Distributed network with robust fault indication containment and software revision control method

A distributed network system, comprising:

• a back office server having a first telematics network and a remote calibration tool;
• and
• a population of host systems in wireless communication with the back office server, each respective host system of the population of host systems including a second telematics network, the second telematics network having:
• an electronic control unit (ECU) operable for communicating remotely with the back office server;
• and
• one or more devices controlled by corresponding software code;
• wherein the back office server is configured, in response to a configuration signal, to transmit an over-the-air (OTA) software update to the ECU of a predetermined one or more of the host systems, and wherein the ECU is configured, in response to the OTA software update, to selectively mask or unmask a software partition of the corresponding software code to respectively disable or enable a function of the one or more devices.