The present disclosure provides systems and methods for a simulation environment that simulates hardware at a fiber level, a data plane level, a card level, and a chassis level. The simulation environment may be utilized in development and testing of complex, real time, embedded software systems, such as, for example, routers, switches, access devices, base stations, optical switches, optical add/drop multiplexers, Ethernet switches, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the simulation environment operates on one or more workstations utilizing a virtual machine to operate a virtualized module, line card, line blade, etc. Further, a plurality of virtual machines may operate together to operate a virtualized chassis forming a network element and with a plurality of virtualized chassis forming a network. Advantageously, the present invention provides state of the art data plane traffic and control plane simulation that reduces development time and cost while increasing design flexibility.