A filter assembly is provided for an appliance that performs a useful cycle of operation on a physical article and uses a resource that passes through the filter assembly. The filter assembly includes at least one replaceable filter mounted in a filter holder. The filter holder has at least one control board having software architecture configured for communication on a network including other control boards or clients. The control board has at least one functionality of a universe of functionalities, and the functionality has a unique identifier, where the unique identifier can be communicated by the software architecture over the network. The filter assembly has at least one node in communication with the network, so that the filter assembly can monitor and record events, communicate, or affect the cycle of operation of the appliance.