A system for evaluating a network having a plurality of domains, each domain embodying a respective topology, includes: (a) at least one gateway unit effecting signal handling between adjacent domains; (b) a plurality of communicating nodes coupled with the at least one gateway unit; and (c) at least one respective edge establishing a respective communication link between adjacent respective communicating nodes. At least one first selected communicating node is a unicast node. At least one second selected communicating node is a multicast node. At least one communicating node is a media node. Each unicast node is configured for handling messages addressed to the unicast node. Each multicast node is connected with at least one media node within a domain. Each media node is configured for handling messages addressed to multicast nodes connected with the media node individually or en masse.