Internet Accounting 2 BOF (ACCT2) Reported by Nevil Brownlee/University of Auckland Introduction Nevil Brownlee gave a short introduction covering the history of the Accounting Working Group. At the Toronto IETF the group's last BOF had produced a draft charter which our Area Directors had presented to the IESG for approval. Approval was withheld, on the grounds that the IESG would like to see someone with recognised SNMP and Database experience involved in the working group. This BOF's main agenda items were therefore to decide on the group's future, and what should be done with its two Internet-Drafts (`Accounting Architecture' and `Meter Services MIB'). Does the IETF Need an Accounting Working Group? The group began by exploring the question ``Would it help if the word `Accounting' was dropped, and replaced by something more neutral like `Usage Recording?''' The concenus this was that those present believe that accounting -- in its proper sense of `keeping track of things' -- was important, and that their was no point in changing the name. This was followed by a noisy discussion on the relative merits of, and demand for, flat-rate and usage-based charging; it was interesting, but had little engineering content. The question ``Why do we need an Accounting MIB, rather than using one of the existing ones such as RMON?'' was asked. The Accounting MIB implements the Accounting Model (RFC 1272), allowing us to collect the same set of flow attributes for many protocols, not just IP. The attributes in the model are those initially selected after consulting with Telcos, and more can be added to expand the model for higher protocol layers. The last question discussed was ``Why is there only one implementation?'' Until quite recently there has been little demand from network operators, but this is beginning to appear (certainly there are a growing list of sites using NeTraMet). There are, however, at least two vendors starting to work on implementations, so this situation should change soon. Future of the Accounting Working Group After some further discussion, the BOF decided that: o The `Accounting Architecture' and 'Meter Services MIB' should be published as Experimental RFCs as soon as possible. This will complete the work of the original Accounting Working Group. o The group's other work (as set out in the proposed charter) will continue on the accounting mailing list. o When there is more experience with implementations the group will be in a better position to start a new Accounting Working Group. The group then went on to consider the two Internet-Drafts. Details of the points raised will be discussed further on the mailing list. Nevil will prepare revised versions of them, and they will be submitted as Experimental RFCs around late February next year.