Synchronizing multiple time stamps distributed within a computer system with main time of day register

摘要

A method and computer system synchronize timing registers located throughout the computer system so that trace data from various sources in the system can be coordinated in time. This invention solves the problem when the multiple time stamp registers are loosely synchronized by relatively slow common timing pulses, but the phase relationship of the multiple time stamps to the common timing pulses is unknown to the firmware. By adding hardware to measure this phase relationship, the firmware can access this phase information to coordinate the time stamp information.