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 substantially match the recorded performance data for the first network device when the second network device is operated to process the known stream of traffic data.