diff --git a/include/dsn/utility/time_utils.h b/include/dsn/utility/time_utils.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3101928b9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/dsn/utility/time_utils.h
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+/*
+ * The MIT License (MIT)
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2015 Microsoft Corporation
+ *
+ * -=- Robust Distributed System Nucleus (rDSN) -=-
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+ * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+ * in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+ * to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+ * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+ * all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+ * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+ * THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+#pragma once
+
+#include <chrono>
+#include <cstdio>
+#include "string_view.h"
+
+namespace dsn {
+namespace utils {
+
+static struct tm *get_localtime(uint64_t ts_ms)
+{
+    auto t = (time_t)(ts_ms / 1000);
+    struct tm tmp;
+    return localtime_r(&t, &tmp);
+}
+
+// get time string, which format is yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss.SSS
+inline void time_ms_to_string(uint64_t ts_ms, char *str)
+{
+    auto ret = get_localtime(ts_ms);
+    sprintf(str,
+            "%04d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d:%02d.%03u",
+            ret->tm_year + 1900,
+            ret->tm_mon + 1,
+            ret->tm_mday,
+            ret->tm_hour,
+            ret->tm_min,
+            ret->tm_sec,
+            static_cast<uint32_t>(ts_ms % 1000));
+}
+
+// get date string with format of 'yyyy-MM-dd' from given timestamp
+inline void time_ms_to_date(uint64_t ts_ms, char *str, int len)
+{
+    strftime(str, len, "%Y-%m-%d", get_localtime(ts_ms));
+}
+
+// get date string with format of 'yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss' from given timestamp
+inline void time_ms_to_date_time(uint64_t ts_ms, char *str, int len)
+{
+    strftime(str, len, "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", get_localtime(ts_ms));
+}
+
+// parse hour/min/sec from the given timestamp
+inline void time_ms_to_date_time(uint64_t ts_ms, int32_t &hour, int32_t &min, int32_t &sec)
+{
+    auto ret = get_localtime(ts_ms);
+    hour = ret->tm_hour;
+    min = ret->tm_min;
+    sec = ret->tm_sec;
+}
+
+inline uint64_t get_current_physical_time_ns()
+{
+    auto now = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
+    return std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::nanoseconds>(now.time_since_epoch()).count();
+}
+
+// get unix timestamp of today's zero o'clock.
+// eg. `1525881600` returned when called on May 10, 2018, CST
+
+inline int64_t get_unix_sec_today_midnight()
+{
+    time_t t = time(nullptr);
+    struct tm tmp;
+    auto ret = localtime_r(&t, &tmp);
+    ret->tm_hour = 0;
+    ret->tm_min = 0;
+    ret->tm_sec = 0;
+    return static_cast<int64_t>(mktime(ret));
+}
+
+// `hh:mm` (range in [00:00, 23:59]) to seconds since 00:00:00
+// eg. `01:00` => `3600`
+// Return: -1 when invalid
+inline int hh_mm_to_seconds(dsn::string_view hhmm)
+{
+    int hour = 0, min = 0, sec = -1;
+    if (::sscanf(hhmm.data(), "%d:%d", &hour, &min) == 2 && (0 <= hour && hour <= 23) &&
+        (0 <= min && min <= 59)) {
+        sec = 3600 * hour + 60 * min;
+    }
+    return sec;
+}
+
+// local time `hh:mm` to unix timestamp.
+// eg. `18:10` => `1525947000` when called on May 10, 2018, CST
+// Return: -1 when invalid
+inline int64_t hh_mm_today_to_unix_sec(string_view hhmm_of_day)
+{
+    int sec_of_day = hh_mm_to_seconds(hhmm_of_day);
+    if (sec_of_day == -1) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    return get_unix_sec_today_midnight() + sec_of_day;
+}
+
+} // namespace utils
+} // namespace dsn
diff --git a/include/dsn/utility/utils.h b/include/dsn/utility/utils.h
index 28b163b1c7..c9e414c93d 100644
--- a/include/dsn/utility/utils.h
+++ b/include/dsn/utility/utils.h
@@ -52,33 +52,6 @@ std::shared_ptr<T> make_shared_array(size_t size)
     return std::shared_ptr<T>(new T[size], std::default_delete<T[]>());
 }
 
