An apparatus, comprising: a first network device (121-122, 131-132, 141-144, 151-152) configured to be operable within a network, the first network device configured to receive a first image and instructions to install the first image, the first image including an image version identifier and an anomaly database (420, 430) storing a set of differences between the first image and a base image, the first network device configured to identify a second image installed on a second network device (121-122, 131-132, 141-144, 151-152) within the network, the second image having an image version identifier different than the image version identifier of the first image, the first network device configured to compare the anomaly database of the first image with an anomaly database (420, 430) of the 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 that includes at least one feature associated with enabling communication between the first network device and the second network device, and if the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible non-critical feature, the first network device configured to send a signal associated with a first action if the first image and second image include the at least one incompatible critical feature, the first network device configured to send a signal associated with a second action different from the first action if the first image and second image include the at least one incompatible non-critical feature. a first network device (121-122, 131-132, 141-144, 151-152) configured to be operable within a network, the first network device configured to receive a first image and instructions to install the first image, the first image including an image version identifier and an anomaly database (420, 430) storing a set of differences between the first image and a base image, the first network device configured to identify a second image installed on a second network device (121-122, 131-132, 141-144, 151-152) within the network, the second image having an image version identifier different than the image version identifier of the first image, the first network device configured to compare the anomaly database of the first image with an anomaly database (420, 430) of the 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 that includes at least one feature associated with enabling communication between the first network device and the second network device, and if the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible non-critical feature, if the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible critical feature that includes at least one feature associated with enabling communication between the first network device and the second network device, and if the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible non-critical feature, the first network device configured to send a signal associated with a first action if the first image and second image include the at least one incompatible critical feature, the first network device configured to send a signal associated with a second action different from the first action if the first image and second image include the at least one incompatible non-critical feature.