⏱️

PTP: Precision Time Protocol

Medium

Free preview · 2 of 5 steps

When millisecond isn't enough

NTP synchronizes clocks to within 1-100 milliseconds — fine for log timestamps but catastrophic for 5G radio timing (requires ±100ns), high-frequency trading (MiFID II requires ±100μs), and power grid protection (requires <1μs).

PTP (Precision Time Protocol, IEEE 1588) achieves nanosecond accuracy by combining hardware timestamping at the network interface with a 4-timestamp exchange that measures and cancels network delay.

Packets in motion — click to inspect:

1 / 2

Space to play/pause · ← → to step