+
+## Running your own instance
+
+### Can I import multiple countries and keep them up to date?
+
+You should use the extracts and updates from https://download.geofabrik.de.
+For the initial import, download the countries you need and merge them.
+See [OSM Help](https://help.openstreetmap.org/questions/48843/merging-two-or-more-geographical-areas-to-import-two-or-more-osm-files-in-nominatim)
+for examples how to do that. Use the resulting single osm file when
+running `setup.php`.
+
+For updates you need to download the change files for each country
+once per day and apply them **separately** using
+
+ ./utils/update.php --import-diff <filename> --index
+
+See [this issue](https://github.com/openstreetmap/Nominatim/issues/60#issuecomment-18679446)
+for a script that runs the updates using osmosis.
+
+### Can I import negative OSM ids into Nominatim?
+
+See [this question of Stackoverflow](https://help.openstreetmap.org/questions/64662/nominatim-flatnode-with-negative-id).
+
+### Missing XML or text declaration
+
+The website might show: `XML Parsing Error: XML or text declaration not at start of entity Location.`
+
+Make sure there are no spaces at the beginning of your `settings/local.php` file.
+
+