A method for network configuration validation includes identifying a target network to configure wherein the target network includes one or more switches; generating, within a network device configuration editor having a superset of configuration syntax and allowable settings values, a target network configuration for the target network; receiving a target network configuration grammar including configuration syntax and allowable settings values from the target network by interrogating the target network; limiting the superset to the received target network configuration grammar to create a limited superset; comparing the limited superset to the syntax and settings values in the target network configuration; and indicating syntax errors and settings value errors in the target network configuration.