diff --git a/.github/workflows/ansible.yml b/.github/workflows/ansible.yml
index d0e6a68f8a..411ac79b54 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ansible.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ansible.yml
@@ -28,15 +28,125 @@ concurrency:
 permissions:
   contents: write
 
-defaults:
-  run:
-    working-directory: 'deployments/ansible'
+env:
+  GO_VERSION: 1.23.8
 
 jobs:
+  setup-environment:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out the codebase.
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Go
+        uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+        with:
+          go-version: ${{ env.GO_VERSION }}
+          cache-dependency-path: '**/go.sum'
+
+      - name: Installing dependency
+        run: |
+          make install-tools
+
+  cross-compile:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    needs: [ setup-environment ]
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        SYS_BINARIES: [ "binaries-linux_amd64", "binaries-linux_arm64", "binaries-linux_ppc64le" ]
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out the codebase.
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Go
+        uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+        with:
+          go-version: ${{ env.GO_VERSION }}
+          cache-dependency-path: '**/go.sum'
+
+      - name: Build Collector
+        run: |
+          make ${{ matrix.SYS_BINARIES }}
+
+      - name: Uploading binaries
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: ${{ matrix.SYS_BINARIES }}
+          path: |
+            ./bin/*
+
+  agent-bundle-linux:
+    runs-on: ${{ fromJSON('["ubuntu-24.04", "otel-arm64"]')[matrix.ARCH == 'arm64'] }}
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        ARCH: [ "amd64", "arm64" ]
+      fail-fast: false
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: actions/cache@v4
+        id: bundle-cache
+        with:
+          path: .cache/buildx/agent-bundle-${{ matrix.ARCH }}
+          key: agent-bundle-buildx-${{ matrix.ARCH }}-${{ hashFiles('packaging/bundle/**') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            agent-bundle-buildx-${{ matrix.ARCH }}-
+
+      - run: make -C packaging/bundle agent-bundle-linux ARCH=${{ matrix.ARCH }}
+        env:
+          BUNDLE_CACHE_HIT: "${{ steps.bundle-cache.outputs.cache-hit }}"
+
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: agent-bundle-linux-${{ matrix.ARCH }}
+          path: ./dist/agent-bundle_linux_${{ matrix.ARCH }}.tar.gz
+
+  build-package:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    needs: [ cross-compile, agent-bundle-linux ]
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        SYS_PACKAGE: [ "deb", "rpm", "tar" ]
+        ARCH: [ "amd64", "arm64" ]
+      fail-fast: false
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out the codebase.
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Set up Go
+        uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+        with:
+          go-version: ${{ env.GO_VERSION }}
+          cache-dependency-path: '**/go.sum'
+
+      - name: Downloading binaries-linux_${{ matrix.ARCH }}
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: binaries-linux_${{ matrix.ARCH }}
+          path: ./bin
+
+      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: agent-bundle-linux-${{ matrix.ARCH }}
+          path: ./dist
+
+      - name: Build ${{ matrix.SYS_PACKAGE }} ${{ matrix.ARCH }} package
+        run: make ${{ matrix.SYS_PACKAGE }}-package SKIP_COMPILE=true SKIP_BUNDLE=true VERSION="" ARCH="${{ matrix.ARCH }}"
+
+      - name: Uploading ${{ matrix.SYS_PACKAGE }} ${{ matrix.ARCH }} package artifacts
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: ${{ matrix.SYS_PACKAGE }}-${{ matrix.ARCH }}-package
+          path: ./dist/splunk-otel-collector*
 
   lint:
     name: Lint
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        working-directory: 'deployments/ansible'
     steps:
       - name: Check out the codebase.
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -54,8 +164,11 @@ jobs:
 
   linux-test:
     name: Linux Test
-    needs: lint
+    needs: [lint, build-package]
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        working-directory: 'deployments/ansible'
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
@@ -75,6 +188,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check out the codebase.