-void time_ms_to_string(uint64_t ts_ms, char *str); // yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss.SSS
-
-void time_ms_to_date(uint64_t ts_ms, char *str, int len); // yyyy-MM-dd
-
-void time_ms_to_date_time(uint64_t ts_ms, char *str, int len); // yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss
-
-void time_ms_to_date_time(uint64_t ts_ms,
-                          int32_t &hour,
-                          int32_t &min,
-                          int32_t &sec); // time to hour, min, sec
-
-uint64_t get_current_physical_time_ns();
-
-// get unix timestamp of today's zero o'clock.
-// eg. `1525881600` returned when called on May 10, 2018, CST
-int64_t get_unix_sec_today_midnight();
-
-// `hh:mm` (range in [00:00, 23:59]) to seconds since 00:00:00
-// eg. `01:00` => `3600`
-// Return: -1 when invalid
-int hh_mm_to_seconds(dsn::string_view hhmm);
-
-// local time `hh:mm` to unix timestamp.
-// eg. `18:10` => `1525947000` when called on May 10, 2018, CST
-// Return: -1 when invalid
-int64_t hh_mm_today_to_unix_sec(string_view hhmm_of_day);
-
 // get host name from ip series
 // if can't get a hostname from ip(maybe no hostname or other errors), return false, and
 // hostname_result will be invalid value
diff --git a/src/core/core/env_provider.cpp b/src/core/core/env_provider.cpp
index 237e112303..4442b9a71b 100644
--- a/src/core/core/env_provider.cpp
+++ b/src/core/core/env_provider.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include <dsn/utility/utils.h>
 #include <dsn/c/api_utilities.h>
 #include <chrono>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 namespace dsn {
 
diff --git a/src/core/core/process_utils.cpp b/src/core/core/process_utils.cpp
index 383a0bb4cc..d684f888fa 100644
--- a/src/core/core/process_utils.cpp
+++ b/src/core/core/process_utils.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <dsn/utility/utils.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/preloadable.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/process_utils.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 namespace dsn {
 namespace utils {
diff --git a/src/core/core/utils.cpp b/src/core/core/utils.cpp
index 1bbf56ec48..7a3da0dacc 100644
--- a/src/core/core/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/core/core/utils.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 
 #include <array>
-#include <chrono>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <memory>
@@ -65,89 +64,6 @@
 namespace dsn {
 namespace utils {
 
-uint64_t get_current_physical_time_ns()
-{
-    auto now = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
-    auto nanos =
-        std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::nanoseconds>(now.time_since_epoch()).count();
-    return nanos;
-}
-
-// len >= 24
-void time_ms_to_string(uint64_t ts_ms, char *str)
-{
-    auto t = (time_t)(ts_ms / 1000);
-    struct tm tmp;
-    auto ret = localtime_r(&t, &tmp);
-    sprintf(str,
-            "%04d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d:%02d.%03u",
-            ret->tm_year + 1900,
-            ret->tm_mon + 1,
-            ret->tm_mday,
-            ret->tm_hour,
-            ret->tm_min,
-            ret->tm_sec,
-            static_cast<uint32_t>(ts_ms % 1000));
-}
-
-// len >= 11
-void time_ms_to_date(uint64_t ts_ms, char *str, int len)
-{
-    auto t = (time_t)(ts_ms / 1000);
-    struct tm tmp;
-    auto ret = localtime_r(&t, &tmp);
-    strftime(str, len, "%Y-%m-%d", ret);
-}
-
-// len >= 20
-void time_ms_to_date_time(uint64_t ts_ms, char *str, int len)
-{
-    auto t = (time_t)(ts_ms / 1000);
-    struct tm tmp;
-    auto ret = localtime_r(&t, &tmp);
-    strftime(str, len, "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", ret);
-}
-
-void time_ms_to_date_time(uint64_t ts_ms, int32_t &hour, int32_t &min, int32_t &sec)
-{
-    auto t = (time_t)(ts_ms / 1000);
-    struct tm tmp;
-    auto ret = localtime_r(&t, &tmp);
-    hour = ret->tm_hour;
-    min = ret->tm_min;
-    sec = ret->tm_sec;
-}
-
-int64_t get_unix_sec_today_midnight()
-{
-    time_t t = time(nullptr);
-    struct tm tmp;
-    auto ret = localtime_r(&t, &tmp);
-    ret->tm_hour = 0;
-    ret->tm_min = 0;
-    ret->tm_sec = 0;
-    return static_cast<int64_t>(mktime(ret));
-}
-
-int hh_mm_to_seconds(dsn::string_view hhmm)
-{
-    int hour = 0, min = 0, sec = -1;
-    if (::sscanf(hhmm.data(), "%d:%d", &hour, &min) == 2 && (0 <= hour && hour <= 23) &&
-        (0 <= min && min <= 59)) {
-        sec = 3600 * hour + 60 * min;
-    }
-    return sec;
-}
-
-int64_t hh_mm_today_to_unix_sec(string_view hhmm_of_day)
-{
-    int sec_of_day = hh_mm_to_seconds(hhmm_of_day);
-    if (sec_of_day == -1) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    return get_unix_sec_today_midnight() + sec_of_day;
-}
 bool hostname_from_ip(uint32_t ip, std::string *hostname_result)
 {
     struct sockaddr_in addr_in;
diff --git a/src/core/perf_counter/perf_counter_atomic.h b/src/core/perf_counter/perf_counter_atomic.h
index 07dfdfdf55..7e384fa9d3 100644
--- a/src/core/perf_counter/perf_counter_atomic.h
+++ b/src/core/perf_counter/perf_counter_atomic.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <dsn/utility/config_api.h>
 #include <dsn/c/api_utilities.h>
 #include <dsn/perf_counter/perf_counter.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 #include "core/tools/common/shared_io_service.h"
 
