1. A method of obtaining performance measurements via metamodels and metadata streamed from multiple types, models, and firmware versions of network devices connected to a network, comprising installing a generic collection agent on a server connected to said network, retrieving said metamodels from said network devices by said collection agent, storing said metamodels in a collection of metamodels on said server to be accessed by said collection agent, streaming said performance measurements as metadata defined by said metamodels from said network devices to said collection agent, and analyzing and storing said performance measurements by said collection agent for later use.