Providing timing information from a network via a virtual network address

Abstract

A network device may receive, from a timing source of a network, timing information. The network device may identify a client device to which the timing information is to be provided, wherein the network device provides an interface between the client device and the network. The network device may select a virtual network address to associate with a timing agent of the network device, wherein the virtual network address is within an address range that is reachable by the client device. The network device may provide to the client device, and via a network layer communication, a timing control packet comprising the timing information, wherein the timing control packet identifies the virtual network address as a source network address of the timing control packet, and wherein the timing information is to be used by the client device to update a clock of the client device.