diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/HybridLogicalClockService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/HybridLogicalClockService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57102b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/HybridLogicalClockService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.core;
+
+import org.onosproject.store.service.WallClockTimestamp;
+
+/**
+ * The <a href="http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/tech-reports/2014-04.pdf">hybrid logical time</a> keeper service.
+ */
+public interface HybridLogicalClockService {
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the current hybrid logical time.
+     * @return current hybrid logical time
+     */
+    HybridLogicalTime timeNow();
+
+    /**
+     * Records a (receive) event and accordingly makes adjustments to the hybrid logical time.
+     * @param time received event time
+     */
+    void recordEventTime(HybridLogicalTime time);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the current time derived from the hybrid logical time.
+     * @return current system time
+     */
+    default long now() {
+        return timeNow().time();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the current time as a {@code WallClockTimestamp}.
+     * @return wall clock timestamp
+     */
+    default WallClockTimestamp wallClockTimestamp() {
+        return new WallClockTimestamp(now());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/HybridLogicalTime.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/HybridLogicalTime.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..154ea73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/HybridLogicalTime.java
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.core;
+
+import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
+
+/**
+ * Time provided by a Hybrid Logical Clock described in
+ * this <a href="http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/tech-reports/2014-04.pdf">paper</a>.
+ */
+public class HybridLogicalTime {
+    private final long logicalTime;
+    private final long logicalCounter;
+
+    public HybridLogicalTime(long logicalTime, long logicalCounter) {
+        this.logicalTime = logicalTime;
+        this.logicalCounter = logicalCounter;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the logical time component of a HLT.
+     * @return logical time
+     */
+    public long logicalTime() {
+        return logicalTime;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the logical counter component of a HLT.
+     * @return logical counter
+     */
+    public long logicalCounter() {
+        return logicalCounter;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the real system time represented by this HLT.
+     * @return real system time
+     */
+    public long time() {
+        return (logicalTime >> 16 << 16) | (logicalCounter << 48 >> 48);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return MoreObjects.toStringHelper(getClass())
+                .add("logicalTime", logicalTime)
+                .add("logicalCounter", logicalCounter)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/impl/HybridLogicalClockManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/impl/HybridLogicalClockManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f5f2c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/impl/HybridLogicalClockManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.core.impl;
+
+import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;
+
+import java.util.function.Supplier;
+
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.onosproject.core.HybridLogicalClockService;
+import org.onosproject.core.HybridLogicalTime;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+
+/**
+ * Implementation of {@link HybridLogicalClockService}.
+ * <p>
+ * Implementation is based on HLT <a href="http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/tech-reports/2014-04.pdf">paper</a>.
+ */
+@Component(immediate = true)
+@Service
+public class HybridLogicalClockManager implements HybridLogicalClockService {
+
+    private final Logger log = getLogger(getClass());
+
+    protected Supplier<Long> physicalTimeSource = System::currentTimeMillis;
+
+    private long logicalTime = 0;
+    private long logicalCounter = 0;
+
+    @Activate
+    public void activate() {
+        log.info("Started");
+    }
+
+    @Deactivate
+    public void deactivate() {
+        log.info("Stopped");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public synchronized HybridLogicalTime timeNow() {
+        final long oldLogicalTime = logicalTime;
+        logicalTime = Math.max(oldLogicalTime, physicalTimeSource.get());
+        if (logicalTime == oldLogicalTime) {
+            logicalCounter++;
+        } else {
+            logicalCounter = 0;
+        }
+        return new HybridLogicalTime(logicalTime, logicalCounter);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public synchronized void recordEventTime(HybridLogicalTime eTime) {
+        final long oldLogicalTime = logicalTime;
+        logicalTime = Math.max(oldLogicalTime, Math.max(eTime.logicalTime(), physicalTimeSource.get()));
