diff --git a/.github/actions/build/action.yml b/.github/actions/build/action.yml
index cf49c701..88e925ab 100644
--- a/.github/actions/build/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/build/action.yml
@@ -40,10 +40,17 @@ runs:
         vcpkgJsonGlob: './vcpkg.json'
 
     - uses: actions/cache@v4
+      if: runner.os != 'Linux'
       with:
         key: deps-${{ inputs.preset }}-${{ hashFiles('./vcpkg.json') }}
         path: ./vcpkg_cache
 
+    - uses: actions/cache@v4
+      if: runner.os == 'Linux'
+      with:
+        key: deps=${{ inputs.preset }}-${{ hashFiles('./vcpkg.json', '.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/vcpkg-overlays/**/vcpkg.json') }}
+        path: ./vcpkg_cache
+
     - uses: lukka/run-cmake@v10.6 # pin version to avoid failed glibc dependency on ubuntu 20 runners. go back to @latest when ubuntu 22+ is adopted for runner os.
       if: runner.os != 'Linux'
       name: Configure CMake
@@ -62,9 +69,10 @@ runs:
           --verbose
 
     - name: configure build action for github release binaries
+      if: runner.os == 'Linux'
       shell: bash
       run: |
-        mv -v ./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/* ./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/
+        cp -vr ./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/* ./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/
 
     - name: build ziti-edge-tunnel (linux)
       if: runner.os == 'Linux'
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/entrypoint.sh b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/entrypoint.sh
index 2055782a..c582b2ce 100755
--- a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/entrypoint.sh
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ cmake -E make_directory ./build
 cmake \
   --preset "${cmake_preset}" \
   -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${cmake_config}" \
+  -DVCPKG_OVERLAY_PORTS=./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/vcpkg-overlays \
   -S . \
   -B ./build
 cmake \
diff --git a/vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/redhat7/zlib/portfile.cmake b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake
similarity index 100%
rename from vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/redhat7/zlib/portfile.cmake
rename to .github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake
diff --git a/vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/redhat7/zlib/vcpkg.json b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json
similarity index 100%
rename from vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/redhat7/zlib/vcpkg.json
rename to .github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/gh-release/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/Dockerfile b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/Dockerfile
index f1a2b668..3f701fc8 100644
--- a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/Dockerfile
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/Dockerfile
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ RUN dnf install -y \
         zlib-devel \
         systemd-rpm-macros \
         cmake-rpm-macros  \
-        openssl-devel \
         perl \
     && dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools \
     && dnf install -y \
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/entrypoint.sh b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/entrypoint.sh
index 4be0dacd..e8307689 100755
--- a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/entrypoint.sh
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ cmake -E make_directory ./build
         && cmake \
             --preset "${cmake_preset}" \
             -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${cmake_config}" \
+            -DVCPKG_OVERLAY_PORTS=./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/vcpkg-overlays \
             -DBUILD_DIST_PACKAGES=ON \
             -S . \
             -B ./build 
diff --git a/vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu14/zlib/portfile.cmake b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake
similarity index 100%
rename from vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu14/zlib/portfile.cmake
rename to .github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake
diff --git a/vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu14/zlib/vcpkg.json b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json
similarity index 100%
rename from vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu14/zlib/vcpkg.json
rename to .github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-8/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/Dockerfile b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/Dockerfile
index 8abfca4b..ec88913b 100644
--- a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/Dockerfile
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/Dockerfile
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ RUN dnf install -y \
         zlib-devel \
         systemd-rpm-macros \
         cmake-rpm-macros  \
-        openssl-devel \
         perl-FindBin perl-IPC-Cmd perl-File-Compare perl-File-Copy \
         libatomic \
     && dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb \
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/entrypoint.sh b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/entrypoint.sh
index 86d26bd4..e5934377 100755
--- a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/entrypoint.sh
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ done
     cmake \
         --preset "${cmake_preset}" \
         -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${cmake_config}" \
+        -DVCPKG_OVERLAY_PORTS=./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/vcpkg-overlays \
         -DBUILD_DIST_PACKAGES=ON \
         "${TLSUV_TLSLIB:+-DTLSUV_TLSLIB=${TLSUV_TLSLIB}}" \
         -S . \
diff --git a/vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu16/zlib/portfile.cmake b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake
similarity index 100%
rename from vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu16/zlib/portfile.cmake
rename to .github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake
diff --git a/vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu16/zlib/vcpkg.json b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json
similarity index 100%
rename from vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu16/zlib/vcpkg.json
rename to .github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/redhat-9/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/Dockerfile b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/Dockerfile
index 6a950ce9..883ba0d1 100644
--- a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/Dockerfile
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/Dockerfile
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ RUN apt-get update \
         pkg-config \
         python3 \
         zlib1g-dev \
-        libssl-dev \
         ninja-build \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
@@ -41,8 +40,6 @@ RUN sed -Ei 's/^deb/deb [arch=amd64]/g' /etc/apt/sources.list
 RUN dpkg --add-architecture arm64 && dpkg --add-architecture armhf
 RUN apt-get update \
     && apt-get -y install \
-        libssl-dev:arm64 \
-        libssl-dev:armhf \
         zlib1g-dev:arm64 \
         zlib1g-dev:armhf \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/entrypoint.sh b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/entrypoint.sh
index 0d6d562b..e3f26360 100755
--- a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/entrypoint.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ echo "INFO: $(git --version)"
 if [ ${#} -ge 1 ]; then
     cmake_preset="${1}"
 else
-    cmake_preset="ci-linux-x64-static-libssl"
+    cmake_preset="ci-linux-x64"
 fi
 
