The invention provides in some aspects a
digital data processor executing management
software that controls overall operation of the device, including, installation, configuration, updating, and / or other modifications of its
software, hardware and configuration files and other “assets.” The management
software validates changes to those assets (e.g., software updates and configuration file edits) requested by
system administrators and others and can propagate related changes to other assets. As a result, it keeps the
digital data processor in a consistent, working state, avoiding operational interruption that might otherwise result from corruption of assets (e.g., lost files) and / or attempts to install inconsistent assets. The management software can serve as an agent for one or more external
digital data processing devices that are in communications
coupling with the managed digital
data processing device, which one or more external digital
data processing devices mediate installation, configuration, updating, modification and / or use of the one or more assets.