+        if (logicalTime == oldLogicalTime && oldLogicalTime == eTime.logicalTime()) {
+            logicalCounter = Math.max(logicalCounter, eTime.logicalCounter()) + 1;
+        } else if (logicalTime == oldLogicalTime) {
+            logicalCounter++;
+        } else if (logicalTime == eTime.logicalTime()) {
+            logicalCounter = eTime.logicalCounter() + 1;
+        } else {
+            logicalCounter = 0;
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected long logicalTime() {
+        return logicalTime;
+    }
+
+    protected long logicalCounter() {
+        return logicalCounter;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onosproject/core/impl/HybridLogicalClockManagerTest.java b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onosproject/core/impl/HybridLogicalClockManagerTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..806b417
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onosproject/core/impl/HybridLogicalClockManagerTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.core.impl;
+
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicLong;
+import java.util.function.Supplier;
+
+import org.junit.Assert;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onosproject.core.HybridLogicalTime;
+
+/**
+ * Unit tests for {@link HybridLogicalClockManager}.
+ */
+public class HybridLogicalClockManagerTest {
+
+    @Test
+    public void testLocalEvents() {
+        AtomicLong ticker = new AtomicLong();
+        Supplier<Long> ptSource = ticker::get;
+        HybridLogicalClockManager clockManager = new HybridLogicalClockManager();
+        clockManager.physicalTimeSource = ptSource;
+
+        HybridLogicalTime time1 = clockManager.timeNow();
+        Assert.assertEquals(0, time1.logicalTime());
+        Assert.assertEquals(1, time1.logicalCounter());
+
+        HybridLogicalTime time2 = clockManager.timeNow();
+        Assert.assertEquals(0, time2.logicalTime());
+        Assert.assertEquals(2, time2.logicalCounter());
+
+        ticker.incrementAndGet();
+
+        HybridLogicalTime time3 = clockManager.timeNow();
+        Assert.assertEquals(1, time3.logicalTime());
+        Assert.assertEquals(0, time3.logicalCounter());
+
+        HybridLogicalTime time4 = clockManager.timeNow();
+        Assert.assertEquals(1, time4.logicalTime());
+        Assert.assertEquals(1, time4.logicalCounter());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testReceiveEvents() {
+        AtomicLong ticker = new AtomicLong(1);
+        Supplier<Long> ptSource = ticker::get;
+        HybridLogicalClockManager clockManager = new HybridLogicalClockManager();
+        clockManager.physicalTimeSource = ptSource;
+
+        HybridLogicalTime time1 = clockManager.timeNow();
+        Assert.assertEquals(1, time1.logicalTime());
+        Assert.assertEquals(0, time1.logicalCounter());
+
+        HybridLogicalTime eventTime1 = new HybridLogicalTime(1, 0);
+        clockManager.recordEventTime(eventTime1);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(1, clockManager.logicalTime());
+        Assert.assertEquals(1, clockManager.logicalCounter());
+
+        HybridLogicalTime eventTime2 = new HybridLogicalTime(2, 0);
+        clockManager.recordEventTime(eventTime2);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(2, clockManager.logicalTime());
+        Assert.assertEquals(1, clockManager.logicalCounter());
+
+        HybridLogicalTime eventTime3 = new HybridLogicalTime(2, 2);
+        clockManager.recordEventTime(eventTime3);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(2, clockManager.logicalTime());
+        Assert.assertEquals(3, clockManager.logicalCounter());
+
+        HybridLogicalTime eventTime4 = new HybridLogicalTime(2, 1);
+        clockManager.recordEventTime(eventTime4);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(2, clockManager.logicalTime());
+        Assert.assertEquals(4, clockManager.logicalCounter());
+
+        ticker.set(4);
+
+        HybridLogicalTime eventTime5 = new HybridLogicalTime(3, 0);
+        clockManager.recordEventTime(eventTime5);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(4, clockManager.logicalTime());
+        Assert.assertEquals(0, clockManager.logicalCounter());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/DecoderState.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/DecoderState.java
index e0af5d2..2f2bef1 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/DecoderState.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/DecoderState.java
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
  */
 public enum DecoderState {
     READ_MESSAGE_PREAMBLE,
+    READ_LOGICAL_TIME,
+    READ_LOGICAL_COUNTER,
     READ_MESSAGE_ID,
     READ_SENDER_IP_VERSION,
     READ_SENDER_IP,
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/InternalMessage.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/InternalMessage.java
index a403ada..7e79da0 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/InternalMessage.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/InternalMessage.java
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@
 package org.onosproject.store.cluster.messaging.impl;
 
