Time-aligning device trace data

Abstract

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a tracing system including a tracing tool connected to a set of target devices. Each target device includes a local clock, a first counter, a second counter, a network port, a set of one or more system resources that perform operations, and a trace unit. The network port generates a timing signal from the received network-synchronizing timing frames. The trace unit advances the second counter and resets the first counter based on the timing signal. The trace unit generates local trace records having a timestamp based on the first counter, a corresponding system resource, and a corresponding operation, and provides them to the network port for forwarding to the tracing tool. The tracing tool receives the local trace records from target devices of the set of target devices, and generates a global set of trace records ordered by corresponding timestamps.