Policy-based approach for managing the export of network flow statistical data

摘要

A policy-based approach for managing the export of network flow statistical data uses constraints and prioritization to select flow data to be exported by flow monitoring processes. According to the approach, a flow monitoring process monitors a plurality of flows at an observation point. The flow monitoring process generates flow statistical data for the plurality of flows. Policy data is made available to the flow monitoring process and includes constraint data and priority data. The constraint data indicates usage constraints for one or more resources available to the flow monitoring process. The priority data indicates a desired priority of flow attributes. The flow monitoring process uses the policy data to select one or more flows from the plurality of flows, such that the resource usage constraints are satisfied. The flow monitoring process exports a portion of the flow statistical data that corresponds to the selected one or more flows.