 import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
+
 import org.onlab.util.ByteArraySizeHashPrinter;
+import org.onosproject.core.HybridLogicalTime;
 import org.onosproject.store.cluster.messaging.Endpoint;
 
 /**
@@ -55,18 +57,31 @@
     }
 
     private final int preamble;
+    private final HybridLogicalTime time;
     private final long id;
     private final Endpoint sender;
     private final String type;
     private final byte[] payload;
     private final Status status;
 
-    public InternalMessage(int preamble, long id, Endpoint sender, String type, byte[] payload) {
-        this(preamble, id, sender, type, payload, Status.OK);
+    public InternalMessage(int preamble,
+                           HybridLogicalTime time,
+                           long id,
+                           Endpoint sender,
+                           String type,
+                           byte[] payload) {
+        this(preamble, time, id, sender, type, payload, Status.OK);
     }
 
-    public InternalMessage(int preamble, long id, Endpoint sender, String type, byte[] payload, Status status) {
+    public InternalMessage(int preamble,
+                           HybridLogicalTime time,
+                           long id,
+                           Endpoint sender,
+                           String type,
+                           byte[] payload,
+                           Status status) {
         this.preamble = preamble;
+        this.time = time;
         this.id = id;
         this.sender = sender;
         this.type = type;
@@ -74,6 +89,10 @@
         this.status = status;
     }
 
+    public HybridLogicalTime time() {
+        return time;
+    }
+
     public int preamble() {
         return preamble;
     }
@@ -101,6 +120,7 @@
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         return MoreObjects.toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("time", time)
                 .add("id", id)
                 .add("type", type)
                 .add("sender", sender)
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/MessageDecoder.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/MessageDecoder.java
index 855fbd9..2c91587 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/MessageDecoder.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/MessageDecoder.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
 import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress.Version;
+import org.onosproject.core.HybridLogicalTime;
 import org.onosproject.store.cluster.messaging.Endpoint;
 import org.onosproject.store.cluster.messaging.impl.InternalMessage.Status;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
@@ -39,6 +40,8 @@
 
     private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
 
+    private long logicalTime;
+    private long logicalCounter;
     private long messageId;
     private int preamble;
     private Version ipVersion;
@@ -63,6 +66,12 @@
         switch (state()) {
         case READ_MESSAGE_PREAMBLE:
             preamble = buffer.readInt();
+            checkpoint(DecoderState.READ_LOGICAL_TIME);
+        case READ_LOGICAL_TIME:
+            logicalTime = buffer.readLong();
+            checkpoint(DecoderState.READ_LOGICAL_COUNTER);
+        case READ_LOGICAL_COUNTER:
+            logicalCounter = buffer.readLong();
             checkpoint(DecoderState.READ_MESSAGE_ID);
         case READ_MESSAGE_ID:
             messageId = buffer.readLong();
@@ -102,6 +111,7 @@
                 payload = new byte[0];
             }
             InternalMessage message = new InternalMessage(preamble,
+                                                          new HybridLogicalTime(logicalTime, logicalCounter),
                                                           messageId,
                                                           new Endpoint(senderIp, senderPort),
                                                           messageType,
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/MessageEncoder.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/MessageEncoder.java
index 3b21a47..4f7bcfd 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/MessageEncoder.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/MessageEncoder.java
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@
 
         out.writeInt(this.preamble);
 
+        // write time
+        out.writeLong(message.time().logicalTime());
+        out.writeLong(message.time().logicalCounter());
+
         // write message id
         out.writeLong(message.id());
 
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/NettyMessagingManager.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/NettyMessagingManager.java
index 710665f..239b43b 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/NettyMessagingManager.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/NettyMessagingManager.java
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 import org.onlab.util.Tools;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterMetadataService;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ControllerNode;
+import org.onosproject.core.HybridLogicalClockService;
 import org.onosproject.store.cluster.messaging.Endpoint;
 import org.onosproject.store.cluster.messaging.MessagingException;
 import org.onosproject.store.cluster.messaging.MessagingService;
@@ -99,6 +100,9 @@
 
     private static final String REPLY_MESSAGE_TYPE = "NETTY_MESSAGING_REQUEST_REPLY";
 
