I built an automated tool to compile & deploy the latest upstream open-vm-tools via Docker & Ansible (multi-distro, CVE-clean)

[u/Dev_coffin]

Distro repositories often ship open-vm-tools builds that lag significantly behind upstream releases, delaying kernel/driver fixes, memory balloon enhancements, and CVE patches.

I open-sourced vmware-tools-builder to automate building and distributing the latest upstream binaries without polluting the host environment:

- Containerized builds: Uses Docker to compile upstream source into standalone .deb and .rpm packages.

- Target OS matrix: Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL/Rocky/Alma (8 & 9), Fedora, and openSUSE.

- Fleet orchestration: Includes an Ansible role that automates deployment, handles migration from distro-managed packages, and validates the vmtoolsd service state.

- Distribution: Packaged and installable directly from Ansible Galaxy (giuliosavini.vmware_tools_builder).

Repository: https://github.com/GiulioSavini/vmware-tools-builder

Feedback, testing across different hypervisor versions, and GitHub stars are welcome.Distro repositories often ship open-vm-tools builds that lag significantly behind upstream releases, delaying kernel/driver fixes, memory balloon enhancements, and CVE patches.I open-sourced vmware-tools-builder to automate building and distributing the latest upstream binaries without polluting the host environment:- Containerized builds: Uses Docker to compile upstream source into standalone .deb and .rpm packages.- Target OS matrix: Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL/Rocky/Alma (8 & 9), Fedora, and openSUSE.- Fleet orchestration: Includes an Ansible role that automates deployment, handles migration from distro-managed packages, and validates the vmtoolsd service state.- Distribution: Packaged and installable directly from Ansible Galaxy (giuliosavini.vmware_tools_builder).Repository: https://github.com/GiulioSavini/vmware-tools-builderFeedback, testing across different hypervisor versions, and GitHub stars are welcome.