link discovery and providers are implemented
diff --git a/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/timer/Timer.java b/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/timer/Timer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f821a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/timer/Timer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package org.onlab.timer;
+
+import org.jboss.netty.util.HashedWheelTimer;
+
+
+public final class Timer {
+
+    private Timer() {}
+
+    private static HashedWheelTimer timer;
+
+    public static HashedWheelTimer getTimer() {
+        if (Timer.timer == null) {
+            Timer.timer = new HashedWheelTimer();
+            Timer.timer.start();
+        }
+        return Timer.timer;
+    }
+
+}