diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 8e553d26f..e375e7ff4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (c) 2020-2025, The OTNS Authors.
+# Copyright (c) 2020-2026, The OTNS Authors.
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build
         run: |
           ./script/install-deps
-          ./script/install
+          ./script/install-otns
 
   build-nodes:
     name: Build Nodes (${{ matrix.os }})
diff --git a/.github/workflows/develop.yml b/.github/workflows/develop.yml
index f495871cd..063fb5ea3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/develop.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/develop.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (c) 2020-2025, The OTNS Authors.
+# Copyright (c) 2020-2026, The OTNS Authors.
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ jobs:
             git diff
             exit 1
           fi
-          ./script/install
+          ./script/install-otns
       - name: Build custom OT node
         # FIXME: OT_CMAKE_NINJA_TARGET used to exclude tests, because test_platform.cpp is missing otPlatAssertFail()
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yml b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
index 58093ed59..94af4f08c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (c) 2020-2025, The OTNS Authors.
+# Copyright (c) 2020-2026, The OTNS Authors.
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -59,5 +59,5 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check pretty
         run: |
           ./script/install-deps
-          ./script/install
+          ./script/install-otns
           ./script/make-pretty check
diff --git a/GUIDE.md b/GUIDE.md
index 5168c228f..2f0151d5a 100644
--- a/GUIDE.md
+++ b/GUIDE.md
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Running this script will also set up a Python 3 virtual environment (venv) in `.
 #### Install OTNS
 
 ```bash
-./script/install
+./script/install-otns
 ```
 
 This installs `otns` in the Go binary directory of the user (typically `~/go/bin`) and makes the command available in the path. Also, it installs the pyOTNS library in the local Python virtual environment `.venv-otns`. The OT nodes required for running a simulation are not yet installed at this point: this is the next step.
diff --git a/ot-rfsim/ot-versions/README.md b/ot-rfsim/ot-versions/README.md
index c26f5f74e..8bc4acc40 100644
--- a/ot-rfsim/ot-versions/README.md
+++ b/ot-rfsim/ot-versions/README.md
@@ -18,4 +18,6 @@ Versions are listed below. With each version tag, the directory is listed in whi
 
 - br-ccm - `openthread-ccm` - (In development) A Thread CCM Border Router.
 
-Build scripts: the build scripts to build all of the versions are `../script/build_<version-tag>`. Each of these specific build scripts invokes the general `build` script. The `../script/build_all` builds all commonly used versions.
+Build scripts: the build scripts to build all of the versions are `./script/build_<version-tag>`, which are invoked from the `./ot-rfsim` directory. Each of these specific build scripts invokes the general `build` script. The `./script/build_all` builds all commonly used versions.
+
+Note: all build scripts copy the resulting executables to the `./ot-rfsim/ot-versions` directory. Before OTNS will use these executables, they must be copied to the `~/.local/share/otns/bin` directory. This is done by the installation script `./script/install-nodes` which is invoked from the main OTNS repo directory.
diff --git a/script/install b/script/install
index 6c78a82aa..e7fdfa0d9 100755
--- a/script/install
+++ b/script/install
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2020-2025, The OTNS Authors.
+# Copyright (c) 2020-2026, The OTNS Authors.
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -25,31 +25,25 @@
 # ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
 # POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
-# Installs OTNS (without any OT node executables) and pyOTNS.
+# Installs OTNS in ~/go/bin, pyOTNS, and all nodes in ~/.local/share/otns
 
 # shellcheck source=script/common.sh
 . "$(dirname "$0")"/common.sh
 
 install_otns()
 {
-    go mod tidy
-    repeat 3 go_install ./cmd/...
-    echo "otns installed: $(command -v otns)"
+    ./script/install-otns
 }
 
