diff --git a/JENKINS_HOME.gitignore b/JENKINS_HOME.gitignore
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+#Learn more about Jenkins and JENKINS_HOME directory for which this file is intended.
+#  http://jenkins-ci.org/
+#  https://wiki.jenkins-ci.org/display/JENKINS/Administering+Jenkins
+
+#ignore all JENKINS_HOME except jobs directory, root xml config, and .gitignore file
+/*
+!/jobs
+!/.gitignore
+!/*.xml
+
+#ignore all files in jobs subdirectories except for folders
+#note: git doesn't track folders, only file content
+jobs/**
+!jobs/**/
+
+#uncomment the following line to save next build numbers with config
+#!jobs/**/nextBuildNumber
+
+#exclude only config.xml files in repository subdirectories
+!config.xml
+
+#don't track workspaces (when users build on the master)
+jobs/**/*workspace
+
+#as a result only settings and job config.xml files in JENKINS_HOME will be tracked by git