A computer-implemented method for configuring deployment of a distributed system across a plurality of machines of a network. The method may include obtaining network information describing network communication characteristics between a plurality of machines of a network. The method may also include obtaining inter-container communication information describing at least one characteristic of communication between pairs of machines of the plurality of machines for a predetermined time period. The method may also include determining a cost function, the cost function mapping a potential container deployment configuration to an expected communication time, based on the network information and the inter-container communication. The method may also include processing the cost function with an optimization algorithm. The method may also include, in response to the processing, identifying a container deployment configuration having an associated cost that meets a cost requirement.