Optorsim provides simulations of file replication strategies such as replica placement, replication scheduling, replica consistency maintenance, etc. However, to assess a replica strategy a researcher must write network configuration files and repeatedly modify parameters, which is inefficient. In this article, a scale-free algorithm is developed to generate network topology which is loaded into Optorsim, and a graphical user interface （GUI） is implemented to set all configuration parameters and algorithm parameters. Moreover, a new replica placement strategy, the replica creation （PC） algorithm, is proposed based on ＇social ability＇. Through the GUI, parameters could be conveniently modified to debug proposed algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate that the RC algorithm can reduce both processing time and storage consumption. Meanwhile, the simulation experience shows that working with Optorsim through the GUI is efficient.
