diff --git a/app/data/stacks/fixturenet-optimism/README.md b/app/data/stacks/fixturenet-optimism/README.md
index c3ef118d..f432fbc5 100644
--- a/app/data/stacks/fixturenet-optimism/README.md
+++ b/app/data/stacks/fixturenet-optimism/README.md
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ Clone required repositories:
 
 ```bash
 laconic-so --stack fixturenet-optimism setup-repositories
+
+# Exclude cerc-io/go-ethereum repository if running L1 separately
+laconic-so --stack fixturenet-optimism setup-repositories --exclude cerc-io/go-ethereum
 ```
 
 Checkout to the required versions and branches in repos:
@@ -22,6 +25,9 @@ Build the container images:
 
 ```bash
 laconic-so --stack fixturenet-optimism build-containers
+
+# Only build containers required for L2 if running L1 separately
+laconic-so --stack fixturenet-optimism build-containers --include cerc/foundry,cerc/optimism-contracts,cerc/optimism-op-node,cerc/optimism-l2geth,cerc/optimism-op-batcher
 ```
 
 This should create the required docker images in the local image registry:
@@ -37,19 +43,32 @@ This should create the required docker images in the local image registry:
 
 ## Deploy
 
+(Optional) Update the [.env](../../config/fixturenet-optimism/.env) file with L1 endpoint and other params if running L1 separately (use `host.docker.internal` as `L1_HOST` to access a host port)
+
 Deploy the stack:
 
 ```bash
 laconic-so --stack fixturenet-optimism deploy up
+
+# Only start fixturenet-optimism pod (L2) if running L1 separately
+laconic-so --stack fixturenet-optimism deploy up --include fixturenet-optimism
 ```
 
-To list down the running containers:
+The `fixturenet-optimism-contracts` service may take a while (`~15 mins`) to complete running as it:
+1. waits for the 'Merge' to happen on L1
+2. waits for a finalized block to exist on L1 (so that it can be taken as a starting block for roll ups)
+3. deploys the L1 contracts
+
+To list down and monitor the running containers:
 
 ```bash
 laconic-so --stack fixturenet-optimism deploy ps
 
 # With status
 docker ps
+
+# Check logs for a container
+docker logs -f <CONTAINER_ID>
 ```
 
 ## Clean up
@@ -58,23 +77,24 @@ Stop all services running in the background:
 
 ```bash
 laconic-so --stack fixturenet-optimism deploy down
+
+# If only ran fixturenet-optimism pod (L2)
+laconic-so --stack fixturenet-optimism deploy down --include fixturenet-optimism
 ```
 
-Remove volumes created by this stack:
+Clear volumes created by this stack:
 
 ```bash
-docker volume ls
+# List all relevant volumes
+docker volume ls -q --filter name=laconic*
 
-docker volume rm laconic-d527651bba3cb61886b36a7400bd2a38_fixturenet-geth-accounts
-docker volume rm laconic-d527651bba3cb61886b36a7400bd2a38_l1-deployment
-docker volume rm laconic-d527651bba3cb61886b36a7400bd2a38_l2-accounts
-docker volume rm laconic-d527651bba3cb61886b36a7400bd2a38_op_node_data
+# Remove all the listed volumes
+docker volume rm $(docker volume ls -q --filter name=laconic*)
 ```
 
 ## Known Issues
 
 * Currently not supported:
   * Stopping and restarting the stack from where it left off; currently starts fresh on a restart
-  * Pointing Optimism (L2) to external L1 endpoint to allow running only L2 services
 * Resource requirements (memory + time) for building `cerc/foundry` image are on the higher side
   * `cerc/optimism-contracts` image is currently based on `cerc/foundry` (Optimism requires foundry installation)