A method for time synchronization of a multi-protocol interconnect, comprising: performing a time sync packet exchange between a first port of a first switch and a second port of a second switch , including timestamping time sync packets with a first local time of the first switch , wherein the second switch timestamps time sync packets with a second local time of the second switch , wherein the second switch is designated as a time sync master for the first switch in a time sync hierarchy, and the first switch is a time sync slave with respect to the second switch in the time sync hierarchy, wherein the time sync packet exchange comprises: transmitting a first time sync packet from the first port to the second port at a first timestamp of the first port wherein the first time sync packet from the first port is received at a second timestamp of the second port ; receiving a second time sync packet at the first port wherein the second time sync packet is sent at a third timestamp of the second port and wherein the second time sync packet is received at a fourth timestamp of the first port , and receiving at the first port of the first switch a follow up packet from the second port comprising the second and third timestamps of the second port ; and measuring a time offset value at the first switch between the second local time and the first local time based on the time sync packet exchange ; and adjusting the first local time by the time offset value to synchronize the first local time to the second local time. performing a time sync packet exchange between a first port of a first switch and a second port of a second switch , including timestamping time sync packets with a first local time of the first switch , wherein the second switch timestamps time sync packets with a second local time of the second switch , wherein the second switch is designated as a time sync master for the first switch in a time sync hierarchy, and the first switch is a time sync slave with respect to the second switch in the time sync hierarchy, wherein the time sync packet exchange comprises: transmitting a first time sync packet from the first port to the second port at a first timestamp of the first port wherein the first time sync packet from the first port is received at a second timestamp of the second port ; receiving a second time sync packet at the first port wherein the second time sync packet is sent at a third timestamp of the second port and wherein the second time sync packet is received at a fourth timestamp of the first port , and receiving at the first port of the first switch a follow up packet from the second port comprising the second and third timestamps of the second port ; and measuring a time offset value at the first switch between the second local time and the first local time based on the time sync packet exchange ; and adjusting the first local time by the time offset value to synchronize the first local time to the second local time. transmitting a first time sync packet from the first port to the second port at a first timestamp of the first port wherein the first time sync packet from the first port is received at a second timestamp of the second port ; receiving a second time sync packet at the first port wherein the second time sync packet is sent at a third timestamp of the second port and wherein the second time sync packet is received at a fourth timestamp of the first port , and receiving at the first port of the first switch a follow up packet from the second port comprising the second and third timestamps of the second port ; and measuring a time offset value at the first switch between the second local time and the first local time based on the time sync packet exchange ; and adjusting the first local time by the time offset value to synchronize the first local time to the second local time. <EOS>