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
+      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          path: /tmp
+
       - uses: DamianReeves/write-file-action@v1.3
         with:
           path: "${{ github.workspace }}/requirements.txt"
@@ -113,6 +230,9 @@ jobs:
     name: Windows Test
     needs: lint
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        working-directory: 'deployments/ansible'
     timeout-minutes: 60
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -127,6 +247,7 @@ jobs:
           - "2022"
         scenario:
           - default
+          - default_install_remote_version
           - custom_vars
           - with_instrumentation
     steps:
@@ -198,6 +319,9 @@ jobs:
     name: Push Release Tag
     needs: lint
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        working-directory: 'deployments/ansible'
     if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/custom_vars/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/custom_vars/converge.yml
index 5b795b6f20..37d3c57bb7 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/custom_vars/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/custom_vars/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_ingest_url: https://fake-splunk-ingest.com
     splunk_api_url: https://fake-splunk-api.com
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/custom_vars/verify.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/custom_vars/verify.yml
index 2cee3523af..6f0ad87324 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/custom_vars/verify.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/custom_vars/verify.yml
@@ -68,10 +68,6 @@
     - name: Populate package facts
       ansible.builtin.package_facts:
 
-    - name: Assert specified version of splunk-otel-collector is installed
-      assert:
-        that: ansible_facts.packages['splunk-otel-collector'][0].version == '0.126.0'
-
     - name: Assert custom service user is set
       ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
         line: User=custom-user
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/default/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default/converge.yml
index 9efab1d0b3..102a428895 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/default/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     start_service: false
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/Dockerfile.j2 b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/Dockerfile.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..61aaf55929
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+{% if item.image not in ["opensuse12", "opensuse15", "centos9"] %}
+FROM geerlingguy/docker-{{ item.image }}-ansible:latest
+{% elif item.image == "centos9" %}
+FROM quay.io/centos/centos:stream9
+ENV container docker
+RUN rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-centosofficial
+RUN dnf install -y initscripts sudo systemd
+RUN (cd /lib/systemd/system/sysinit.target.wants/; for i in *; do [ $i = \
+    "systemd-tmpfiles-setup.service" ] || rm -f $i; done); \
+    rm -f /lib/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/*;\
+    rm -f /lib/systemd/system/local-fs.target.wants/*; \
+    rm -f /lib/systemd/system/sockets.target.wants/*udev*; \
+    rm -f /lib/systemd/system/sockets.target.wants/*initctl*; \
+    rm -f /lib/systemd/system/basic.target.wants/*;\
+    rm -f /lib/systemd/system/anaconda.target.wants/*;
+# Disable requiretty.
+RUN sed -i -e 's/^\(Defaults\s*requiretty\)/#--- \1/'  /etc/sudoers
+CMD ["/usr/sbin/init"]
+{% else %}
+{% if item.image == "opensuse12" %}
+FROM opensuse/leap:42
+RUN sed -i 's|download.opensuse.org|ftp5.gwdg.de/pub/opensuse/discontinued|' /etc/zypp/repos.d/*.repo
+RUN zypper -n clean && zypper -n refresh
+RUN zypper -n install -l ansible dbus-1 rpm-python sudo systemd-sysvinit
+{% else %}
+FROM opensuse/leap:15
+RUN sed -i 's|download.opensuse.org|provo-mirror.opensuse.org|' /etc/zypp/repos.d/*.repo
+RUN zypper -n install -l ansible dbus-1 python3-rpm sudo systemd-sysvinit
+{% endif %}
+
+ENV container docker
+
+RUN (cd /usr/lib/systemd/system/sysinit.target.wants/; for i in *; do [ $i = \
+    "systemd-tmpfiles-setup.service" ] || rm -f $i; done); \
+    rm -f /usr/lib/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/*;\
+    rm -f /usr/lib/systemd/system/local-fs.target.wants/*; \
+    rm -f /usr/lib/systemd/system/sockets.target.wants/*udev*; \
+    rm -f /usr/lib/systemd/system/sockets.target.wants/*initctl*; \
+    rm -f /usr/lib/systemd/system/basic.target.wants/*;
+
+# Disable requiretty.
+RUN sed -i -e 's/^\(Defaults\s*requiretty\)/#--- \1/'  /etc/sudoers
+
+# Install Ansible inventory file.
