Simulation can be a powerful technique for evaluating the performance of large-scale cloud computing services in a relatively low cost, low risk and time-sensitive manner. Large-scale data indexing, distribution and management is complex to analyse in a timely manner. In this paper, we extend the CloudSim cloud simulation framework to model and simulate a distributed search engine architecture and its workload characteristics. To test the simulation framework, we develop a model based on a real-world ElasticSearch deployment on Linknovate.com. An experimental evaluation of the framework, comparing simulated and actual query response time, precision and resource utilisation, suggests that the proposed framework is capable of predicting performance at different scales in a precise, accurate and efficient manner. The results can assist ElasticSearch users to manage their scalability and infrastructure requirements.