A method to update boot images of a network segment of a network, the method comprises: receiving a configuration point for the network segment, wherein the network segment includes a heterogeneous mix of a plurality of network elements and wherein the configuration point indicates versions of boot images used by the plurality of network elements at a point in time; for each of the plurality of network elements in the network segment, identifying a boot image for that network element corresponding to the configuration point, updating (310,404) the network element to the boot image, and validating the boot image, wherein the validating comprises: determining a first snapshot of the network element prior to the updating; determining a second snapshot of the network element that is running the boot image after the updating; and if the first snapshot is different from the second snapshot, failing the update, wherein the first snapshot is different from the second snapshot if a first local operating information of the first snapshot is different from a second local operating information of the second snapshot. receiving a configuration point for the network segment, wherein the network segment includes a heterogeneous mix of a plurality of network elements and wherein the configuration point indicates versions of boot images used by the plurality of network elements at a point in time; for each of the plurality of network elements in the network segment, identifying a boot image for that network element corresponding to the configuration point, updating (310,404) the network element to the boot image, and validating the boot image, wherein the validating comprises: determining a first snapshot of the network element prior to the updating; determining a second snapshot of the network element that is running the boot image after the updating; and if the first snapshot is different from the second snapshot, failing the update, wherein the first snapshot is different from the second snapshot if a first local operating information of the first snapshot is different from a second local operating information of the second snapshot. identifying a boot image for that network element corresponding to the configuration point, updating (310,404) the network element to the boot image, and validating the boot image, wherein the validating comprises: determining a first snapshot of the network element prior to the updating; determining a second snapshot of the network element that is running the boot image after the updating; and if the first snapshot is different from the second snapshot, failing the update, wherein the first snapshot is different from the second snapshot if a first local operating information of the first snapshot is different from a second local operating information of the second snapshot. determining a first snapshot of the network element prior to the updating; determining a second snapshot of the network element that is running the boot image after the updating; and if the first snapshot is different from the second snapshot, failing the update, wherein the first snapshot is different from the second snapshot if a first local operating information of the first snapshot is different from a second local operating information of the second snapshot.