[PATCH v6 0/8] ptp: IEEE 1588 hardware clock support

[Alan Cox]

> There is no other scalable time source available for fast timer access
> than the time stamp counter in the cpu. Other time source require
> memory accesses which is inherently slower.

On what hardware ?

> An accurate other time source is used to adjust this clock. NTP does that
> via the clock interfaces from user space which has its problems with
> accuracy. PTP can provide the network synced time access
> that would a more accurate calibration of the time.

Accuracy does not require speed of access. Accuracy requires predictible
latency of access.

> Userland code would introduce latencies that would make sub microsecond
> time sync very difficult.

You can take a multiple micro-second I/O stall or SMI trap on a PC so you
already lost the battle on the platform you seem to be discussing.

> You dont need the user APIs if you directly use the PTP time source to
> steer the system clock. In fact I think you have to do it in kernel space
> since user space latencies will degrade accuracy otherwise.

PTP is not a 'time source' it is one or more source of time. The
distinction is rather important.

> It implies clock tuning in userspace for a potential sub microsecond
> accurate clock. The clock accuracy will be limited by user space
> latencies and noise. You wont be able to discipline the system clock
> accurately.

Noise matters, latency doesn't. And the kernel is getting more and more
real time support all the time.