Clock Synchronization In A Server With Bonded Network Interface Cards

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to perform steps comprising:

• performing packet transmission and reception, by a server comprising a plurality of NICs, each NIC including a NIC clock;
• selecting a NIC clock of a first NIC from the plurality of NICs of the server as a primary clock and each NIC clock from remaining NICs of the plurality of NICs as a follower clock;
• synchronizing NIC clocks of the plurality of NICS, comprising, for each follower clock:
• performing one or more offset measurements of the follower clock with respect to the primary clock,
• determining time offset and frequency drift between the follower clock and the primary clock based on the one or more offset measurements, and
• synchronizing the follower clock with the primary clock by applying correction signals to the follower clock based on the time offset and frequency drift;
• and
• responsive to synchronizing NIC clocks of the plurality of NICS of the server, determining timestamps for packet transmission and reception for each of the plurality of NICs based on the NIC clocks of the plurality of NICs, wherein each follower NIC clock is synchronized with the primary clock.

A computer system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to perform steps comprising:
• performing packet transmission and reception, by a server comprising a plurality of NICs, each NIC including a NIC clock;
• selecting a NIC clock of a first NIC from the plurality of NICs of the server as a primary clock and each NIC clock from remaining NICs of the plurality of NICs as a follower clock;
• synchronizing NIC clocks of the plurality of NICS, comprising, for each follower clock:
• performing one or more offset measurements of the follower clock with respect to the primary clock,
• determining time offset and frequency drift between the follower clock and the primary clock based on the one or more offset measurements, and
• synchronizing the follower clock with the primary clock by applying correction signals to the follower clock based on the time offset and frequency drift;
• and
• responsive to synchronizing NIC clocks of the plurality of NICS of the server, determining timestamps for packet transmission and reception for each of the plurality of NICs based on the NIC clocks of the plurality of NICs, wherein each follower NIC clock is synchronized with the primary clock.