In one embodiment, a server determines a particular computer network outside of a lab environment to recreate, and also determines, for the particular computer network, hardware components and their interconnectivity, as well as installed software components and their configuration. The server then controls interconnection of lab hardware components within the lab environment according to the interconnectivity of the hardware components of the particular computer network. The server also installs and configures lab software components on the lab hardware components according to the configuration of the particular computer network. Accordingly, the server operates the installed lab software components on the interconnected lab hardware components within the lab environment to recreate operation of the particular computer network within the lab environment, and provides information about the recreated operation of the particular computer network.