| CPC H04L 41/0896 (2013.01) [H04L 41/0853 (2013.01); H04L 41/5048 (2013.01); H04L 43/026 (2013.01); H04L 47/2483 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
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1. A method for use of dynamic templates with a network traffic flow information protocol, comprising:
at a computer or other electronic device having a processor, operating an exporter, adapted for use with a plurality of collectors, performing an exporting process adapted to communicate network traffic flow information associated with a network environment, to the collectors;
at one or more computer or other electronic devices, each having a processor and operating as a collector, performing a collecting process adapted to receive the network traffic flow information, from the exporter, wherein each different collector, of the plurality of collectors, has different capabilities, and is adapted to receive data packets exported by the exporter according to the capabilities of the collector;
wherein a dynamic template configures the exporter, for each particular collector of the plurality of collectors, to send a requested combination of fields for which network traffic flow information is to be provided, until reconfigured by a subsequent dynamic template request message, including that the exporter generates a capability message that indicates network traffic flow fields that can be implemented and exported from the exporter, and communicates the capability message to the collector, wherein the capability message includes a set identifier value that indicates the network traffic flow fields that can be exported by the dynamic template;
wherein each collector, of the plurality of collectors, upon receipt of the capability message from the exporter,
examines the network traffic flow fields identified therein,
determines those types of metrics the collector has the capability to handle,
generates a dynamic template request message including a set identifier value associated with the collector requesting use of the dynamic template and indicating the combination of fields for which network traffic flow information is to be provided, and
communicates the dynamic template request message to the exporter, wherein the dynamic template is associated with a template identifier value in a range dedicated for dynamic templates; and
wherein the exporter communicates, to the collector, data messages comprising only those network traffic flow fields and metrics as indicated by the dynamic template associated with that collector and as determined by its dynamic template request message, for which the collector has the capability or is configured to handle,
wherein the exporter associates a dynamic template per each different collector, and continues to send the requested combination of fields to that particular collector as specified by its dynamic template, until receipt of a subsequent dynamic template request message from that particular collector,
wherein receipt of the subsequent dynamic template request message from that particular collector overrides the dynamic template for that particular collector in the exporter.
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