> # Accounting Services

> Accounting refers to the log information that is kept for each management session in a switch. This information may be used to generate reports for troubleshooting and auditing purposes. Accounting can be implemented locally or remotely (using RADIUS). The default maximum size of the accounting log is 250,000 bytes and cannot be changed.

> Tip The Cisco MDS 9000 Family switch uses interim-update RADIUS accounting-request packets to communicate accounting log information to the RADIUS server. The RADIUS server must be appropriately configured to log the information communicated in these packets. Several servers typically have log update/watchdog packets flags in the AAA client configuration. Turn on this flag to ensure proper RADIUS accounting.

> Note Configuration operations are automatically recorded in the accounting log if they are performed in configuration mode. Additionally, important system events (for example, configuration save and system switchover) are also recorded in the accounting log.

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