Abstract: To analyze the performance of a network including edge routers and a hub router coupled together by communication links, an analysis method includes discovering the topology of the network that is initially unknown. An information handling system (IHS) determines baseline performance information with respect to the discovered topology of network, the baseline performance information including network capacity information on a per link basis. The discovered topology of the network is speculatively changed to provide a speculatively changed network with prospects for performance improvement. The IHS determines an estimated impact of the speculative change to the discovered topology of the network by repeating the topology discovery and the determination of baseline performance using the speculative changed topology.