A multi-stage clock distribution scheme for use in a signaling server organized into a plurality of uniquely addressable shelves. The signaling server includes a system timing generator, one or more clock distribution modules arranged in a nested hierarchical manner, and a plurality of bus control modules, wherein each bus control module interfaces with at least a portion of line cards disposed in a shelf. The system timing generator provides a framed serial control signal, SFI, for controlling the operation of the multi-stage clock distribution scheme. The SFI signal encodes the IDs of the clock distribution modules and bus control modules whereby a system clock generated by the system timing generator based on a select reference input is successively fanned-out by the intermediate clock distribution modules based on address and ID information encoded in select fields of the SFI frames until the fanned-out system clocks are received by the bus control modules. Thereafter, each bus control module provides a copy of the system clock to the line cards controlled by it based on the SFI signal.