A method and apparatus of a device that simulates a plurality of network elements is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device receives network topology information for the plurality of simulated network elements. The device further instantiates a container for each of the plurality of simulated network elements. The device additionally configures a set of processes for each of the plurality of containers, where each of the set of processes simulates at least one of the plurality of simulated network elements. The plurality of set of processes further implements a network topology represented by the network topology information. The device performs a test of the network topology and saves the results of the test.