1. A method for managing configuration data for a system, comprising: generating a chain description data set that specifies an order in a configuration chain of configurable devices in the system and identifies configuration data sets associated with the configurable devices; generating a system identifier value and associating the system identifier value with the chain description data set; generating an archive including the configuration data sets, chain description data set, and system identifier value; extracting from the archive the configuration data sets, chain description data set, and system identifier value in response to a user control; preventing configuration of a target system with the extracted configuration data sets in response to a target system identifier value not matching the system identifier value extracted from the archive; and in response to the target system identifier value matching the system identifier value read from the archive, generating a configuration bitstream from the extracted configuration data sets identified by, and in the order specified in, the chain description data set; and configuring the target system with the configuration bitstream.