+RUN mkdir -p /etc/ansible
+RUN echo -e '[local]\nlocalhost ansible_connection=local' > /etc/ansible/hosts
+
+VOLUME [ "/sys/fs/cgroup" ]
+CMD ["/sbin/init"]
+{% endif %}
+
+# Workaround for Ansible Molecule bug causing sudo actions to fail.
+# https://github.com/ansible/molecule/issues/4365
+# https://github.com/geerlingguy/docker-rockylinux9-ansible/issues/6#issuecomment-2805378491
+RUN chmod 0400 /etc/shadow
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/converge.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1705af55df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/converge.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+- name: Converge scenario with the default configuration and remote version
+  hosts: all
+  become: yes
+  vars:
+    splunk_access_token: fake-token
+    splunk_realm: fake-realm
+    start_service: false
+    splunk_otel_collector_version: 0.126.0
+  tasks:
+    - name: "Include signalfx.splunk_otel_collector.collector role"
+      include_role:
+        name: "signalfx.splunk_otel_collector.collector"
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/molecule.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/molecule.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2333d7016e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/molecule.yml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# no default config provided, make sure to set --base-config molecule argument instead
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/verify.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/verify.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0108559e4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/verify.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+- name: Verify scenario with the default configuration
+  hosts: all
+  gather_facts: true
+  tasks:
+
+    - name: Populate service facts
+      ansible.builtin.service_facts:
+
+    - name: Assert splunk-otel-collector service is stopped
+      assert:
+        that: ansible_facts.services['splunk-otel-collector.service'].state == 'stopped'
+
+    - name: Assert td-agent service is not installed
+      assert:
+        that: "'td-agent.service' not in ansible_facts.services"
+
+    - name: Assert SPLUNK_ACCESS_TOKEN env var is set
+      ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+        line: SPLUNK_ACCESS_TOKEN=fake-token
+        dest: /etc/otel/collector/splunk-otel-collector.conf
+        state: present
+      check_mode: yes
+
+    - name: Assert SPLUNK_REALM env var is set
+      ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+        line: SPLUNK_REALM=fake-realm
+        dest: /etc/otel/collector/splunk-otel-collector.conf
+        state: present
+      check_mode: yes
+
+    - name: Assert SPLUNK_INGEST_URL env var is set
+      ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+        line: SPLUNK_INGEST_URL=https://ingest.fake-realm.signalfx.com
+        dest: /etc/otel/collector/splunk-otel-collector.conf
+        state: present
+      check_mode: yes
+
+    - name: Assert SPLUNK_API_URL env var is set
+      ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+        line: SPLUNK_INGEST_URL=https://api.fake-realm.signalfx.com
+        dest: /etc/otel/collector/splunk-otel-collector.conf
+        state: present
+      check_mode: yes
+
+    - name: Assert SPLUNK_HEC_URL env var is set
+      ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+        line: SPLUNK_HEC_URL=https://ingest.fake-realm.signalfx.com/v1/log
+        dest: /etc/otel/collector/splunk-otel-collector.conf
+        state: present
+      check_mode: yes
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/windows-converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/windows-converge.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b2d3732e1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/windows-converge.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+---
+- name: Converge scenario with the default configuration on Windows
+  hosts: all
+  become: no
+  vars:
+    splunk_access_token: fake-token
+    splunk_realm: fake-realm
+    splunk_otel_collector_version: 0.126.0
+  tasks:
+    - name: "Include signalfx.splunk_otel_collector.collector role"
+      include_role:
+        name: "signalfx.splunk_otel_collector.collector"
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/windows-prepare.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/windows-prepare.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..de3d83b031
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/windows-prepare.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+- name: Prepare
+  hosts: all
+  gather_facts: false
+  become: no
+  tasks:
+    - name: Bypass prepare stage
+      debug:
+        msg: Bypassing the prepare stage since the client is a Windows box
+      changed_when: false
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/windows-verify.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/windows-verify.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c83c50afb1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/default_install_remote_version/windows-verify.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+- name: Verify scenario with the default configuration
+  hosts: all
+  gather_facts: true
+  become: no
+  vars:
+    collector_reg_values:
+      SPLUNK_CONFIG: '{{ ansible_env.ProgramData }}\Splunk\OpenTelemetry Collector\agent_config.yaml'
+      SPLUNK_ACCESS_TOKEN: fake-token
+      SPLUNK_REALM: fake-realm
+      SPLUNK_API_URL: https://api.fake-realm.signalfx.com
+      SPLUNK_HEC_TOKEN: fake-token
+      SPLUNK_HEC_URL: https://ingest.fake-realm.signalfx.com/v1/log
+      SPLUNK_INGEST_URL: https://ingest.fake-realm.signalfx.com
+  tasks:
+    - name: Check splunk-otel-collector service
+      ansible.windows.win_service:
+        name: splunk-otel-collector
+        state: started
+      check_mode: yes
+      register: service_status
+
+    - name: Check fluentdwinsvc service
+      ansible.windows.win_service:
+        name: fluentdwinsvc
+        state: absent
+      check_mode: yes
+      register: service_status
+
+    - name: Assert fluentdwinsvc service does not exist
+      assert:
+        that: not service_status.exists
+
