A NOVEL SIMULATOR FOR CLOCK SYNCHRONIZED DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS

Although clock synchronization in packet-oriented networks is beneficial for distributed real-time systems only the behaviour of the used algorithms in static cases and idealised environments are well documented. Due to the great complexity in larger networks and the interrelation of hardware, software, and synchronization algorithms, transient states (e. g., start-up, loss of a node or new network topology) cannot be analysed using analytical methods. The present paper proposes a network simulation environment which allows to gain new knowledge about the synchonization behaviour in non-static real-world cases. Further, the simulator will give insights into the importance of the influence on the accuracy of the different network layers. Consequently the critical elements in time synchronized distributed systems should be identifiable.