A computer implemented method determines a placement of an application being added to a network. The method includes determining a logical-physical mapping for the application. Sub-graphs in the logical-physical mapping are identified. A stored application in a catalog of applications previously used in the network is located. The stored application includes one of the sub-graphs in the logical-physical mapping. An experiment is generated, performed by a computing device running a neural network model, using the sub-graphs. The experiment includes inducing a physical node mapping for the sub-graph. A cost function associated with a placement of the application being added to the network to one or more physical nodes in the induced physical node mapping is determined.