diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index c504a5d0ba..69bae80834 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -2850,24 +2850,11 @@ It is better to store that file on the target root file system, say, as
 @file{/mnt/etc/config.scm}.
 
 A minimal operating system configuration, with just the bare minimum and
-only a root account would look like this:
+only a root account would look like this (on the installation system,
+this example is available as @file{/etc/configuration-template.scm}):
 
 @example
-(use-modules (gnu))
-
-(operating-system
-  (host-name "foo")
-  (timezone "Europe/Paris")
-  (locale "en_US.UTF-8")
-
-  ;; Assuming /dev/sdX is the target hard disk, and /dev/sdX1 the
-  ;; target root file system.
-  (bootloader (grub-configuration (device "/dev/sdX")))
-  (file-systems (cons (file-system
-                        (device "/dev/sdX1")
-                        (mount-point "/")
-                        (type "ext4"))
-                      %base-file-systems)))
+@include gnu/system/os-config.tmpl
 @end example
 
 @noindent
diff --git a/gnu-system.am b/gnu-system.am
index c3e1b98c03..6e1e8afec0 100644
--- a/gnu-system.am
+++ b/gnu-system.am
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ GNU_SYSTEM_MODULES =				\
   gnu/system/file-systems.scm			\
   gnu/system/grub.scm				\
   gnu/system/install.scm			\
+  gnu/system/os-config.tmpl			\
   gnu/system/linux.scm				\
   gnu/system/linux-initrd.scm			\
   gnu/system/shadow.scm				\
diff --git a/gnu/system/install.scm b/gnu/system/install.scm
index d3539b3f84..567934e4c1 100644
--- a/gnu/system/install.scm
+++ b/gnu/system/install.scm
@@ -115,6 +115,27 @@ the given target.")
                        (delete-file-recursively
                         (string-append target #$%backing-directory))))))))
 
+(define (configuration-template-service)
+  "Return a dummy service whose purpose is to install an operating system
+configuration template file in the installation system."
+
+  (define local-template
+    "/etc/configuration-template.scm")
+  (define template
+    (search-path %load-path "gnu/system/os-config.tmpl"))
+
+  (mlet %store-monad ((template (interned-file template)))
+    (return (service
+             (requirement '(root-file-system))
+             (provision '(os-config-template))
+             (documentation
+              "This dummy service installs an OS configuration template.")
+             (start #~(const #t))
+             (stop  #~(const #f))
+             (activate
+              #~(unless (file-exists? #$local-template)
+                  (copy-file #$template #$local-template)))))))
+
 (define (installation-services)
   "Return the list services for the installation image."
   (let ((motd (text-file "motd" "
@@ -144,6 +165,9 @@ You have been warned.  Thanks for being so brave.
                             #:auto-login "guest"
                             #:login-program (log-to-info))
 
+          ;; Documentation add-on.
+          (configuration-template-service)
+
           ;; A bunch of 'root' ttys.
           (normal-tty "tty3")
           (normal-tty "tty4")
diff --git a/gnu/system/os-config.tmpl b/gnu/system/os-config.tmpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ad58606f67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gnu/system/os-config.tmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+;; This is an operating system configuration template.
+
+(use-modules (gnu))
+
+(operating-system
+  (host-name "antelope")
+  (timezone "Europe/Paris")
+  (locale "en_US.UTF-8")
+
+  ;; Assuming /dev/sdX is the target hard disk, and "root" is
+  ;; the label of the target root file system.
+  (bootloader (grub-configuration (device "/dev/sdX")))
+  (file-systems (cons (file-system
+                        (device "root")
+                        (title 'label)
+                        (mount-point "/")
+                        (type "ext4"))
+                      %base-file-systems))
+
+  ;; This is where user accounts are specified.  The "root"
+  ;; account is implicit, and is initially created with the
+  ;; empty password.
+  (users (list (user-account
+                (name "alice")
+                (comment "Bob's sister")
+                (group "users")
+
+                ;; Adding the account to the "wheel" group
+                ;; makes it a sudoer.
+                (supplementary-groups '("wheel"))
+                (home-directory "/home/alice")))))