diff --git a/.env.sample b/.env.sample
index 4f4aa85..b559c3e 100644
--- a/.env.sample
+++ b/.env.sample
@@ -99,9 +99,15 @@ ENABLE_REGISTRATION=false
 
 #DISABLE_FEDERATION=1
 
+# SERVE_SERVER_WELLKNOWN only works if SERVER_NAME and DOMAIN are the same
+# if they are different, then a different federation method is needed (like compose.wellknown.yml)
 # Set "true" to enable federation endpoint on $DOMAIN/.well-known/matrix/server
 SERVE_SERVER_WELLKNOWN=false
 
+# Serve /.well-known/matrix/{server,client} on SERVER_NAME via Traefik.
+# Can be used when SERVER_NAME != DOMAIN and SERVER_NAME is served by Traefik.
+#COMPOSE_FILE="$COMPOSE_FILE:compose.wellknown.yml"
+
 ALLOW_PUBLIC_ROOMS_FEDERATION=false
 
 ## Room auto-join
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bb7e781..6cf71b6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,11 +39,100 @@
 
 ### Enabling federation
 
-See [`#27`](https://git.coopcloud.tech/coop-cloud/matrix-synapse/pulls/27) for more. Depending on your setup, using `SERVE_SERVER_WELLKNOWN=true` might work to start federating. Make sure you don't leave `DISABLE_FEDERATION=1` set!
+Federation is on by default (`DISABLE_FEDERATION=0`). Remote homeservers need a way to discover the host:port that serves your `SERVER_NAME`. 
+There are three supported approaches. At least one needs to be working for federation to work (and matrix will fallback between them).
+
+#### Option 1: built-in well-known (`SERVER_NAME` = `DOMAIN`)
+
+Set `SERVE_SERVER_WELLKNOWN=true` and leave `SERVER_NAME` unset (defaults to `DOMAIN`). The recipe's nginx serves `/.well-known/matrix/server` and `/.well-known/matrix/client` on `DOMAIN`. 
+
+Suitable when users are e.g. `@alice:matrix.example.com`.
+
+#### Option 2: external well-known on `SERVER_NAME`
+
+Use when you want users to be e.g. `@alice:example.com` while Synapse runs at `matrix.example.com` (and SERVER_NAME is served by the same machine that Synapse is running on). Set:
+
+```
+SERVER_NAME=example.com
+DOMAIN=matrix.example.com
+SERVE_SERVER_WELLKNOWN=false
+```
+
+The two paths that must be served on `SERVER_NAME` are:
+
+- `https://example.com/.well-known/matrix/server` → `{"m.server": "matrix.example.com:443"}`
+- `https://example.com/.well-known/matrix/client` → `{"m.homeserver": {"base_url": "https://matrix.example.com"}}`
+
+**Recommended — let this recipe serve them via Traefik** by enabling `compose.wellknown.yml`:
+
+```
+COMPOSE_FILE="$COMPOSE_FILE:compose.wellknown.yml"
+```
+
+This publishes a Traefik router `Host(${SERVER_NAME}) && PathPrefix(/.well-known/matrix)`
+pointing at the matrix nginx, which already serves both files. The path-scoped, high-priority
+rule coexists with any apex website that also serves `Host(${SERVER_NAME})` — that site keeps
+serving everything except `/.well-known/matrix`. `SERVER_NAME` must resolve to this Traefik so
+ACME can issue its certificate.
+
+**Alternative** — serve the two files yourself from whatever already hosts `example.com`.
+
+
+#### Option 3: Traefik `matrix-federation` entrypoint (port 8448)
+
+Use when `SERVER_NAME` ≠ `DOMAIN` but you have no separate web service at `SERVER_NAME`. Remote homeservers fall back to `SERVER_NAME:8448` when there's no delegation (also requires SERVER_NAME pointing to same server that matrix is running on).
+
+Requirements:
+
+- [traefik](https://git.coopcloud.tech/coop-cloud/traefik) `>= 5.1.2+v3.6.15` with `MATRIX_FEDERATION_ENABLED=1` and `compose.matrix.yml` enabled.
+- `SERVER_NAME` set in your matrix-synapse env (used by the federation router's Host rule).
+
+With these in place, the recipe publishes a Traefik router on `Host(${SERVER_NAME})` via the `matrix-federation` entrypoint, reusing the existing matrix nginx → synapse path.
+
+
+#### Option 4: DNS SRV records (usually not viable here)
+
+For reasons explained below, I might be confused, but I think SRV records usually don't help with co-op cloud matrix deployments.
+
+You should probably prefer Option 2 (well known), but the possibility of SRV is explained below:
+
+Federation can also be delegated with a DNS `SRV` record on `SERVER_NAME` instead of well-known:
+
+```
+_matrix-fed._tcp.example.com.  3600 IN SRV 10 0 8448 matrix.example.com.   # modern
+_matrix._tcp.example.com.      3600 IN SRV 10 0 8448 matrix.example.com.   # deprecated, for older peers
+```
+
+The catch is TLS: on the SRV path a remote validates the certificate against **`SERVER_NAME`**, *not* the SRV target. This recipe's Traefik only issues a cert for **`DOMAIN`**, so:
+
+- **SRV → `DOMAIN`:443 fails** — the presented cert is for `DOMAIN`, but the peer requires one for `SERVER_NAME`.
+- **SRV → `SERVER_NAME`:443 collides** — Traefik routes TLS by SNI, and `Host(SERVER_NAME)` on `:443` is already owned by whatever apex site serves `SERVER_NAME`.
+- **SRV → `SERVER_NAME`:8448 works** — the Option 3 `matrix-federation` router holds a cert for `SERVER_NAME` — but that's just Option 3 made explicit (the `:8448` fallback already works with no SRV record).
+
+
+#### Verifying
+
+The canonical test:
+
+- https://federationtester.matrix.org/#YOUR_SERVER_NAME
+
+Or check the underlying paths directly. They should all return JSON:
+
+```bash
+# Options 1 & 2 — delegation
+curl https://SERVER_NAME/.well-known/matrix/server
+
+# Option 3 — federation endpoint via 8448
+curl https://SERVER_NAME:8448/_matrix/key/v2/server
+
+# Confirms Synapse itself is healthy (independent of the path remote servers use)
+curl https://DOMAIN/_matrix/key/v2/server
+```
 
