[freeside] mediation + freeside

[Lal, Deepak (Contractor)]

Thanks for the comments Ivan. A few notes: 

>I'd prefer querying the raw (Netflow, LFAP, whatever) data source and
>dumping to the database in real-time rather than using intermediate
>batch text processing tools

The problem is that LFAP/NetFlow cannot be queried. The LFAP packets are sent
from the device to a LFAP "listener" in regular intervals. 

Another issue is that LFAP protocol specifies two different PDU's - one
containing flow information (ID, Source, Destination, port, etc.) and other
containing the data (octets in, octets out, etc.) 

This automatically implies that correlation needs to be done to align data from
these two PDU's. This in turn excludes a real-time dumping to the db. 

Probably using an external data source would be easier - Modifying the existing
schema might lead to other unnecessary problems.

Deepak



-----Original Message-----
From: ivan at 420.am [mailto:ivan at 420.am] 
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 11:35 AM
To: ivan-freeside at sisd.com
Subject: Re: [freeside] mediation + freeside

On Thu, Jul 24, 2003 at 11:16:52AM -0400, Lal, Deepak (Contractor) wrote:
> I would not mind contributing if I could get some information and advice:
> 
> 1) How does Freeside do the billing now ?

Using a configurable billing expression.  See "View/Edit package
definitions" in the web interface and FS::part_pkg

> Is it based on Radius accounting records only ?

That's one way to bill on metered data currently (another would be the
session monitor).  I wouldn't want to shoehorn things like Netflow or
LFAP data into RADIUS accounting records if it wasn't a good fit.

> 2) If I already have the mediation done for Netflow or LFAP data and
> the data is available in some form (text file), what would the
> "hooks" be for integration with freeside?

Create new table(s) to hold the data.  Arrange to import the accounting
Create a billing expression and any necessary query methods to bill on
this data. data.

I'd prefer querying the raw (Netflow, LFAP, whatever) data source and
dumping to the database in real-time rather than using intermediate
batch text processing tools.

Alternatively, use an external accounting data source (like the current
SQL RADIUS support) and just write methods to query it and an
appropriate billing expression.

> 3) Would correlating IP addresses with Subscribers and then pushing the
> bandwidth/app utilization for each subscriber to the database suffice ?

That would be one part of the necessary work, but not the
only or sufficient one.

> 4) If yes to 3), would I need to define new tables or alter the
> current schema ?

Using an internal accounting data store, schema changes would be
necessary.

Using an external accounting data store, schema changes would probably
not be necessary.

In either case, you'd want to work from CVS HEAD for a development
project of this scope.

Good luck.

--
_ivan


> 
> Any pointers would be helpful.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Deepak 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ivan at 420.am [mailto:ivan at 420.am] 
> Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 11:07 AM
> To: ivan-freeside at sisd.com
> Subject: Re: [freeside] mediation + freeside
> 
> Freeside does not yet support billing on netflow or LFAP data.
> Contribute or sponsor work in this area if it is important to you.
> 
> --
> _ivan
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jul 24, 2003 at 10:45:13AM -0400, Lal, Deepak (Contractor) wrote:
> > I am trying to see if I can use freeside to bill users in an environment
where
> > we are using Riverstone routers. I am collecting flow accounting information
> > using open source mediation programs mica and basalt. Basalt gives me a text
> > file (comma separated) that has the information for IP
addresses/port/packets
> in
> > and out/etc.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > How does Freeside interface with this file ?  Is the source for billing
> > information in Freeside a Radius server's accounting records? Does Freeside
> come
> > with some process that can read text files? If I need to pull the
information
> > from the text file, where do I have to write this information (Tables in
> > database) so that freeside can do the billing.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Thanks
> > 
> > 
> > Deepak 
> > 
> 
> -- 
> _ivan

-- 
_ivan