-compose.yaml file automatically loads environment variables from `.env` for the backend service.
 
 ### Running the Application
 
@@ -329,14 +258,3 @@ docker compose down
 For comprehensive troubleshooting guidance, common issues, and solutions, refer to:
 
 [TROUBLESHOOTING.md](./TROUBLESHOOTING.md)
-
----
-
-## Additional Info
-
-The following models have been validated with DocSummarization:
-
-| Model | Hardware |
-|-------|----------|
-| **meta-llama/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct** | Gaudi |
-| **Qwen/Qwen3-4B-Instruct-2507** | Xeon |
diff --git a/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/backend/.env.example b/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/backend/.env.example
deleted file mode 100644
index ca336a55..00000000
--- a/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/backend/.env.example
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-# Inference API Configuration
-# INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT: URL to your inference service (without /v1 suffix)
-#   - For GenAI Gateway: https://genai-gateway.example.com
-#   - For APISIX Gateway: https://apisix-gateway.example.com/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct
-#     Note: APISIX Gateway requires the model name in the URL path
-#
-# INFERENCE_API_TOKEN: Authentication token/API key for the inference service
-#   - For GenAI Gateway: Your GenAI Gateway API key
-#   - For APISIX Gateway: Your APISIX authentication token
-INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT=https://api.example.com
-INFERENCE_API_TOKEN=your-pre-generated-token-here
-
-# Model Configuration
-# IMPORTANT: Use the full model names as they appear in your inference service
-# Check available models: curl https://your-api-endpoint.com/v1/models -H "Authorization: Bearer your-token"
-INFERENCE_MODEL_NAME=meta-llama/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct
-
-# LLM Configuration
-LLM_TEMPERATURE=0.7
-LLM_MAX_TOKENS=2000
-
-# Local URL Endpoint (only needed for non-public domains)
-# If using a local domain like api.example.com mapped to localhost:
-#   Set this to: api.example.com (domain without https://)
-# If using a public domain, set any placeholder value like: not-needed
-LOCAL_URL_ENDPOINT=not-needed
-
-# Service Configuration
-SERVICE_PORT=8000
-LOG_LEVEL=INFO
-
-# File Upload Limits
-MAX_FILE_SIZE=524288000
-MAX_PDF_SIZE=52428800
-MAX_PDF_PAGES=100
-
-# SSL Verification Settings
-# Set to false only for dev with self-signed certs
-VERIFY_SSL=true
diff --git a/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/docker-compose.yml b/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/docker-compose.yml
index 44ff960a..717b2671 100644
--- a/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/sample_solutions/DocSummarization/docker-compose.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ services:
     ports:
       - "8000:8000"
     env_file:
-      - ./backend/.env
+      - .env
     volumes:
       - ./backend:/app
     extra_hosts:
@@ -34,32 +34,3 @@ services:
 networks:
   app_network:
     driver: bridge
-
-# =============================================================================
-# Usage Instructions:
-# =============================================================================
-#
-# 1. Create .env file in root directory (for Docker Compose variables):
-#    cat > .env << EOF
-#    LOCAL_URL_ENDPOINT=not-needed
-#    EOF
-#
-# 2. Copy backend/.env.example to backend/.env and configure your inference API credentials:
-#    cp backend/.env.example backend/.env
-#    # Edit backend/.env with your INFERENCE_API_ENDPOINT and INFERENCE_API_TOKEN
-#
-# 3. Start the application:
-#    docker compose up -d --build
-#
-# 4. Access the application:
-#    - Frontend: http://localhost:5173
-#    - Backend API: http://localhost:8000
-#    - API Docs: http://localhost:8000/docs
-#
-# 5. View logs:
-#    docker compose logs -f
-#
-# 6. Stop the application:
-#    docker compose down
-#
-# =============================================================================