A CCN-deployment system can design and deploy a content centric network (CCN) topology, either across a collection of CCN nodes or across an existing computer network. During operation, the system analyzes a computer network of N network nodes to determine a physical network topology. The system also determines a number, k, of network nodes of the physical network on which to overlay a content centric network (CCN). The system then determines an average degree of connectivity, and a degree-of-connectivity distribution, that achieves an optimal performance metric for the CCN overlay network. The system generates a network topology of k network nodes that satisfies the average degree of connectivity, and that satisfies the degree-of-connectivity distribution. The system can deploy the content centric network topology across k nodes of the underlying physical network.