Performance logging using relative differentials and skip recording

An apparatus for recording values of monitored counters, the apparatus comprising:

• a storage for storing a record of values over a time period for a counter representing information related to network traffic;
• a timer;
• a counter monitor for monitoring a value of the counter, the counter monitor obtaining at a first timestamp of the timer a first reading of the value of the counter, and at a second timestamp of the timer subsequent to the first timestamp, a second reading of the value of the counter;
• the counter monitor storing the value of the first reading in association with the first timestamp to the storage;
• a comparator for comparing the first reading of the value of the counter to the second reading of the value of the counter, and if the value of the counter is unchanged, storing by the counter monitor the second timestamp of the timer to the storage unit without storing the value of the counter at the second reading, such that the stored second timestamp has no corresponding counter value in the record of counter values over the time period.

A method of monitoring network traffic, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining, by a counter monitor at a first timestamp of a timer of the counter monitor, a first reading of a value of a counter representing information related to network traffic;
• (b) storing to a storage unit, by the counter monitor, the value of the first reading with the first timestamp of the timer to a list of entries, the list of entries providing a record of timestamps of the timer and corresponding counter values over a time period;
• (c) obtaining, by the counter monitor, at a subsequent timestamp of the timer, a second reading of the value of the counter;
• (d) comparing the value of the counter at the second reading to the value of the counter at the first reading;
• and
• (e) if the value of the counter is unchanged, storing the subsequent timestamp of the timer to the list of entries without storing the value of the counter at the second reading, such that the subsequent timestamp in the list of entries has no corresponding counter value in the list of entries.