+    - name: Get splunk-otel-collector service env vars
+      ansible.windows.win_reg_stat:
+        path: HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\splunk-otel-collector
+        name: Environment
+      register: collector_env
+
+    - name: Verify splunk-otel-collector service env vars
+      assert:
+        that: (item.key + '=' + (item.value | string)) in collector_env.value
+      loop: "{{ collector_reg_values | dict2items }}"
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation/converge.yml
index 7bc4efd75e..2199bf68c3 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation/converge.yml
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
-    splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation_version: 0.126.0
+    splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation_version: latest
     splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation_resource_attributes: deployment.environment=test
     splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation_service_name: test
     splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation_generate_service_name: false
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation/verify.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation/verify.yml
index eb8248b312..4e0d1bce65 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation/verify.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation/verify.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
     - name: Populate package facts
       ansible.builtin.package_facts:
 
+    - debug:
+        var: ansible_facts.packages['splunk-otel-auto-instrumentation'][0]
+
     - name: Assert specified version of splunk-otel-auto-instrumentation is installed
       assert:
         that: ansible_facts.packages['splunk-otel-auto-instrumentation'][0].version == '0.126.0'
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_custom/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_custom/converge.yml
index 809f5d733b..01c53e6885 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_custom/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_custom/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_default/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_default/converge.yml
index c960ba956b..46244ce3b4 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_default/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_default/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_dotnet/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_dotnet/converge.yml
index 41fd359f62..b7643fe56c 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_dotnet/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_dotnet/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_java/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_java/converge.yml
index 53300fd583..07b35e8a7e 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_java/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_java/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_nodejs/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_nodejs/converge.yml
index b5dd6182e7..56d9f1268c 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_nodejs/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_nodejs/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_without_npm/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_without_npm/converge.yml
index 865e54a41c..6afb6aade4 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_without_npm/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_preload_without_npm/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_custom/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_custom/converge.yml
index 90506e4f9c..8d318bb3ec 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_custom/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_custom/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_default/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_default/converge.yml
index 768800f016..4bd6a40928 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_default/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_default/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_dotnet/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_dotnet/converge.yml
index ff49eecc50..08f7624205 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_dotnet/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_dotnet/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_java/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_java/converge.yml
index 7ec86bb4ad..97a47dc3d3 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_java/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_java/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_nodejs/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_nodejs/converge.yml
index f43cc5ed65..d9da47c25a 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_nodejs/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_nodejs/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_without_npm/converge.yml b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_without_npm/converge.yml
index 72a3142da2..ee584d6e9f 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_without_npm/converge.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/molecule/with_instrumentation_systemd_without_npm/converge.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   hosts: all
   become: yes
   vars:
+    local_artifact_testing_enabled: true
     splunk_access_token: fake-token
     splunk_realm: fake-realm
     install_splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation: true
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/defaults/main.yml b/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/defaults/main.yml
index 6a681b37a0..08613c3f33 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/defaults/main.yml
@@ -101,3 +101,7 @@ splunk_dotnet_auto_instrumentation_enable_profiler: false
 splunk_dotnet_auto_instrumentation_enable_profiler_memory: false
 splunk_dotnet_auto_instrumentation_iisreset: true
 splunk_dotnet_auto_instrumentation_additional_options: {}
+
+# Variables to be used only for testing
+# Used to test locally built artifacts instead of remotely downloaded version. Overrides splunk_otel_collector_version.
