CISCO-CABLE-METERING-MIB
This is the MIB module for Usage Based Metering for the DOCSIS-compliant Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS). Usage Based Metering is a software feature provided in the CMTS so that cable operators can perform subscriber account management and metering in a uniform and consistent manner. It involves the implementation of Subscriber Account Management Interface Specification (SAMIS) as defined by DOCSIS-OSSI specification. Usage-Based Metering is essential in the processing of bills based on services rendered to and consumed by paying subscribers. The SAMIS specification focuses primarily on bandwidth centric usage-based metering scenarios. The DOCSIS 1.1 RFI specification provides a mechanism for a Cable Modem (CM) to register with its Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) and to configure itself based on external Quality of Service (QoS) parameters when it is powered up or reset. The principal mechanism for providing enhanced QoS is to classify packets traversing the RF MAC interface into a Service Flow. A Service Flow is a unidirectional flow of packets that is provided a particular Quality of Service. The mediation system can then rate the charges differently for each of the Service Flow traffic counts based on its Service Class. Thus, the mediation system obtains from the CMTS the traffic counts for each named Service Flow (identified by SFID) that a subscribers CM uses during the metering data collection interval. The Usage Based Metering requirement is that the CMTS must be able to provide formatted Subscriber Usage Metering Records for all subscribers attached to the CMTS, on demand to an external collection system. Optionally, the metering records can be stored locally so that it is available via ftp to the external collection server. The CMTS provides two configuration options to handle the export of metering data. Local : Store the record locally on the CMTS after collection. The metering system should then(operating at its own schedule) take the file out of the CMTS and is also responsible for deletion of the local file on the CMTS. The deletion of the file is an indication to the metering collector to start construction of the new metering record which will then be written to the local filesystem and the cycle continues. Streaming: Stream the records to an external collection system as they get generated. The time interval in which the record will be generated is configurable at the CMTS. A secure and reliable stream is used to transport the metering record out of the CMTS. In case the connection to external metering system is not possible, CMTS will retry establishing channel for a max specified times. The MIB allows for configuration of the parameters that control the metering record collection like interval, amount of metering information required, location or IP address of the collection server, and metering filename. In addition it provides for some important notificatons to the NMS to indicate the success/failure of the metering collection.