 ### Getting client discovery on a custom domain
 
-You'll need to deploy something like [this](https://git.autonomic.zone/ruangrupa/well-known-uris). This could be implemented in this recipe but we haven't merged it in yet. Change sets are welcome.
+Enable `compose.wellknown.yml` (see Option 2 above) — it serves `/.well-known/matrix/client`
+on `SERVER_NAME` too, so clients signing in as `@alice:example.com` auto-discover the homeserver.
 
 ### Matrix Authentication Service (MAS)
 
diff --git a/compose.wellknown.yml b/compose.wellknown.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ae966c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compose.wellknown.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+---
+version: "3.8"
+
+# Serve /.well-known/matrix/{server,client} on SERVER_NAME via Traefik, routed to
+# the matrix nginx (`web`) — so server/client delegation works without hand-placing
+# files on whatever else hosts SERVER_NAME.
+#
+# Enable when SERVER_NAME != DOMAIN (users are @alice:example.com, Synapse runs at
+# matrix.example.com). The PathPrefix rule is more specific than a bare Host()
+# router, and the explicit high priority guarantees it wins over any apex website
+# that also serves Host(SERVER_NAME) — so the two coexist, the apex site keeps
+# serving everything except /.well-known/matrix.
+#
+# Requires SERVER_NAME to resolve to this Traefik so ACME can issue its cert.
+services:
+  web:
+    deploy:
+      labels:
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-wellknown.rule=Host(`${SERVER_NAME}`) && PathPrefix(`/.well-known/matrix`)"
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-wellknown.entrypoints=web-secure"
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-wellknown.tls=true"
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-wellknown.tls.certresolver=${LETS_ENCRYPT_ENV}"
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-wellknown.service=${STACK_NAME}"
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-wellknown.priority=1000"
diff --git a/compose.yml b/compose.yml
index decd73a..54c2d63 100644
--- a/compose.yml
+++ b/compose.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ services:
         - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}.rule=Host(`${DOMAIN}`)"
         - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}.entrypoints=web-secure"
         - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}.tls.certresolver=${LETS_ENCRYPT_ENV}"
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-federation.rule=Host(`${SERVER_NAME}`)"
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-federation.entrypoints=matrix-federation"
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-federation.tls=true"
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-federation.tls.certresolver=${LETS_ENCRYPT_ENV}"
+        - "traefik.http.routers.${STACK_NAME}-federation.service=${STACK_NAME}"
     healthcheck:
       test: curl -f http://${STACK_NAME}_app:8008/health || exit 1
       interval: 30s