diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4020b18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+start:
+	@echo -n "> 1. Execute pre-start script..........";
+	@bash ./metactl/pre-start.sh && echo "done" || (echo "failed"; exit 1);
+	@echo -n "> 2. Build & launch environment........";
+	@docker-compose up -d > /dev/null 2>&1 && echo "done" || (echo "failed"; exit 1);
+	@echo -n "> 3. Execute post-start script.........";
+	@bash ./metactl/post-start.sh && echo "done" || (echo "failed"; exit 1);
+
+stop:
+	@echo -n "> 1. Execute pre-stop script...........";
+	@bash ./metactl/pre-stop.sh && echo "done" || (echo "failed"; exit 1);
+	@echo -n "> 2. Stop and remove environment.....";
+	@docker-compose down > /dev/null 2>&1 && echo "done" || (echo "failed"; exit 1);
+	@echo -n "> 3. Execute post-stop script..........";
+	@bash ./metactl/post-stop.sh && echo "done" || (echo "failed"; exit 1);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 25db57b..f5a96a6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ git clone --recursive https://git.xdrm.io/ptut/virtenv.git
 You need a consistent Linux System with the following packages :
 - `docker`
 - `docker-compose`
+- `make`
 
 
 You need to add a local dns record in `/etc/hosts`:
@@ -26,12 +27,15 @@ You need to add a local dns record in `/etc/hosts`:
 
 **Launch the environment**
 ```bash
-docker-compose up -d
+make start
 ```
+- *pre-start* and *post-start* script will be executed (*i.e.* restore database, etc)
 - the mounted files will match in the `./virtual` folder.
 - the website will be accessible at 'ptut.com:8080'.
 
 **Stop the environment**
 ```bash
-docker-compose down
-```
\ No newline at end of file
+make stop
+```
+- *pre-stop* and *post-stop* script will be executed (*i.e.* backup database, etc)
+- the mounted files will remain in `virtual/` (*e.g.* `/var/log/`).
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/metactl/environment.sh b/metactl/environment.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..616005f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metactl/environment.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# 1. Absolute directory
+ROOT="$(dirname `realpath $0`)";
+
+# 2. Service container names
+MARIADB_SERVICE="mariadb";
+PHPFPM_SERVICE="php-fpm";
+NGINX_SERVICE="nginx";
+
+# 3. Mariadb credentials
+MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD="root";
+MARIADB_DATABASE_NAME="vhost";
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/metactl/post-start.sh b/metactl/post-start.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3716862
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metactl/post-start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+source $(dirname `realpath $0`)/environment.sh;
+
+#############################################
+##                                         ##
+##   Executed after launching containers   ##
+##                                         ##
+#############################################
+
+# 1.1. Restore mariadb database
+cat $ROOT/persistent/mariadb.sql | docker exec -i $MARIADB_SERVICE mysql -uroot -p$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD $MARIADB_DATABASE_NAME 2>/dev/null;
+DB_RESTORED="$?";
+
+# 1.2. Try until connection OK
+while [ "$DB_RESTORED" != "0" ]; do
+	sleep 1;
+	cat $ROOT/persistent/mariadb.sql | docker exec -i $MARIADB_SERVICE mysql -uroot -p$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD $MARIADB_DATABASE_NAME 2>/dev/null;
+	DB_RESTORED="$?";
+done;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/metactl/post-stop.sh b/metactl/post-stop.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3243e0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metactl/post-stop.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+source $(dirname `realpath $0`)/environment.sh;
+
+############################################
+##                                        ##
+##   Executed after stopping containers   ##
+##                                        ##
+############################################
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/metactl/pre-start.sh b/metactl/pre-start.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ae3bf3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metactl/pre-start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+source $(dirname `realpath $0`)/environment.sh;
+
+##############################################
+##                                          ##
+##   Executed before launching containers   ##
+##                                          ##
+##############################################
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/metactl/pre-stop.sh b/metactl/pre-stop.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..772376d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metactl/pre-stop.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+source $(dirname `realpath $0`)/environment.sh;
+
+#############################################
+##                                         ##
+##   Executed before stopping containers   ##
+##                                         ##
+#############################################
+
+# 1. Backup mariadb database
+docker exec $MARIADB_SERVICE mysqldump  -uroot -p$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD $MARIADB_DATABASE_NAME > $ROOT/persistent/mariadb.sql;
\ No newline at end of file