Network Working Group                                       G. Sadasivan
Request for Comments: 5470                                Rohati Systems
Category: Informational                                      N. Brownlee
                                      CAIDA | The University of Auckland
                                                               B. Claise
                                                     Cisco Systems, Inc.
                                                              J. Quittek
                                                                     NEC
                                                              March 2009


              Architecture for IP Flow Information Export

Status of This Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

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Abstract

   This memo defines the IP Flow Information eXport (IPFIX) architecture
   for the selective monitoring of IP Flows, and for the export of
   measured IP Flow information from an IPFIX Device to a Collector.




Sadasivan, et al.            Informational                      [Page 1]

RFC 5470                   IPFIX Architecture                 March 2009


Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................3
      1.1. Document Scope .............................................3
      1.2. IPFIX Documents Overview ...................................3
   2. Terminology .....................................................4
   3. Examples of Flows ...............................................8
   4. IPFIX Reference Model ..........................................10
   5. IPFIX Functional and Logical Blocks ............................12
      5.1. Metering Process ..........................................12
           5.1.1. Flow Expiration ....................................12
           5.1.2. Flow Export ........................................13
      5.2. Observation Point .........................................13
      5.3. Selection Criteria for Packets ............................13
           5.3.1. Sampling Functions, Si .............................14
           5.3.2. Filter Functions, Fi ...............................15
      5.4. Observation Domain ........................................15
      5.5. Exporting Process .........................................15
      5.6. Collecting Process ........................................16
      5.7. Summary ...................................................17
   6. Overview of the IPFIX Protocol .................................18
      6.1. Information Model Overview ................................