+local_artifact_testing_enabled: false
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/apt_install_otel_collector.yml b/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/apt_install_otel_collector.yml
index 1c5225b0fc..9e2bd7e737 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/apt_install_otel_collector.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/apt_install_otel_collector.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
     name:
       - apt-transport-https
       - gnupg
+      - xz-utils
     state: present
     update_cache: yes
 
@@ -31,3 +32,19 @@
   notify:
     - "restart splunk-otel-collector"
     - "restart td-agent"
+  when: not local_artifact_testing_enabled
+
+- name: Copy Splunk OpenTelemetry Collector DEB artifact to remote machine
+  ansible.builtin.copy:
+    src: /tmp/deb-{% if ansible_architecture == 'aarch64' %}arm64{% else %}amd64{% endif %}-package
+    dest: /etc/otel/
+  register: archive_contents
+  when: local_artifact_testing_enabled
+
+- name: Install Splunk OpenTelemetry Collector via local DEB artifact
+  ansible.builtin.apt:
+    deb: "{{ archive_contents.dest }}"
+  notify:
+    - "restart splunk-otel-collector"
+    - "restart td-agent"
+  when: local_artifact_testing_enabled
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/linux_auto_instrumentation.yml b/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/linux_auto_instrumentation.yml
index 17e49d6208..dd67a41bef 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/linux_auto_instrumentation.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/linux_auto_instrumentation.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
       and auto_instrumentation_version is version('0.87.0', '>=') }}"
     with_dotnet: "{{ 'dotnet' in (splunk_otel_auto_instrumentation_sdks | default([])) \
       and auto_instrumentation_version is version('0.99.0', '>=') \
-      and ansible_architecture in ('x86_64', 'amd64', 'arm64') }}"
+      and ansible_architecture in ('x86_64', 'amd64', 'aarch64') }}"
 
 - name: Check for npm
   shell: npm --version
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/yum_install_otel_collector.yml b/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/yum_install_otel_collector.yml
index c8b1afadc1..48fe4eaf97 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/yum_install_otel_collector.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/yum_install_otel_collector.yml
@@ -27,3 +27,20 @@
   notify:
     - "restart splunk-otel-collector"
     - "restart td-agent"
+  when: not local_artifact_testing_enabled
+
+- name: Copy Splunk OpenTelemetry Collector RPM artifact to remote machine
+  ansible.builtin.copy:
+    src: /tmp/rpm-{% if ansible_architecture == 'aarch64' %}arm64{% else %}amd64{% endif %}-package
+    dest: /etc/otel
+  register: archive_contents
+  when: local_artifact_testing_enabled
+
+- name: Install Splunk OpenTelemetry Collector via local RPM artifact
+  ansible.builtin.yum:
+    name: "{{ archive_contents.dest }}"
+    disable_gpg_check: true
+  notify:
+    - "restart splunk-otel-collector"
+    - "restart td-agent"
+  when: local_artifact_testing_enabled
diff --git a/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/zypper_install_otel_collector.yml b/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/zypper_install_otel_collector.yml
index 3ef91fc515..1a1c914579 100644
--- a/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/zypper_install_otel_collector.yml
+++ b/deployments/ansible/roles/collector/tasks/zypper_install_otel_collector.yml
@@ -28,3 +28,19 @@
     update_cache: yes
   notify:
     - "restart splunk-otel-collector"
+  when: not local_artifact_testing_enabled
+
+- name: Copy Splunk OpenTelemetry Collector RPM artifact to remote machine
+  ansible.builtin.copy:
+    src: /tmp/rpm-{% if ansible_architecture == 'aarch64' %}arm64{% else %}amd64{% endif %}-package
+    dest: /etc/otel/
+  register: archive_contents
+  when: local_artifact_testing_enabled
+
+- name: Install Splunk OpenTelemetry Collector via local RPM artifact
+  community.general.zypper:
+    name: "{{ archive_contents.dest }}"
+    disable_gpg_check: true
+  notify:
+    - "restart splunk-otel-collector"
+  when: local_artifact_testing_enabled