docs: Update mental model and documentation for tool responsibilities

- Add MENTALMODEL.md documenting architecture and tool responsibilities
- Clarify Salt is for ongoing configuration management and automation
- Clarify Ansible is for ComplianceAsCode deployment from github.com/ComplianceAsCode/content
- Update README.md to reflect correct understanding of tool purposes
- Update decision matrix for when to use each tool
- Document migration path and future service plans (Beszel, Netbird via Salt)

Establishes clear separation of concerns across the configuration management ecosystem.

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MENTALMODEL.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# KNEL Configuration Management Mental Model
+
+## Architecture Overview
+
+### FetchApply - One-Time Provisioning
+- **Purpose:** Initial server setup and basic configuration
+- **When:** Runs once at first boot of newly provisioned system
+- **What:** System detection, package installation, security hardening, basic monitoring setup
+
+### Salt - Ongoing Configuration Management & Automation
+- **Purpose:** Day-to-day system configuration, automation, and orchestration
+- **When:** Continuously via Salt master/minion relationship
+- **What:** 
+  - Configuration management (file distribution, service management)
+  - Ad-hoc automation tasks
+  - System orchestration
+  - Application deployment
+  - Beszel client configuration and management
+  - Netbird client configuration and management (future)
+
+### Ansible - ComplianceAsCode Deployment
+- **Purpose:** Deploy and manage compliance as code content
+- **When:** Periodically or on-demand compliance deployment
+- **What:**
+  - Deploy https://github.com/ComplianceAsCode/content
+  - Apply compliance frameworks (CIS, STIG, etc.)
+  - Compliance validation and remediation
+  - Documentation generation
+
+### Network Services
+- **Tailscale:** Currently active VPN overlay network
+- **Netbird:** Future replacement (to be deployed via Salt)
+- **Beszel:** Future monitoring replacement (to be deployed via Salt)
+
+## Migration Path
+
+1. **Current State:** FetchApply + Manual Management
+2. **Transition State:** FetchApply + Salt + Ansible
+3. **Future State:** Salt + Ansible (FetchApply deprecated)
+
+## Tool Responsibilities
+
+| Tool | Primary Responsibility | Secondary Responsibilities |
+|-------|-------------------|------------------------|
+| FetchApply | Initial provisioning | Foundation setup |
+| Salt | Ongoing configuration | Automation, orchestration, client deployment |
+| Ansible | Compliance deployment | Documentation, validation |
+
+## Decision Matrix
+
+- **Use Salt for:** System configuration, automation, deployment, ongoing management
+- **Use Ansible for:** Compliance as code, security frameworks, documentation
+- **Use FetchApply for:** Initial server setup (temporary, to be replaced)
+
+This model ensures clear separation of concerns while providing comprehensive coverage of system lifecycle management.

README.md

@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@
 
 This repository contains the KNEL server configuration management system implemented with the FetchApply framework.
 
-**NOTE:** This is a one-time provisioning system. For ongoing configuration management, this will be replaced by:
+**NOTE:** This is a one-time provisioning system. For ongoing configuration management, this uses:
-- Ansible playbooks for configuration management
+- Salt for system configuration and automation
-- Salt for system orchestration
+- Ansible for ComplianceAsCode deployment
 
 ## Overview
 
-The KNEL FetchApply system provides automated server provisioning for Linux servers. It uses the FetchApply framework to apply initial configurations and then serves as a foundation for migrating to Ansible/Salt-based management.
+The KNEL FetchApply system provides automated server provisioning for Linux servers. It uses the FetchApply framework to apply initial configurations and then serves as a foundation for Salt/Ansible-based management.
 
 ## Repository Structure
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ The system automatically detects:
 
 ### Core Setup
 - **system-setup** - System detection and variable setup
-- **packages** - Package installation with conditional logic (includes ansible-core, salt-minion, tailscale)
+- **packages** - Package installation with conditional logic (includes ansible-core for ComplianceAsCode, salt-minion for ongoing management, tailscale for VPN)
 - **user-configuration** - Shell settings and user preferences
 
 ### Configuration
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ The system automatically detects:
 - **ssh-hardening** - SSH security hardening
 - **ssh-keys** - Deploy SSH authorized keys
 - **postfix** - Configure email delivery
-- **salt-client** - Configure Salt minion for configuration management
+- **salt-client** - Configure Salt minion for ongoing configuration management
 
 ### Security
 - **2fa** - Set up Google Authenticator for 2FA
@@ -103,12 +103,20 @@ The system automatically detects:
 
 ## Configuration Management Tools
 
-The system installs clients for future configuration management:
+The system installs clients for specific management purposes:
 
-- **Ansible Core** - Already installed for ad-hoc automation tasks
+- **Ansible Core** - For deploying ComplianceAsCode content from https://github.com/ComplianceAsCode/content
-- **Salt Minion** - Configured and ready for Salt master connection
+- **Salt Minion** - For ongoing system configuration, automation, and orchestration
 - **Tailscale** - VPN connectivity for secure remote access
 
+## Tool Responsibilities
+
+| Tool | Primary Responsibility | When Used |
+|-------|-------------------|-----------|
+| FetchApply | Initial server provisioning | Once at deployment |
+| Salt | Ongoing configuration & automation | Continuously |
+| Ansible | ComplianceAsCode deployment | Periodically/on-demand |
+
 ## Security Features
 
 - SSH key-based authentication only
@@ -119,11 +127,20 @@ The system installs clients for future configuration management:
 
 ## Migration Path
 
-This system is designed as an initial provisioning step. Future migration plans:
+This system provides the foundation for comprehensive management:
 
-1. **Ansible Playbooks** - Replace initializers with Ansible roles for configuration management
+1. **FetchApply** - Initial server provisioning (this repo)
-2. **Salt Configuration** - Use Salt master for ongoing configuration orchestration
+2. **Salt Master** - Ongoing configuration management and automation
-3. **Vault Integration** - Centralized secrets management
+3. **Ansible Playbooks** - ComplianceAsCode deployment and management
+4. **Future Services** - Beszel monitoring and Netbird networking via Salt
+
+## Compliance Management
+
+Ansible will be used specifically to deploy and manage:
+- Compliance frameworks from https://github.com/ComplianceAsCode/content
+- Security baselines and hardening rules
+- Compliance validation and reporting
+- Documentation generation
 
 ## Troubleshooting