Distributed Grand Master Time Synchronization for Network Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large networks face challenges in maintaining synchronized time across all devices due to reliance on a single master time keeper, leading to potential delays and inaccuracies in latency and throughput measurements, especially in high-performance and high-reliability networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple grand masters that provide network time simultaneously, allowing client devices to synchronize with multiple time sources and determine a single, official network time, thereby reducing the impact of single point failures and averaging out network latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single master time keeper is used to synchronize time across the network, then the time synchronization structure is simple, but delays and inaccuracies occur in latency and throughput measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The network is divided into multiple domains, each with its own grand master clock. This segmentation allows time synchronization to occur independently in each domain, reducing the impact of network latency on time measurement accuracy while maintaining a manageable structure through hierarchical organization of multiple clocks rather than a single centralized clock
2Measurement precision
If multiple grand masters are implemented to improve time synchronization accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple grand masters are deployed in different network domains, segmenting the time synchronization function across multiple independent sources. Each grand master serves its local domain, providing accurate time references without requiring all devices to synchronize with a single centralized clock, thus improving precision while managing complexity through distribution
Solution Approach 2:
Each grand master provides locally optimized time synchronization for its specific network domain. By placing time reference sources throughout the network rather than relying on a distant central clock, the system achieves better local measurement precision while the modular domain-based structure prevents overall system complexity from becoming unmanageable
3Reliability
If a single master time keeper is used, then the system is easier to manage, but reliability decreases due to single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple grand masters are deployed in advance across different network domains as redundant time sources. If one grand master fails or becomes unreachable, other grand masters continue to provide time synchronization services, cushioning against the failure and maintaining system reliability without requiring complex real-time failover management
4Reliability
If multiple grand masters are used to eliminate single point of failure, then reliability improves, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The network is divided into independent domains, each with its own grand master. This segmentation isolates failures to specific domains, preventing them from affecting the entire network. Each domain can be managed and configured independently, simplifying operational management compared to a single centralized clock that would require managing all failures from one point
Data Source
AI summary
In various implementations, provided are techniques for distributing network time across a network using multiple grand masters (e.g., master time keepers). These techniques include having multiple grand masters simultaneously providing time to the network. Simultaneous means that all the grand masters are active at the same time, and none are designated as backups. In various implementations, the nodes in the network can simultaneously synchronize to network times provided by more than grand masters so that the nodes can obtain more than one network time. Using these multiple network times, nodes configured as clients can determine one network time. The client devices can then use the single network time in applications that require a time.