Abstract: Disclosed is a method, and apparatus implementing that method, for synchronizing and managing the "system clocks" maintained by each of a number of processor units forming a multiprocessor system. Based on an averaging technique, the method includes creating a synchronization message by an originator processor unit and routing that message to other of the processor units to obtain clock values representative of each of the system clocks of each processor unit. The average clock value is then determined and that average clock value then rerouted to each of the processor units to permit them to update, if necessary, their individual system clocks to the average of all. The method further includes determining the transit times encountered by the various messages so that each processor unit can adjust the average clock value it will use to update or synchronize its system clock to account for such transit times.