In a data storage system, a hierarchical data structure, such as a file system or a database, is utilized to organize a hierarchical arrangement of device containers corresponding to various device identifiers of the plurality of hardware components in the target hardware system, scripts corresponding to various packet types of communication packets in the target hardware system, and responses corresponding to various packet data in the communication packets in the target hardware system. In response to receipt by a hierarchical emulation engine of a communication packet during emulation of the target hardware system, the communication packet including a device identifier, packet type and packet data, a response to the communication packet is determined by traversing the hierarchical arrangement based on the device identifier, packet type and packet data of the communication packet. The determined response is then provided.