In an example embodiment, an apparatus comprising a physical layer processing device that comprises logic configured to process a packet received from a physical layer interface is disclosed. The physical layer processing device logic is further configured to determine a preamble portion of the packet and a data portion of the packet. The physical layer processing device logic is further configured to insert a timestamp into the preamble portion of the packet. The physical layer processing device logic forwards the packet with the timestamp inserted into the preamble.