System and method for global synchronization of time in a distributed processing environment

A system and method employing a precisely synchronized time in connection with a distributed hardware architecture are disclosed. Using an independent and trusted time signal and a second transition pulse signal, each resource in the distributed hardware architecture may be synchronized precisely to the same absolute time. Methods are disclosed wherein the using the precision oscillator signal comprises utilizing a local oscillator to produce a local clock signal at the local system clock frequency. In some implementations, the identifying a trusted time signal and a pulse per second signal comprises identifying a satellite signal; such as a global positioning system signal.