-install_pyotns()
+install_nodes()
 {
-    activate_python_venv
-    cd pylibs
-    python3 -m pip install .
-    # python3 setup.py install --user --prefix= 2>/dev/null  #  alternative - fails on macos-14
-    cd -
+    ./script/install-nodes
 }
 
 main()
 {
-    install_pyotns
     install_otns
+    install_nodes
 }
 
 main
diff --git a/script/install-nodes b/script/install-nodes
index 9a642675b..e480e774a 100755
--- a/script/install-nodes
+++ b/script/install-nodes
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2024-2025, The OTNS Authors.
+# Copyright (c) 2024-2026, The OTNS Authors.
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -31,9 +31,16 @@
 # shellcheck source=script/common.sh
 . "$(dirname "$0")"/common.sh
 
+install_nodes_to_local_share()
+{
+    mkdir -p ~/.local/share/otns/bin
+    cp ./ot-rfsim/ot-versions/* ~/.local/share/otns/bin/
+}
+
 main()
 {
     build_openthread_versions
+    install_nodes_to_local_share
 }
 
 main
diff --git a/script/install-otns b/script/install-otns
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..ed4a7e22f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script/install-otns
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Copyright (c) 2020-2026, The OTNS Authors.
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+#    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+# 3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the
+#    names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
+#    derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+# ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+# LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+# CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+# SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+# INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+# CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+# ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+# POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+# Installs OTNS (without any OT node executables) and pyOTNS.
+
+# shellcheck source=script/common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")"/common.sh
+
+install_otns()
+{
+    go mod tidy
+    repeat 3 go_install ./cmd/...
+    echo "otns installed: $(command -v otns)"
+}
+
+install_pyotns()
+{
+    activate_python_venv
+    cd pylibs || die "required directory 'pylibs' not found"
+    python3 -m pip install .
+    # python3 setup.py install --user --prefix= 2>/dev/null  #  alternative - fails on macos-14
+    cd - || die "cd failed"
+}
+
+main()
+{
+    install_pyotns
+    install_otns
+}
+
+main
diff --git a/script/test b/script/test
index 4263db511..812ea4a92 100755
--- a/script/test
+++ b/script/test
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2020-2025, The OTNS Authors.
+# Copyright (c) 2020-2026, The OTNS Authors.
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ install_deps()
 
 install_otns()
 {
-    ./script/install
+    ./script/install-otns
 }
 
 py_unittests()
diff --git a/simulation/node_config.go b/simulation/node_config.go
index 1bcee5d5b..304860d81 100644
--- a/simulation/node_config.go
+++ b/simulation/node_config.go
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ var DefaultExecutableConfig ExecutableConfig = ExecutableConfig{
 	Mtd:         "ot-cli-mtd",
 	Br:          "ot-cli-ftd_br",
 	Matter:      "ot-matter-node",
-	SearchPaths: []string{".", "./ot-rfsim/ot-versions", "./build/bin"},
+	SearchPaths: []string{".", filePathInUserHomeDir(".local/share/otns/bin"), "./ot-rfsim/ot-versions"},
 }
 
 func DefaultNodeConfig() NodeConfig {
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ func (cfg *ExecutableConfig) FindExecutable(exeName string) string {
 			return "./" + exePath
 		}
 	}
-	// if not found, try to relay on OS $PATH to find the executables.
+	// if not found, try to rely on OS $PATH to find the executables.
 	return exeName
 }
 
diff --git a/simulation/utils.go b/simulation/utils.go
index f7a02f30b..221ed6b6b 100644
--- a/simulation/utils.go
+++ b/simulation/utils.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2020-2024, The OTNS Authors.
+// Copyright (c) 2020-2026, The OTNS Authors.
 // All rights reserved.
 //
 // Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -37,6 +37,14 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/net/ipv6"
 )
 
+func filePathInUserHomeDir(relPath string) string {
+	home, err := os.UserHomeDir()
+	if err == nil {
+		return filepath.Join(home, relPath)
+	}
+	return "/tmp/UserHomeDirNotFound"
+}
+
 func removeAllFiles(globPath string) error {
 	files, err := filepath.Glob(globPath)
 	if err != nil {