diff --git a/deploy/README.md b/deploy/README.md
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@@ -1 +1,92 @@
 #Using deploy api
+
+#Using the ssh deploy plugin
+
+The ssh deploy plugin allows you to deploy certificates to a remote host
+using SSH command to connect to the remote server.  The ssh plugin is invoked
+with the following command...
+
+```bash
+acme.sh --deploy -d example.com --deploy-hook ssh
+```
+Prior to running this for the first time you must tell the plugin where
+and how to deploy the certificates.  This is done by exporting the following
+environment variables.
+
+This is not required for subsequent runs as the
+values are stored by acme.sh in the domain configuration files.
+
+Required...
+```bash
+export ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_USER="admin"
+```
+Optional...
+```bash
+export ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER="qnap"
+export ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_PORT="22"
+export ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_SERVICE_STOP=""
+export ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE="/etc/stunnel/stunnel.pem"
+export ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE="/etc/stunnel/stunnel.pem"
+export ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE="/etc/stunnel/uca.pem"
+export ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN=""
+export ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD="/etc/init.d/stunnel.sh restart"
+export ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_SERVICE_START=""
+```
+The values used above are illustrative only and represent those used
+to deploy certificates to a QNAP NAS device running QTS 4.2
+
+###ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_USER
+Username at the remote host that SSH will login with. Note that
+SSH must be able to login to remote host without a password... SSH Keys
+must have been exchanged with the remote host. Validate and test that you
+can login to USER@URL from the host running acme.sh before using this script.
+
+The USER@URL at the remote server must also have has permissions to write to
+the target location of the certificate files and to execute any commands
+(e.g. to stop/start services).
+
+###ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER
+URL or IP Address of the remote server.  If not provided then the domain
+name provided on the acme.sh --deploy command line is used.
+
+###ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_PORT
+Port number that SSH will attempt to connect to at the remote server.  If
+not specified then defaults to 22.
+
+###ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_SERVICE_STOP
+Command to execute on the remote server prior to copying any certificates. This
+would typically be used to stop the service for which the certificates are
+being deployed.
+
+###ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE
+###ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE
+###ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE
+###ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN
+These four variables identify the target location for the respective
+certificates issued by LetsEncrypt.  Directory path and filenames are those
+on the remote server and the SSH user must have write permissions.
+
+###ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD
+Command to execute on the remote server after copying any certificates.  This
+could be any additional command required prior to starting the service again,
+or could be a all-inclusive restart (stop and start of service).  If
+ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_SERVICE_STOP value was provided then a 2 second sleep is
+inserted prior to calling this command to allow the system to stabalize.
+
+###ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_SERVICE_START
+Command to execute on the remote server after copying any certificates.  This
+would typically be used to stop the service for which the certificates are
+being deployed.  If ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_SERVICE_STOP or ACME_DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD
+value were provided then a 2 second sleep is inserted prior to calling
+this command to allow the system to stabalize.
+
+##Backups
+Before writing a certificate file to the remote server the existing
+certificate will be copied to a backup directory on the remote server.
+These are placed in a hidden directory in the home directory of the SSH
+user
+```bash
+~/.acme_ssh_deploy/[domain name]-backup-[timestamp]
+```
+Any backups older than 180 days will be deleted when new certificates
+are deployed.