An embodiment is directed towards a method of abstracting multiple embedded counters from a number of network devices for use in a network monitoring application. The method includes initializing a metacounter for network devices for categories of metacounts. The method further includes, per metacounter, initializing a constituent counter for applicable embedded counters within the respective network device. The constituent counter includes a constituent value. The method further includes updating the constituent value for the constituent counters. The method further includes obtaining a total value corresponding to the metacounters based on the constituent values of respective constituent counters, wherein said total value is used by the network monitoring application.