Mechanisms for designating particular nodes in a network as measurement endpoint (MEP) nodes are disclosed. Network topology information that identifies a plurality of nodes and communication links in a network is accessed. An initial chromosome generation is established. Each chromosome in the chromosome generation comprises a structure that identifies each node in the plurality of nodes that has an MEP capability and that includes an MEP state indicator for each node. A succession of a plurality of chromosome generations are generated by evolving each chromosome generation into a successive chromosome generation based on a genetic selection function and a fitness function until a threshold condition is met. An optimal chromosome from a successive chromosome generation is determined. A configuration command is sent to each node in a subset of the nodes that configures each node to operate as a MEP node.