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected HybridLogicalClockService clockService;
+
     private Endpoint localEp;
     private int preamble;
     private final AtomicBoolean started = new AtomicBoolean(false);
@@ -218,6 +222,7 @@
     public CompletableFuture<Void> sendAsync(Endpoint ep, String type, byte[] payload) {
         checkPermission(CLUSTER_WRITE);
         InternalMessage message = new InternalMessage(preamble,
+                                                      clockService.timeNow(),
                                                       messageIdGenerator.incrementAndGet(),
                                                       localEp,
                                                       type,
@@ -264,7 +269,12 @@
         Callback callback = new Callback(response, executor);
         Long messageId = messageIdGenerator.incrementAndGet();
         callbacks.put(messageId, callback);
-        InternalMessage message = new InternalMessage(preamble, messageId, localEp, type, payload);
+        InternalMessage message = new InternalMessage(preamble,
+                                                      clockService.timeNow(),
+                                                      messageId,
+                                                      localEp,
+                                                      type,
+                                                      payload);
         return sendAsync(ep, message).whenComplete((r, e) -> {
             if (e != null) {
                 callbacks.invalidate(messageId);
@@ -502,6 +512,7 @@
             log.debug("Received {} with invalid preamble from {}", message.type(), message.sender());
             sendReply(message, Status.PROTOCOL_EXCEPTION, Optional.empty());
         }
+        clockService.recordEventTime(message.time());
         String type = message.type();
         if (REPLY_MESSAGE_TYPE.equals(type)) {
             try {
@@ -538,6 +549,7 @@
 
     private void sendReply(InternalMessage message, Status status, Optional<byte[]> responsePayload) {
         InternalMessage response = new InternalMessage(preamble,
+                clockService.timeNow(),
                 message.id(),
                 localEp,
                 REPLY_MESSAGE_TYPE,
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/test/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/NettyMessagingManagerTest.java b/core/store/dist/src/test/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/NettyMessagingManagerTest.java
index 118c67a..4913a06 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/test/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/NettyMessagingManagerTest.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/test/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/impl/NettyMessagingManagerTest.java
@@ -21,10 +21,12 @@
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
 import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicLong;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;
 import java.util.function.BiFunction;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
+
 import org.junit.After;
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -34,6 +36,8 @@
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ClusterMetadataService;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.ControllerNode;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onosproject.core.HybridLogicalClockService;
+import org.onosproject.core.HybridLogicalTime;
 import org.onosproject.net.provider.ProviderId;
 import org.onosproject.store.cluster.messaging.Endpoint;
 
@@ -48,6 +52,18 @@
  */
 public class NettyMessagingManagerTest {
 
+    HybridLogicalClockService testClockService = new HybridLogicalClockService() {
+        AtomicLong counter = new AtomicLong();
+        @Override
+        public HybridLogicalTime timeNow() {
+            return new HybridLogicalTime(counter.incrementAndGet(), 0);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void recordEventTime(HybridLogicalTime time) {
+        }
+    };
+
     NettyMessagingManager netty1;
     NettyMessagingManager netty2;
 
@@ -63,11 +79,13 @@
         ep1 = new Endpoint(IpAddress.valueOf("127.0.0.1"), findAvailablePort(5001));
         netty1 = new NettyMessagingManager();
         netty1.clusterMetadataService = dummyMetadataService(DUMMY_NAME, IP_STRING, ep1);
+        netty1.clockService = testClockService;
         netty1.activate();
 
         ep2 = new Endpoint(IpAddress.valueOf("127.0.0.1"), findAvailablePort(5003));
         netty2 = new NettyMessagingManager();
         netty2.clusterMetadataService = dummyMetadataService(DUMMY_NAME, IP_STRING, ep2);
+        netty2.clockService = testClockService;
         netty2.activate();
     }