add _version_less_than to netbox_utils

- allow compare even 3 digit versions or more
- sanitize inputs - full_version can sometimes be 4.2.9-Docker-3.2.1
  just use only 4.2.9

Author: cernymi

plugins/module_utils/netbox_utils.py

@@ -811,6 +811,27 @@ def _version_check_greater(
 
         return t_net > t_def if not greater_or_equal else t_net >= t_def
 
+    def _version_less_than(self, ver_net: str, ver_def: str) -> bool:
+        """Determine if first argument is smaller than second argument.
+
+        Args:
+            ver_net (str): decimal string
+            ver_def (str): decimal string
+        """
+        t_net = tuple(
+            int(x) for x in re.match(r"^([\d.]+)", ver_net).group(1).split(".")
+        )
+        t_def = tuple(
+            int(x) for x in re.match(r"^([\d.]+)", ver_def).group(1).split(".")
+        )
+
+        # Pad shorter tuple with zeros
+        max_len = max(len(t_net), len(t_def))
+        t_net += (0,) * (max_len - len(t_net))
+        t_def += (0,) * (max_len - len(t_def))
+
+        return t_net < t_def
+
     def _connect_netbox_api(self, url, token, ssl_verify, cert, headers=None):
         try:
             session = requests.Session()