A system and method for validating packet classification within an input/output device or component. Based on a target DMA engine within the device, and a protocol path for testing the DMA engine, sets of packet attributes are generated and used to format packets for input to the device. The output of the device is examined to determine if the correct DMA engine was used within the device. The DMA policy specifying which DMA engine to use for a particular packet configuration or set of protocol attributes can be dynamically replaced or modified without halting the validation process.