1. A method for configuring a network device, comprising: operating a first network device to process a known stream of traffic data and thereby generate an output based on the known stream of traffic data; recording performance data for the first network device within a database as the first network device is operated to process the known stream of traffic data; and configuring a second network device to behave as expected based on the recorded performance data for the first network device when the second network device is operated to process the known stream of traffic data.