Aircraft communications network with distributed responsibility for compatibility confirmation

A network device for an aircraft communications network, the network device comprising:

• a computer hardware component including an input/output (I/O) portion configured for connecting to an aircraft communications bus;
• and
• a software component loaded into the computer hardware component,
• wherein the computer hardware component and the software component cooperate to configure the network device to:
• receive a configuration manifest through the I/O portion;
• compare the configuration manifest to a hardware and software profile that describes the computer hardware component and the software component;
• and
• disable outputs from the network device through the I/O portion in response to detecting that the configuration manifest differs from the hardware and software profile.

A method of determining compatibility of a network device with an aircraft communications network, the method comprising:

• publishing on a communications network, by a first network device, a configuration manifest that describes a compatible configuration of hardware and software for the aircraft communications network;
• receiving, at a second network device, the configuration manifest;
• and
• comparing, at the second network device, the configuration manifest to a second hardware and software profile that describes the second network device.