An apparatus for extending IP Flow Information Export "IPFIX" and/or Netflow functionality comprising: a network element configured to receive a plurality of packets, the network element comprising a module, the module being configured to generate an IPFIX or Netflow data record that is based on information associated with the packets and adapted to be interpreted according to a template in which multiple information elements in the data record can be positioned to create a hierarchical relationship within structured data, and wherein the structured data further includes references to the information elements, the network element further including an export module configured to export the data record to a next destination according to an export protocol that is configured to trigger the generation of the data record, and which specifies, for each of the information elements, a numeric identifier, an abstract data type, and an encoding mechanism for abstract data types, whereby abstract data types are structural and contain references to other information elements and to templates; the network element being further configured to generate and send multiple templates including at least said template; the apparatus further comprising a network management station configured to receive multiple templates including at least said template; the network management station being further configured to receive the data record from the network element, the network management station being configured to interpret the data record according to the template, and wherein the network management station is configured to create, based on the data record, reports, statistical analysis, or diagnostic evaluations related to the said plurality of packets so as to highlight significant issues, wherein the structured data is a variable-length list that specifies a hierarchical relationship between several of the templates. a network element configured to receive a plurality of packets, the network element comprising a module, the module being configured to generate an IPFIX or Netflow data record that is based on information associated with the packets and adapted to be interpreted according to a template in which multiple information elements in the data record can be positioned to create a hierarchical relationship within structured data, and wherein the structured data further includes references to the information elements, the network element further including an export module configured to export the data record to a next destination according to an export protocol that is configured to trigger the generation of the data record, and which specifies, for each of the information elements, a numeric identifier, an abstract data type, and an encoding mechanism for abstract data types, whereby abstract data types are structural and contain references to other information elements and to templates; the network element being further configured to generate and send multiple templates including at least said template; the apparatus further comprising a network management station configured to receive multiple templates including at least said template; the network management station being further configured to receive the data record from the network element, the network management station being configured to interpret the data record according to the template, and wherein the network management station is configured to create, based on the data record, reports, statistical analysis, or diagnostic evaluations related to the said plurality of packets so as to highlight significant issues, wherein the structured data is a variable-length list that specifies a hierarchical relationship between several of the templates.