Intelligent network probe placement optimization (e.g., using a computerized tool) is enabled. A method can comprise determining, from an inventory database, physical interfaces and service paths for data traffic to be monitored, according to a two-way active management protocol, with respect to network interfaces between cloud compute elements in a leaf-spine cloud fabric and radio access network equipment, based on the cloud compute elements, determining directed acyclic graph information representative of a directed acyclic graph of connections between the cloud compute elements and other cloud compute elements in the leaf-spine cloud fabric other than the cloud compute elements, and based on the directed acyclic graph information, determining a number and a distribution of probes to be employed at at least some of the physical interfaces and the service paths to monitor a parameter of the data traffic according to the two-way active management protocol.