diff --git a/README.external b/README.external
deleted file mode 100644
index 03f08ad1..00000000
--- a/README.external
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
-BATMAN-ADV external module
---------------------------
-
-The  batman-adv  module  is  shipped  as part of the Linux kernel
-and as external module. The external  module   allows   to    get
-new    features without  upgrading  to  a  newer  kernel  version
-and to get batman-adv specific bugfixes  for  kernels  that   are
-not   supported   anymore.  It compiles  against  and should work
-with Linux 3.2 -  4.14.  Supporting   older   versions   is   not
-planned,  but it's probably easy to backport it. If you work on a
-backport, feel free to contact us.  :-)
-
-COMPILE
--------
-
-To compile against your currently installed  kernel, just type:
-
-# make
-
-if you want to compile against some other kernel, use:
-
-# make KERNELPATH=/path/to/kernel
-
-if you want to install this module:
-
-# sudo make install
-
-CONFIGURATION
--------------
-
-The     in-kernel    module    can    be    configured    through
-menuconfig.   When  compiling outside  of the kernel tree,  it is
-necessary  to  configure  it  using    the   make  options.  Each
-option  can be set to to y (enabled), n (disabled) or m (build as
-module).  Available  options  and  their    possible   values are
-(default marked with an "*")
-
- * CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_DEBUGFS=[y*|n] (B.A.T.M.A.N. debugfs entries)
- * CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_DEBUG=[y|n*] (B.A.T.M.A.N. debugging)
- * CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_BLA=[y*|n] (B.A.T.M.A.N. bridge loop avoidance)
- * CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_DAT=[y*|n] (B.A.T.M.A.N. Distributed ARP Table)
- * CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_MCAST=[y*|n] (B.A.T.M.A.N. multicast optimizations)
- * CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_NC=[y|n*] (B.A.T.M.A.N. Network Coding)
- * CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_BATMAN_V=[y|n*] (B.A.T.M.A.N. V routing algorithm)
-
-e.g., debugging can be enabled by
-
-# make CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_DEBUG=y
-
-Keep  in  mind  that  all  options  must  also  be added to "make
-install" call.
diff --git a/README.external.license b/README.external.license
deleted file mode 100644
index a55d70ee..00000000
--- a/README.external.license
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-License-Filename: LICENSES/preferred/GPL-2.0
diff --git a/README.external.rst b/README.external.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..40a00452
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.external.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+==========================
+BATMAN-ADV external module
+==========================
+
+Introduction
+============
+
+The  batman-adv  module  is  shipped  as part of the Linux kernel
+and as external module. The external  module   allows   to    get
+new    features without  upgrading  to  a  newer  kernel  version
+and to get batman-adv specific bugfixes  for  kernels  that   are
+not   supported   anymore.  It compiles  against  and should work
+with Linux 3.2 -  4.14.  Supporting   older   versions   is   not
+planned,  but it's probably easy to backport it. If you work on a
+backport, feel free to contact us.  :-)
+
+
+COMPILE
+=======
+
+To compile against your currently installed  kernel, just type::
+
+  # make
+
+if you want to compile against some other kernel, use::
+
+  # make KERNELPATH=/path/to/kernel
+
+if you want to install this module::
+
+  # sudo make install
+
+
+CONFIGURATION
+=============
+
+The     in-kernel    module    can    be    configured    through
+menuconfig.   When  compiling outside  of the kernel tree,  it is
+necessary  to  configure  it  using    the   make  options.  Each
+option  can be set to to y (enabled), n (disabled) or m (build as
+module).  Available  options  and  their    possible   values are
+(default marked with an "*")
+
+ * ``CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_DEBUGFS=[y*|n]`` (B.A.T.M.A.N. debugfs entries)
+ * ``CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_DEBUG=[y|n*]`` (B.A.T.M.A.N. debugging)
+ * ``CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_BLA=[y*|n]`` (B.A.T.M.A.N. bridge loop avoidance)
+ * ``CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_DAT=[y*|n]`` (B.A.T.M.A.N. Distributed ARP Table)
+ * ``CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_MCAST=[y*|n]`` (B.A.T.M.A.N. multicast optimizations)
+ * ``CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_NC=[y|n*]`` (B.A.T.M.A.N. Network Coding)
+ * ``CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_BATMAN_V=[y|n*]`` (B.A.T.M.A.N. V routing algorithm)
+
+e.g., debugging can be enabled by::
+
+  # make CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_DEBUG=y
+
+Keep  in  mind  that  all  options  must  also  be added to ``make install``
+call.
