A first device generates a first capability model instance based on a capability model template, and sends the first capability model instance to a network management device. The capability model template includes one or more metric names. The first capability model instance includes one or more performance parameters that can be subscribed to by the first device, and the one or more performance parameters are parameters corresponding to one or more metric names. The first capability model instance is used by the network management device to select and subscribe to one or more performance parameters from the one or more performance parameters that can be subscribed to by the first device.