Abstract: The present invention provides a framework for metering, monitoring, measuring, analyzing and reporting on network traffic data. The framework of the present invention is comprised of multiple synchronized components that each contribute highly specialized functionality to the framework as a whole. In certain configurations, the present invention includes two types of metering/measuring components, referred to as Instrumentation Access Points (IAPs). The first metering/measuring component is a terminal IAP, referred to as Node Workstation and Node Server. The second metering/measuring component is an edge IAP, referred to as Probe. Probe monitors all traffic that traverses the network segment upon which it is installed, while Node is limited to the traffic specific to the particular host (i.e., workstation or server). The IAPs communicate their data to monitoring, analysis, and reporting software modules that rely upon and reside in another component referred to as Diagnostic Server.