diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7fb1226..8ff17f3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -71,6 +71,17 @@ cd LLMGuard
 npm install
 ```
 
+#### (Optional but recommended) Create virtual environment
+
+```bash
+pip install virtualenv
+
+python3 -m venv .venv
+
+source .venv/bin/activate # for linux
+.venv\Scripts\activate # for windows
+```
+
 #### Python Dependencies
 
 ```bash
@@ -108,7 +119,7 @@ npm run dev
 ### 2. Initialize Network Topology
 
 ```bash
-python3 commands/init_network.py
+python3 commands/init_network.py --state-file ./public/simplified_state.json
 ```
 
 ### 3. Access the Application
diff --git a/commands/init_network.py b/commands/init_network.py
index 5ee2dbf..8bdec14 100644
--- a/commands/init_network.py
+++ b/commands/init_network.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def get_container_image_and_config(self, node_type: str) -> tuple[str, Dict[str,
         """Get Docker image and config for node type"""
         configs = {
             'firewall': {
-                'image': 'alpine:latest',
+                'image': 'alpine:3.19.8',
                 'command': 'sh -c "apk add --no-cache iptables traceroute && tail -f /dev/null"',
                 'cap_add': ['NET_ADMIN'],
                 'privileged': True,
@@ -98,28 +98,28 @@ def get_container_image_and_config(self, node_type: str) -> tuple[str, Dict[str,
                 'ports': {'80/tcp': None, '443/tcp': None}
             },
             'router': {
-                'image': 'alpine:latest',
+                'image': 'alpine:3.19.8',
                 'command': 'sh -c "apk add --no-cache iproute2 iptables traceroute && echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward && tail -f /dev/null"',
                 'cap_add': ['NET_ADMIN'],
                 'privileged': True,
                 'ports': {}
             },
             'switch': {
-                'image': 'alpine:latest',
+                'image': 'alpine:3.19.8',
                 'command': 'sh -c "apk add --no-cache bridge-utils iptables iproute2 && tail -f /dev/null"',
                 'cap_add': ['NET_ADMIN'],
                 'privileged': True,
                 'ports': {}
             },
             'user': {
-                'image': 'alpine:latest',
+                'image': 'alpine:3.19.8',
                 'command': 'sh -c "sleep 3 && apk add --no-cache iptables && tail -f /dev/null"',
                 'cap_add': [],
                 'privileged': True,  # TODO: Change to non-privileged
                 'ports': {}
             },
             'external': {
-                'image': 'alpine:latest',
+                'image': 'alpine:3.19.8',
                 'command': 'sh -c "apk add --no-cache iptables iproute2 && tail -f /dev/null"',
                 'cap_add': ['NET_ADMIN'],
                 'privileged': True,