Time synchronization for network testing equipment

A method comprising:

• transmitting, by a routing device and to a network probe device, a Sync message at a first time;
• recording, by the routing device and based on transmitting the Sync message, a first time value associated with the first time,
• the network probe device receiving the Sync message at a second time associated with a second time value;
• receiving, by the routing device and from the network probe device, a Delay request message,
• the network probe device transmitting the Delay request message at a third time associated with a third time value, and
• the Delay request message being received at a fourth time;
• recording, by the routing device and based on receiving the Delay request message, a fourth time value associated with the fourth time;
• transmitting, by the routing device and to the network probe device, a Follow up Delay response message,
• the Follow up Delay response message including the first time value and the fourth time value,
• the network probe device computing, based on the first time value, the second time value, the third time value, and the fourth time value, an offset time value that is used to synchronize the routing device and the network probe device, and
• at least one of the Sync message, the Delay request message, or the Follow up Delay response message being encrypted;
• receiving, by the routing device, the offset time value from the network probe device;
• and
• outputting, by the routing device, the offset time value in association with a network location identifier for the network probe device.

A network probe device comprising:

• a memory to store instructions;
• and
• a processor to execute the instructions to:
• receive, from a routing device, a Sync message,
• the Sync message being transmitted at a first time associated with a first time value
• the Sync message being received at a second time;
• record, based on receiving the Sync message, a second time value associated with the second time;
• transmit, to the routing device, a Delay request message at a third time,
• the Delay request message being received by the routing device at a fourth time associated with a fourth time value;
• record, based on transmitting the Delay request message, a third time value associated with the third time;
• receive, from the routing device, a Follow up Delay response message,
• the Follow up Delay response message including the first time value and the fourth time value;
• compute, based on the first time value, the second time value, the third time value, and the fourth time value, an offset time value that is used to synchronize the routing device and the network probe device,
• at least one of the Sync message, the Delay request message, or the Follow up Delay response message being encrypted;
• and
• transmit the offset time value to the routing device,
• the routing device outputting the offset time value in association with a network location identifier for the network probe device.