Subject: Re: Resetting ip, icmp etc statistics
To: Havard Eidnes <he@uninett.no>
From: Liam J. Foy <liamfoy@sepulcrum.org>
List: tech-net
Date: 04/01/2006 00:12:24
On 00:50, Sat 01 Apr 06, Havard Eidnes wrote:
> > On 22:54, Fri 31 Mar 06, Havard Eidnes wrote:
> > > "Real" routers where statistics is normally collected using SNMP
> > > and who also have this "clear counters" function do this IMO the
> > > right way, i.e. by checkpointing the base level for the counters
> > > and only displaying the difference compared to this base level
> > > when commands equivalent to "netstat" are run.
> >
> > Could you explain this approach a little more to me please? How and when
> > are the 'checkpoints' made?
> 
> The current values are saved as a baseline when you "reset the
> counters".  When you go to show the counters later on through some
> user interface, what actually happens is that the user interface shows
> the difference between the actual "raw" values and the saved baseline.
> The net effect to the user is the same as if the "raw" values had been
> fully reset, but this way, the "monotonically increasing" property of
> the "raw" counters are preserved.
> 
> (This isn't how it's done in NetBSD at the moment, just to make that
> perfectly clear.)
> 
> Regards,

Ah I see now, thanks for explaining in more detail. I don't think from a
quick ponder it'd be too hard to implement. However, would people agree
it would be justified? The FreeBSD solution I proposed is much simpler.

-- 
		Liam J. Foy
		<liamfoy@sepulcrum.org>
		http://www.bsdportal.org