PTP: Timing accuracy and precision for the future of computing

What this post added

This post details Meta's deployment of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) to achieve nanosecond-level timing accuracy and precision across its networks and data centers. It explains the limitations of NTP for large-scale systems and highlights PTP's advantages in accuracy and precision. The post also describes the engineering challenges in migrating from NTP to PTP, including the development of custom hardware like the Time Appliance and Time Card, and the open-sourcing of these solutions through the Open Compute Project. The benefits of PTP for current products (messaging, gaming, video conferencing) and future technologies (metaverse, AI synchronization) are discussed.