home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Internet Info 1997 December
/
Internet_Info_CD-ROM_Walnut_Creek_December_1997.iso
/
ietf
/
94dec
/
acct2-minutes-94dec.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-02-28
|
3KB
|
72 lines
Internet Accounting 2 BOF (ACCT2)
Reported by Nevil Brownlee/University of Auckland
Introduction
Nevil Brownlee gave a short introduction covering the history of the
Accounting Working Group. At the Toronto IETF the group's last BOF had
produced a draft charter which our Area Directors had presented to the
IESG for approval. Approval was withheld, on the grounds that the IESG
would like to see someone with recognised SNMP and Database experience
involved in the working group. This BOF's main agenda items were
therefore to decide on the group's future, and what should be done with
its two Internet-Drafts (`Accounting Architecture' and `Meter Services
MIB').
Does the IETF Need an Accounting Working Group?
The group began by exploring the question ``Would it help if the word
`Accounting' was dropped, and replaced by something more neutral like
`Usage Recording?''' The concenus this was that those present believe
that accounting -- in its proper sense of `keeping track of things' --
was important, and that their was no point in changing the name.
This was followed by a noisy discussion on the relative merits of, and
demand for, flat-rate and usage-based charging; it was interesting, but
had little engineering content.
The question ``Why do we need an Accounting MIB, rather than using one
of the existing ones such as RMON?'' was asked. The Accounting MIB
implements the Accounting Model (RFC 1272), allowing us to collect the
same set of flow attributes for many protocols, not just IP. The
attributes in the model are those initially selected after consulting
with Telcos, and more can be added to expand the model for higher
protocol layers.
The last question discussed was ``Why is there only one
implementation?'' Until quite recently there has been little demand
from network operators, but this is beginning to appear (certainly there
are a growing list of sites using NeTraMet). There are, however, at
least two vendors starting to work on implementations, so this situation
should change soon.
Future of the Accounting Working Group
After some further discussion, the BOF decided that:
o The `Accounting Architecture' and 'Meter Services MIB' should be
published as Experimental RFCs as soon as possible. This will
complete the work of the original Accounting Working Group.
o The group's other work (as set out in the proposed charter) will
continue on the accounting mailing list.
o When there is more experience with implementations the group will
be in a better position to start a new Accounting Working Group.
The group then went on to consider the two Internet-Drafts. Details of
the points raised will be discussed further on the mailing list. Nevil
will prepare revised versions of them, and they will be submitted as
Experimental RFCs around late February next year.