Asynchronous start for timed functions

Asynchronous event-based start of input/output operations is implemented in a distributed system. Within the distributed system, each master device-of a plurality of master devices coupled to a respective plurality of slave devices via an internal network-may implement one or more timed-functions configured to control timing of physical input operations and/or physical output operations for the respective plurality of slave devices, and streams between the master device and the respective plurality of slave devices. A subset of the slave devices may be further interconnected via a shared signal-based bus, which may be used to propagate an asynchronous event that may be used to start at least one of the one or more timed functions implemented on a master device coupled to at least one slave device of the subset of slave devices. The asynchronous event may be generated by one of the slave devices.