Method and system for network time protocol forwarding

A machine-readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions executable by a processor embodied therein, wherein said plurality of instructions when executed cause said processor to perform a method comprising:

• receiving from a first network time protocol time server time data representing a primary reference time source on said first network time protocol time server utilizing a first network-layer protocol, wherein said receiving is performed by a second server comprising said processor and said method further comprises receiving a time data request network time protocol message from a network time protocol time client,
• generating a proxy time data request network time protocol message in response to receiving said time data request network time protocol message from said network time protocol time client,
• transmitting said proxy time data request network time protocol message to said first network time protocol time server, and
• receiving a time data reply network time protocol message including said time data from said first network time protocol time server in response to transmitting said proxy time data request network time protocol message to said first network time protocol time server;
• and
• transmitting said received time data representing said primary reference time source on said first network time protocol time server to a network time protocol time client utilizing a second network-layer protocol, wherein said transmitting is performed by the second server, and
• said first and second network-layer protocols are different network-layer protocols.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving from a first network time protocol time server time data
• representing a primary reference time source on said first network time protocol time server utilizing a first network-layer protocol, wherein a second server comprises said means for receiving, and said means for receiving further comprises
• means for receiving a time data request network time protocol message from said network time protocol time client,
• means for generating a proxy, time data request network time protocol message in response to a receipt of said time data request network time protocol message from a network time protocol time client,
• means for transmitting said proxy time data request network time protocol message to said first network time protocol time server,
• means for receiving a time data reply network time protocol message including said time data from said first network time protocol time server in response to a transmission of said proxy time data request network time protocol message to said first network time protocol time server;
• and
• means for transmitting said received time data representing said primary reference time source on said first network time protocol time server to said network time protocol time client utilizing a second network-layer protocol, wherein said second server further comprises said means for transmitting, and said first and second network-layer protocols are different network-layer protocols.

A time server comprising:

• a memory comprising:
• a first network time protocol association to receive from a network time protocol time server time data representing a primary reference time source on said network time protocol time server utilizing a first network-layer protocol, wherein said first network time protocol association is further configured to
• receive a time data request network time protocol message from said network time protocol time client,
• generate a proxy time data request network time protocol message in response to a receipt of said time data request network time protocol message from said network time protocol time client, transmit said proxy time data request network time protocol message to said network time protocol time server, and
• receive a time data reply network time protocol message including said time data from said network time protocol time server in response to a transmission of said proxy time data request network time protocol message to said network time protocol time server;
• and
• a second network time protocol association, coupled with said first network time protocol association, to transmit said received time data representing said primary reference time source on said network time protocol time server to said network time protocol time client utilizing a second network-layer protocol, wherein
• said first and second network-layer protocols are different protocols.