Precision Time Protocol (PTP) allows for much tighter clock synchronization than NTP, which is essential for distributed sensor networks. However, getting PTP to work reliably on Raspberry Pi requires specific configuration.
We dive deep into:
- Hardware timestamping capabilities of the Pi's ethernet controller
- Configuring linuxptp for optimal performance
- Measuring synchronization accuracy with an oscilloscope
With the right settings, we can keep clocks synchronized within a few microseconds across the network.