Abstract: There is described a Precision Time Protocol (“PTP”) transparent clock for inter-VLAN forwarding comprising a Layer 2 switch and a PTP module. The switch includes a first port associated with a first VLAN and a second port associated with a second VLAN. The switch detects a PTP frame at the first port and the PTP module receives the PTP frame. The switch forwards the PTP frame to the second port in response to the PTP module determining that the PTP frame is a forwardable frame. For another embodiment, the switch includes a ternary content-addressable memory (“TCAM”), and the PTP module configures the TCAM to include forwarding rules. The Layer 2 switch forwards the PTP frame to the second port in response to identifying a particular forwarding rule associated with forwarding the PTP frame.

Abstract: There is described a Precision Time Protocol (“PTP”) transparent clock for inter-VLAN forwarding comprising a Layer 2 switch and a PTP module. The switch includes a first port associated with a first VLAN and a second port associated with a second VLAN. The switch detects a PTP frame at the first port and the PTP module receives the PTP frame. The switch forwards the PTP frame to the second port in response to the PTP module determining that the PTP frame is a forwardable frame. For another embodiment, the switch includes a ternary content-addressable memory (“TCAM”), and the PTP module configures the TCAM to include forwarding rules. The Layer 2 switch forwards the PTP frame to the second port in response to identifying a particular forwarding rule associated with forwarding the PTP frame.

Abstract: There is described a system and method for configuring multiple PTP ports of a network device comprising an input component and a processor. A PTP port group, associated with a subset of PTP ports of the network device and with a PTP region, is identified. A PTP parameter set corresponding to the PTP port group is received and applied to each port of the subset of PTP ports associated with the PTP port group. A time exchange is performed for PTP capable devices within the PTP region. There is also described a PTP network device comprising a first transparent clock, a second transparent clock, and a boundary clock. The first transparent clock performs time exchange within the first PTP region. The second transparent clock performs time exchange within the second PTP region. The boundary clock performs time exchange between the first and second PTP regions.