High Resolution Timer

The High Resolution Timer provides access to a fine-grained counter source for applications. This counter is used for functions such as fine-grained ordering of events in a network node, measurements of short segments of code and fault-detection mechanisms between network nodes. The high resolution timer has a resolution better than or equal to one micro-second, and does not roll over more frequently than once per day.

The High Resolution Timer API is available from both the user and microkernel execution context. Performance of read access to the timer is relative to memory speed, even if the access is made from a user execution context. This API is supported on the PowerPC 60x and UltraSPARC architectures.