Accounting and power cycles.

Christopher Oliver (oliver@fritz.co.traverse.com)
Tue, 14 Nov 1995 20:13:48 -0500 (EST)

I'm working on a new Radius daemon, and as I read and reread the
accounting draft, the following scene keeps slapping me in the face.

a) Customer with a pay-by-hour account signs on.

b) Radacct starts an invoice for the customer session.

c) PortMaster freezes for some reason. (All non-trivial systems
contain bugs after all.)

d) Shop lacky power-cycles PM.

e) Invoice is never brought to a close and session billing skyrockets.

f) Customer notices billing discrepancy, and hauls said dude to
court. Alternatively, long sessions are written off for several
customers, and ISP loses significant revenue.

Is it just me, or do people think the PM should send some unforgeable
message on each power cycle. I have suggested a protocol, however I
never received a reply from Livingston. What is the appropriate manner
for suggesting additiond to the RADIUS Accounting draft?

Sincerely,

-- 
Christopher Oliver                     Traverse Communications
Systems Coordinator                    223 Grandview Pkwy, Suite 108
oliver@traverse.com                    Traverse City, Michigan, 49684
'tis an ill wind that blows no minds.