[Documentation:Developer] Ansible Install Script Documentation

_docs/sysadmin/installation/ansible.md

@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+---
+title: Installing with Ansible
+category: System Administrator > Installation
+redirect_from:
+---
+
+These are the instructions for install Submitty using Ansible. 
+
+Getting Started:
+
+**Note**: We assume that you're installing Submitty on a dedicated machine.
+
+1. [Install Ubuntu 22.04 server edition (or other supported distro)](/sysadmin/installation/server_os)
+
+   Note: If you are duplicating an existing Submitty installation onto a new server, you should
+   synchronize `/etc/passwd`, `/etc/shadow`, `/etc/group`, and `/etc/gshadow` before installing
+   the rest of Submitty to avoid mismatched UIDs and GIDs of the Submitty users.
+
+2. Install Ansible:
+
+   Installing Ansible on your local environment is required. Below is a link for more help.
+
+   https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/installation_guide/intro_installation.html
+
+
+3. Edit Inventory and Add Server IP:
+
+   An example has been given to you in the inventory file. Update localhost with your server ip address.
+   This will allow access to your web interface. 
+
+4. Edit playbook variables with your server properties(`ansible/playbooks/submitty_install.yml`):
+
+   Note: Configure your playbook with your Submitty settings.  See
+   `ansible/roles/app_submitty/defaults/main.yml` for default installation parameters. 
+
+   **Important**: Any variables defined in the playbook will take precedence over the default values.
+   This allows for fine-tuning and customization of your Submitty installation.
+
+5. SSL Configuration
+
+   Note: If you use SSL, follow steps to configure. If not, skip to step 6. 
+
+   Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a protocol for establishing authenticated and encrypted links between
+   networked computers. It's necessary for secure data transmission, such as user login credentials.
+
+   To configure SSL for your Submitty installation, you'll need to obtain an SSL certificate. This can
+   be from a Certificate Authority (CA) or a self-signed certificate if it's for development purposes.
+
+   Once you have your certificate and key, place them in the appropriate directory (usually
+   `/etc/ssl/certs/` for the certificate and `/etc/ssl/private/` for the key). 
+
+   Then, update your server's SSL configuration file with the paths to your certificate and key.
+   The relevant lines might look something like this:
+
+   ```
+   SSLCertificateFile /etc/ssl/certs/mycert.pem
+   SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/ssl/private/mykey.pem
+   ```
+
+   Save your changes and proceed to run the Ansible script.
+
+6. Run Ansible Script
+
+   To initiate the installation process, first navigate to the 'ansible' directory.
+   Execute the following command: 
+
+   ```
+   cd ansible
+   ```
+
+   Once you are in the `ansible` directory, you can proceed with the installation by running the
+   Ansible playbook:
+
+   ```
+   ansible-playbook -i inventory/submitty playbooks/submitty_install.yml
+   ```
+
+   This command initiates the Ansible playbook, which orchestrates the comprehensive installation 
+   process for Submitty. For a detailed understanding of the installation steps, refer to
+   `ansible/roles/app_submitty/tasks/main.yml`.
+
+7. Review Installation Log on VM
+
+   Navigate to `/usr/local/submitty/install.log` on your machine(or VM) to see the output of the
+   install process. 
+
+8. Navigate to Web Interface
+
+   Navigate to your domain name in a web browser. 

_docs/sysadmin/installation/index.md

@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ will be able to read/execute it.
 
 _Note: These instructions should be run under root/sudo._
 
+We have two methods for installing Submitty. The first method is running the bootstrap
+script which follows the set of instructions listed below. The second installation method uses Ansible.
+You can use these [instructions](/sysadmin/installation/ansible).
+
 
 1. [Install Ubuntu 22.04 server edition (or other supported distro)](/sysadmin/installation/server_os)