Abstract: A data processing system includes: a plurality of resources including a processor, a memory, and an operating system; a mechanism for generating one or more software partitions in addition to an administrative partition; and a global accounting engine which enables monitoring and recording of resource usage at both a global-level and a partition-level. Partition-level accounting data is returned for selected resources being utilized within a software partition. The data processing system also includes a first software partition, which utilizes one or more of the first plurality of resources and which includes a first partition-level accounting engine. The partition-level accounting engine provides monitoring and recording of resource usage within the first software partition and stores first partition usage data within a first partition accounting buffer.