Utilizing flexible recognition of PTP frames allows for detecting and reporting reception of PTP frames and extensibility for future protocol changes and updates including IPV6 support. The external signal interfaces include two trigger input signals, two alarm output signals, three phase-aligned programmable timer output pulse signals (PPS), and a phase aligned output clock. These clocks are defined by a Best Master Clock (BMC) algorithm in which each clock in a distributed system identifies the most accurate clock and labels it ‘master’. All other ‘slave’ clocks synchronize to this master using time stamps.