In one embodiment, a device in a network receives data indicative of traffic characteristics of traffic associated with a particular application. The device identifies one or more paths in the network via which the traffic associated with the particular application was sent, based on the traffic characteristics. The device determines a probing schedule based on the traffic characteristics. The probing schedule simulates the traffic associated with the particular application. The device sends probes along the one or more identified paths according to the determined probing schedule.