Re: FW: 64 bit counters in MPLS MIBs

["C. M. Heard" <heard@pobox.com>]

On Mon, 6 Jan 2003, Wijnen, Bert (Bert) wrote:

> I had suggested to MPLS MIB people that at places
> where they use parallel 64 and 32 bit counter (the
> 32-bit values fo[r] those systems that do not support
> 64bit), that it might be better to use just 64 bit
> and forget the 32 bit counters.
> 
> This is what I am getting back. Any opinions/input
> or comments?

Tom Nadeau wrote:
TN> I have been discussing this change with some
TN> developers here and have been getting serious push
TN> back based on the fact that on platforms that do not
TN> natively support 64 bit counters one must emulate
TN> them at the process level.  On the surface this seems
TN> reasonable. However, when you look at the number of
TN> emulated counters in just say the LSR MIB which has
TN> per label counters (there can be 100,000s of labels),
TN> this starts looking very unpalatable very quickly.

My inclination would be to say that either you need
the 64-bit counters, or you don't.  If the 32-bit
counters are not acceptable because they roll over
too fast, then they aren't very useful, and should
not be in the MIB module.  If an inexpensive
platform can't support your requirements, then you
should get a better platform.

On the other hand, if 32 bit counters _don't_ roll over
too fast, they should be used in preference to 64-bit
counters, and the 64-bit counters should then not be in
the MIB module (as they are not needed).

> I understand that we will NOT change the description
> of counter64 of course.

Agreed.  That would amount to two different objects
residing behind the same OID.

Mike

P.S.  I have to wonder whether it's a reasonable MIB
design to have 100,000s of counters of any kind in a
single MIB module ... that's a _lot_ of stuff to poll
(and even to count, for that matter).  I have seen transport
NEs with ~6,000 performance counters distributed over ~60
interface, with a dedicated line card processor for each
1-2 interfaces ... but these counters were not routinely
polled, they were instead processed into 15-minute and
1-day history bins right on the NE.