1. A method of abstracting multiple embedded counters from a number of network devices for use in a network monitoring application comprising: initializing a metacounter for network devices for categories of metacounts; per metacounter, initializing a constituent counter for applicable embedded counters within the respective network device, wherein said constituent counters comprise a constituent value; updating said constituent value for said constituent counters; and obtaining a total value corresponding to the metacounters based on the constituent values of respective constituent counters, wherein said total value is used by said network monitoring application.