 if [ ${#} -ge 2 ]; then
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ cmake \
 cmake \
     --preset "${cmake_preset}" \
     -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${cmake_config}" \
+    -DVCPKG_OVERLAY_PORTS=./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/vcpkg-overlays \
     -DBUILD_DIST_PACKAGES=ON \
     -S "${PWD}/" \
     -B ./build/
diff --git a/vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu18/zlib/portfile.cmake b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake
similarity index 100%
rename from vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu18/zlib/portfile.cmake
rename to .github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake
diff --git a/vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu18/zlib/vcpkg.json b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json
similarity index 100%
rename from vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu18/zlib/vcpkg.json
rename to .github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-20.04/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/Dockerfile b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/Dockerfile
index ec3784b3..d34e0bee 100644
--- a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/Dockerfile
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/Dockerfile
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ RUN apt-get update \
         pkg-config \
         python3 \
         zlib1g-dev \
-        libssl-dev \
         ninja-build \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
@@ -41,8 +40,6 @@ RUN sed -Ei 's/^deb/deb [arch=amd64]/g' /etc/apt/sources.list
 RUN dpkg --add-architecture arm64 && dpkg --add-architecture armhf
 RUN apt-get update \
     && apt-get -y install \
-        libssl-dev:arm64 \
-        libssl-dev:armhf \
         zlib1g-dev:arm64 \
         zlib1g-dev:armhf \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/entrypoint.sh b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/entrypoint.sh
index c5a3f4c5..7dda59d4 100755
--- a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/entrypoint.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ echo "INFO: $(git --version)"
 if [ ${#} -ge 1 ]; then
     cmake_preset="${1}"
 else
-    cmake_preset="ci-linux-x64-static-libssl"
+    cmake_preset="ci-linux-x64"
 fi
 
 if [ ${#} -ge 2 ]; then
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ cmake \
 cmake \
     --preset "${cmake_preset}" \
     -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${cmake_config}" \
+    -DVCPKG_OVERLAY_PORTS=./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/vcpkg-overlays \
     -DBUILD_DIST_PACKAGES=ON \
     "${TLSUV_TLSLIB:+-DTLSUV_TLSLIB=${TLSUV_TLSLIB}}" \
     -S "${PWD}/" \
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0015715f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/portfile.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+set(VCPKG_POLICY_EMPTY_PACKAGE enabled)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..03a0aca6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/ubuntu-22.04/vcpkg-overlays/zlib/vcpkg.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+  "name": "zlib",
+  "version": "0"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/cpack-matrix.yml b/.github/cpack-matrix.yml
index eb8747bb..73a24efa 100644
--- a/.github/cpack-matrix.yml
+++ b/.github/cpack-matrix.yml
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 cpack_matrix:
   arch:
-    - cmake: ci-linux-x64-static-libssl  # selects cmake preset
+    - cmake: ci-linux-x64  # selects cmake preset
       rpm: x86_64          # yum $basearch
       deb: amd64           # dpkg --print-architecture
-    - cmake: ci-linux-arm-static-libssl
+    - cmake: ci-linux-arm
       rpm: armhfp
       deb: armhf
-    - cmake: ci-linux-arm64-static-libssl
+    - cmake: ci-linux-arm64
       rpm: aarch64
       deb: arm64
   distro:
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ cpack_matrix:
     - distro:
         name: redhat
       arch:
-        cmake: ci-linux-arm-static-libssl
+        cmake: ci-linux-arm
     - distro:
         name: redhat
       arch:
-        cmake: ci-linux-arm64-static-libssl
+        cmake: ci-linux-arm64
diff --git a/.github/workflows/cmake.yml b/.github/workflows/cmake.yml
index 0ad22585..281fb0db 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cmake.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cmake.yml
@@ -45,15 +45,15 @@ jobs:
 
           - os: ubuntu-20.04
             name: Linux x86_64
-            preset: linux-x64-static-libssl
+            preset: linux-x64
 
           - os: ubuntu-20.04
             name: Linux arm
-            preset: linux-arm-static-libssl
+            preset: linux-arm
 
           - os: ubuntu-20.04
             name: Linux arm64
-            preset: linux-arm64-static-libssl
+            preset: linux-arm64
 
     steps:
       - name: Debug action
diff --git a/.github/workflows/cpack.yml b/.github/workflows/cpack.yml
index 100ae8de..0b7fd380 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cpack.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cpack.yml
@@ -91,11 +91,11 @@ jobs:
           DISTRO_LABEL: ${{ format('{0}-{1}', matrix.distro.name, matrix.distro.version) }}
         shell: bash
         run: |
-          mv -v ./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/${DISTRO_LABEL}/* ./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/
+          cp -vr ./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/${DISTRO_LABEL}/* ./.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/
 
       - uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
-          key: deps-cpack-${{ matrix.arch.rpm }}-${{ matrix.distro.name }}-${{ matrix.distro.version }}-${{ hashFiles('./vcpkg.json') }}
+          key: deps-cpack-${{ matrix.arch.rpm }}-${{ matrix.distro.name }}-${{ matrix.distro.version }}-${{ hashFiles('./vcpkg.json', './.github/actions/openziti-tunnel-build-action/vcpkg-overlays/**/vcpkg.json') }}
           path: ./vcpkg_cache
 
         # entrypoint.sh uses the value of arch to select the cmake preset
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           set -x
           cat /etc/*-release
-          ldd ./build/programs/ziti-edge-tunnel/Release/ziti-edge-tunnel
+          ldd ./build/programs/ziti-edge-tunnel/RelWithDebInfo/ziti-edge-tunnel
           ./build/programs/ziti-edge-tunnel/RelWithDebInfo/ziti-edge-tunnel version --verbose
 
       - name: Upload Package to Workflow Summary Page
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-container-images.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-container-images.yml
index c060a1a7..e2f5454d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-container-images.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-container-images.yml
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ jobs:
           set -x
           ls -horRAS ./downloads
           mkdir -p ./build/{arm64,amd64}/linux/
-          unzip -d ./build/arm64/linux/ ./downloads/linux-arm64-static-libssl/ziti-edge-tunnel-Linux_aarch64.zip
-          unzip -d ./build/amd64/linux/ ./downloads/linux-x64-static-libssl/ziti-edge-tunnel-Linux_x86_64.zip
+          unzip -d ./build/arm64/linux/ ./downloads/linux-arm64/ziti-edge-tunnel-Linux_aarch64.zip
+          unzip -d ./build/amd64/linux/ ./downloads/linux-x64/ziti-edge-tunnel-Linux_x86_64.zip
 
       - name: Set up QEMU
         uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 456ee859..2f79bb99 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ jobs:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         with:
           upload_url: ${{ steps.get_release.outputs.upload_url }}
-          asset_path: ${{ runner.workspace }}/downloads/linux-arm64-static-libssl/ziti-edge-tunnel-Linux_aarch64.zip
+          asset_path: ${{ runner.workspace }}/downloads/linux-arm64/ziti-edge-tunnel-Linux_aarch64.zip
           asset_name: ziti-edge-tunnel-Linux_arm64.zip
           asset_content_type: application/octet-stream
 
diff --git a/CMakePresets.json b/CMakePresets.json
index dc2b5417..5a822c8d 100644
--- a/CMakePresets.json
+++ b/CMakePresets.json
@@ -183,10 +183,7 @@
         "ci-unix",
         "vcpkg",
         "dev-mode"
-      ],
-      "cacheVariables": {
-        "VCPKG_OVERLAY_PORTS": "${sourceDir}/vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/default"
-      }
+      ]
     },
     {
       "name": "ci-linux-arm64",
@@ -204,26 +201,6 @@
         "VCPKG_CHAINLOAD_TOOLCHAIN_FILE": "${sourceDir}/toolchains/Linux-arm.cmake"
       }
     },
-    {
-      "name": "ci-linux-static-libssl",
-      "description": "preset to use static ssl libs provided by vcpkg for broad compatibility of GH release binaries",
-      "cacheVariables": {
-        "VCPKG_OVERLAY_PORTS": "${sourceDir}/vcpkg-overlays/linux-syslibs/ubuntu18"
-      },
-      "hidden": true
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "ci-linux-x64-static-libssl",
-      "inherits": [ "ci-linux-static-libssl", "ci-linux-x64" ]
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "ci-linux-arm64-static-libssl",
-      "inherits": [ "ci-linux-static-libssl", "ci-linux-arm64" ]
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "ci-linux-arm-static-libssl",
-      "inherits": [ "ci-linux-static-libssl", "ci-linux-arm" ]
-    },
     {
       "name": "ci-windows-x64",
       "inherits": "ci-windows-x64-vs2022"
diff --git a/docker/docker.test.bash b/docker/docker.test.bash
index 71d1022d..ded52835 100755
--- a/docker/docker.test.bash
+++ b/docker/docker.test.bash
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ done
 : "${ZITI_ROUTER_PORT:=30224}"
 # : "${ZIGGY_UID:=$(id -u)}"
 
-bash -x ./scripts/ziti-builder.sh -p ci-linux-x64-static-libssl
+bash -x ./scripts/ziti-builder.sh -p ci-linux-x64
 mkdir -p ./build/amd64/linux
 cp ./build/programs/ziti-edge-tunnel/Release/ziti-edge-tunnel ./build/amd64/linux/ziti-edge-tunnel