diff --git a/services/files/salt_file_client_local b/services/files/salt_file_client_local
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13083d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/files/salt_file_client_local
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Set the file client. The client defaults to looking on the master server for
+# files, but can be directed to look at the local file directory setting
+# defined below by setting it to "local". Setting a local file_client runs the
+# minion in masterless mode.
+file_client: local
diff --git a/services/salt.sls b/services/salt.sls
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d7f75e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/salt.sls
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+include:
+    - system.packages
+
+services_salt_file_client_local:
+    file.managed:
+        - name: /etc/salt/minion.d/salt_file_client_local
+        - source: salt://{{ tpldir }}/files/salt_file_client_local
+        - user: root
+        - group: root
+        - mode: 640
+        - require:
+            - system_packages_install
diff --git a/system/packages.sls b/system/packages.sls
index 2e18c8c..bdf9621 100644
--- a/system/packages.sls
+++ b/system/packages.sls
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ system_packages_install:
             - podman-compose
             - mariadb-server
             - java-latest-openjdk-headless
+            - jq
         - require:
             - system_btrfs_create_podman_data_dir
             - system_btrfs_create_mysql_data_dir