1. A computer-implemented configuration management system for a network device, said network device including one or more sub-systems for implementing network services, said system comprising: a control entity establishing configuration elements based on at least one template, said at least one template including a set of parameters and a corresponding set of defined values; a memory storing said configuration elements; a specification sub-system sending a specification for implementing a service determined by each configuration element to said sub-systems; and an update sub-system determining modified and unmodified parameter values, said unmodified parameter values corresponding to said set of defined values, and automatically updating only unmodified parameter values of said configuration elements in response to at least one common defined value in a linked template being updated, while protecting said modified parameter values of said configuration elements in said at least one template.