OHEMR Epic Automation (CaC) Documentation

Welcome to the Automation (Configuration as Code) section of our documentation. Here, you'll find everything you need to effectively manage and understand our automated processes—from high-level overviews to detailed guidelines on using Ansible, Terraform, and GitHub Actions to streamline our workflows.

---

Navigation Guide

The left-hand menu is organized to help you quickly locate the documents you need:

• Overview Start with the Automation Overview to get a broad understanding of our automation strategy, core principles, and how our tools integrate to deliver efficient, reliable, and repeatable processes.

• Ansible Automation Dive into our Ansible documentation for robust configuration management:

  • Ansible Variables – Learn about variable management and best practices: Ansible Variables
  • Playbooks and Roles – Master server configuration, application deployments, and task orchestration
  • Configuration Management – Automated system configuration and maintenance procedures
  • Role Management – Best practices for creating and managing Ansible roles

• AWX Walkthrough Getting started with AWX via a walkthrough:

  • Getting Started – A walkthrough of submitting issues, updating templates, and completing pull requests to submit changes to AWX

• Terraform Automation Explore our Terraform guidelines for automating infrastructure provisioning:

  • Infrastructure as Code – Practical examples and configuration tips for Terraform
  • Module Development – Learn how to provision, scale, and maintain infrastructure using Terraform as code
  • State Management – Best practices for Terraform state management and collaboration
  • Integration Patterns – Latest module integrations and deployment patterns

• GitHub Actions (CI/CD) For modern continuous integration and delivery, consult our GitHub Actions resources:

  • CI/CD Pipelines – Step-by-step instructions for automating testing, building, and deployment
  • Shared Libraries – Discover how our shared libraries and modular workflows help standardize processes
  • Workflow Templates – Standard workflow patterns for different project types
  • Security Integration – Secure CI/CD practices and secret management

---

Automation Tools & Access

---

Getting Started

1. Begin with the Overview: Read the Automation Overview to understand our end-to-end automation strategy, and see how Ansible, Terraform, and GitHub Actions work together to drive efficiency and consistency.

2. Adopt Best Practices: Follow the detailed guidelines outlined in each section. Whether you're managing configurations with Ansible, provisioning infrastructure via Terraform, or setting up CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions, these best practices are designed to ensure a smooth, standardized experience.

3. Stay Informed: Our documentation incorporates the latest insights and updates from our automation teams. Be sure to check back frequently as new content is added and improvements are made.

---

Common Automation Workflows

Infrastructure Deployment

1. Terraform Planning: Infrastructure changes reviewed and planned
2. Approval Process: Changes approved through change management
3. Terraform Apply: Infrastructure provisioned via automation
4. Ansible Configuration: Systems configured post-deployment
5. Validation: Automated testing and validation procedures

Application Deployment

1. Code Integration: GitHub Actions trigger on code changes
2. Build Process: Automated building and testing
3. Security Scanning: Automated security and compliance checks
4. Deployment: Ansible playbooks deploy applications
5. Monitoring: Automated monitoring and alerting activation

Configuration Management

1. Change Detection: Drift detection and compliance monitoring
2. Remediation: Automated configuration correction
3. Validation: Configuration compliance verification
4. Reporting: Automated compliance and status reporting

---

Support & Resources

Training & Documentation

• Ansible Training: Contact Automation Team for training resources
• Terraform Training: Contact Infrastructure Team for certification paths
• GitHub Actions Training: Contact DevOps Team for workflow training

Support Channels

• Automation Issues: Contact Automation Team via support portal
• Infrastructure Questions: Contact Infrastructure Team
• CI/CD Support: Contact DevOps Team

---

Whether you're setting up initial configurations, provisioning new environments, or automating your delivery pipelines, this section is tailored to support you with clear, concise, and practical guidance. If you need further assistance or have any questions, please reach out to our automation support team.

Happy automating!