Re: unsigned/64bit counters?

On 12/27/06, Henrik Nordstrom <henrik@henriknordstrom.net> wrote:
> ons 2006-12-27 klockan 16:20 -0300 skrev Gonzalo Arana:
>
> > I've come across select_loop counter wrap (currently it is an 'int' variable).
>
> which for most things isn't a problem.. counters do wrap. It's a problem
> when gauges wraps, but not really a problem when counters wrap unless
> something reads the counter as an absolute value since startup and not a
> counter..

Having negative values for a counter does not seem right to me.

> > Shouldn't counters be at least unsigned?
>
> Most isn't..
>
> > Does anyone disagree with having 64 bit unsigned counters? The
> > drawbacks I see are:
> > 1) 3rd party utility that parse cache manager information must support
> > 64 bit unsigned values
> > 2) and that snmp mibs should be changed accordingly.
>
> What would the real use benefits be of changing the MIB?

Consistency between SNMP and cache manager.

> I'm fine with making the counter a long internally if that helps, but I
> just don't see the point of making it a 64-bit SNMP counter.

It was just a thought anyway.

Regards,

-- 
Gonzalo A. Arana