Patent ID: 7788371

Claim:
A networking apparatus, comprising: a network interface; a processor coupled to the interface; logic coupled to the processor and encoded in one or more tangible storage media for execution and when executed operable to cause performance of computer implemented steps that comprise: receiving a command to collect a unique object identifier that represents a unique management information base (MIB) object; wherein the unique object identifier is a MIB object identifier (OID); retrieving, in response to receiving the command, a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) MIB variable or table that corresponds to the MIB object; creating an Internet Protocol Flow Information Export (IPFIX) template record data structure that includes the object identifier; wherein the object identifier is encoded in the IPFIX template data structure as a string; wherein the string has a variable length; and exporting the IPFIX record data structure with the encoded object identifier; wherein an object value that corresponds to the object identifier that is encoded in the IPFIX template record data structure is exported with the IPFIX record data structure; and wherein the receiving and exporting steps support a push transmission mode for exporting unsolicited data; wherein a size of the string is encoded therewith as a prefix, which comprises a variable length information element that conforms to IPFIX variable length encoding.