An apparatus, comprising: a network device (121-122, 131-132, 141-144, 151-152) configured to be included within a plurality of network devices within a network, the network device configured to receive an anomaly database (420, 430) of a first image to be installed on at least one network device from the plurality of network devices, the anomaly database of the first image storing a set of differences between the first image and a base image, the network device configured to compare the anomaly database of the first image with an anomaly database (420, 430) of a second image storing a set of differences between the second image and the base image to determine if the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible critical feature including at least one feature associated with enabling communication between the plurality of network devices and if the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible non-critical feature including an incompatible power over Ethernet standard or power over Ethernet plus standard, the network device configured to send a signal associated with a first action if the first image and the second image include the at least one incompatible critical feature, the network device configured to send a signal associated with a second action different from the first action if the first image and the second image include the at least one incompatible non-critical feature; wherein the first image and the second image, respectively, comprise at least one of a specific software package, an operating system, or software that enables a network device to perform various functionalities associated with a network device such as communicating with other devices. a network device (121-122, 131-132, 141-144, 151-152) configured to be included within a plurality of network devices within a network, the network device configured to receive an anomaly database (420, 430) of a first image to be installed on at least one network device from the plurality of network devices, the anomaly database of the first image storing a set of differences between the first image and a base image, the network device configured to compare the anomaly database of the first image with an anomaly database (420, 430) of a second image storing a set of differences between the second image and the base image to determine if the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible critical feature including at least one feature associated with enabling communication between the plurality of network devices and if the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible non-critical feature including an incompatible power over Ethernet standard or power over Ethernet plus standard, the network device configured to send a signal associated with a first action if the first image and the second image include the at least one incompatible critical feature, the network device configured to send a signal associated with a second action different from the first action if the first image and the second image include the at least one incompatible non-critical feature; wherein the first image and the second image, respectively, comprise at least one of a specific software package, an operating system, or software that enables a network device to perform various functionalities associated with a network device such as communicating with other devices.