TSCclock
This page provides essential information for discovering, downloading and installing the TSCclock. For further information, troubleshooting and time-keeping information, please visit the documentation page.
Table of Contents
Why a TSCclock?
The TSCclock is an alternative to the ntpd daemon to provide synchronisation and time information for systems running FreeBSD, Linux and soon Mac OSX.
The TSCclock provides:
- An accurate and robust clock that can be used for absolute or difference time measurement.
- Enhanced low level time-stamping of network packets.
- An API giving access to these two main functionalities.
- An Internet connectivity because it is synchronised over the network.
- A reference clock (stratum-1 preferred) "nearby". The closer reference clock, the more accurate TSCclock.
- The Kernel mode.
- It requires a TSCclock patched kernel.
- It provides Kernel level accuracy.
- It allows high precision packet timestamping based on the TSCclock.
- The User-Friendly mode.
- It DOES NOT require a TSCclock patched kernel.
- It provides high accuracy in userland.
- It DOES NOT allow packet timestamping based on the TSCclock.
Platforms and supported systems
Supported systems
The TSC clock is expected to run smoothly on wide range of FreeBSD versions and Linux systems. Especially it is expected to run on major versions of kernels for both Linux and FreeBSD. Please have a look at the table below to see if your system/distribution is supported.
If you have successful experience with a configuration not listed below, please report it to us.
| Kernel/OS version | TSCclock version | Tested | Supported | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreeBSD | 5.3 | 0.0.4 | Yes | Yes |
| 6.1 | 0.0.4 | Yes | Yes | |
| Ubuntu | 2.6.17 (6.04 Dapper Drake) | 0.0.4 | Yes | Yes |
| 2.6.18 (6.10 Edgy Eft) | 0.0.4 | Yes | Yes | |
| 2.6.20 (7.04 Feisty Fawn) | 0.0.4 | Yes | Yes | |
| Fedora | 2.6.17 (FC6) | 0.0.4 | Yes | Yes |
| 2.6.18 (FC6) | 0.0.4 | Yes | Yes | |
| 2.6.20 (FC6) | 0.0.4 | Yes | Yes | |
| Mac OSX* | 10.4 | 0.0.4 | Yes | Yes |
*Mac OSX currently does not allow to install a Kernel version of the TSCclock. However trace files can be replayed on Mac OSX.
Software Requirements
It may be required you check that some additional libraries are present on your system in order to be able to install and use the TSCclock.
- The LibPcap library
Libpcap provides functions to access to capture drivers and is required by the TSC clock. Version 0.8.3 or later is required. - Autoconf and automake
The TSC-clock is distributed with a configure file. But in case you encounter installation problems, this may be useful. Look at the troubleshooting section for more information.
Get the latest version of the software
The latest version of the TSCclock contains:
- The kernel patches for all supported versions
- The tscclock and tscpcap libraries to write your own applications using the TSCclock
- The TSCclock daemon
Get the latest version of the TSCclock here.
Please have a look at the installation
page or troubleshooting to install or
upgrade your TSCclock.