 namespace dsn {
diff --git a/src/core/perf_counter/perf_counters.cpp b/src/core/perf_counter/perf_counters.cpp
index d154a24c08..4ebc44ddb9 100644
--- a/src/core/perf_counter/perf_counters.cpp
+++ b/src/core/perf_counter/perf_counters.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include <dsn/tool-api/command_manager.h>
 #include <dsn/tool-api/task.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/string_view.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 #include "perf_counter_atomic.h"
 #include "builtin_counters.h"
diff --git a/src/core/tests/utils.cpp b/src/core/tests/utils.cpp
index 048da5756a..86d613a97a 100644
--- a/src/core/tests/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/core/tests/utils.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 #include <dsn/c/api_layer1.h>
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/rand.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 using namespace ::dsn;
 using namespace ::dsn::utils;
diff --git a/src/core/tools/common/profiler_command.cpp b/src/core/tools/common/profiler_command.cpp
index a983ce8f26..899480f559 100644
--- a/src/core/tools/common/profiler_command.cpp
+++ b/src/core/tools/common/profiler_command.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include <dsn/toollet/profiler.h>
 #include "profiler_header.h"
 #include <dsn/cpp/json_helper.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 namespace dsn {
 namespace tools {
diff --git a/src/core/tools/common/simple_logger.cpp b/src/core/tools/common/simple_logger.cpp
index c89e73cb85..792c2d28c6 100644
--- a/src/core/tools/common/simple_logger.cpp
+++ b/src/core/tools/common/simple_logger.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "simple_logger.h"
 #include <sstream>
 #include <dsn/utility/filesystem.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 namespace dsn {
 namespace tools {
diff --git a/src/dist/http/server_info_http_services.cpp b/src/dist/http/server_info_http_services.cpp
index eae4b70e30..1f2013254d 100644
--- a/src/dist/http/server_info_http_services.cpp
+++ b/src/dist/http/server_info_http_services.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // can be found in the LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
 
 #include <dsn/utility/output_utils.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 #include "server_info_http_services.h"
 
diff --git a/src/dist/replication/ddl_lib/replication_ddl_client.cpp b/src/dist/replication/ddl_lib/replication_ddl_client.cpp
index 7db2f33114..f3bcdac646 100644
--- a/src/dist/replication/ddl_lib/replication_ddl_client.cpp
+++ b/src/dist/replication/ddl_lib/replication_ddl_client.cpp
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include <dsn/utility/error_code.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/output_utils.h>
 #include <fmt/format.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 namespace dsn {
 namespace replication {
diff --git a/src/dist/replication/lib/replica_backup.cpp b/src/dist/replication/lib/replica_backup.cpp
index 8c9eb35a84..c7b1c29015 100644
--- a/src/dist/replication/lib/replica_backup.cpp
+++ b/src/dist/replication/lib/replica_backup.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 #include <dsn/utility/filesystem.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 #include <dsn/dist/fmt_logging.h>
 #include <dsn/dist/replication/replication_app_base.h>
 
diff --git a/src/dist/replication/meta_server/meta_backup_service.cpp b/src/dist/replication/meta_server/meta_backup_service.cpp
index 5669bc8c77..233d424652 100644
--- a/src/dist/replication/meta_server/meta_backup_service.cpp
+++ b/src/dist/replication/meta_server/meta_backup_service.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-#include "meta_backup_service.h"
-
 #include <dsn/utility/filesystem.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/output_utils.h>
 #include <dsn/tool-api/http_server.h>
 
diff --git a/src/dist/replication/meta_server/meta_http_service.cpp b/src/dist/replication/meta_server/meta_http_service.cpp
index 94572c84ad..0579361fef 100644
--- a/src/dist/replication/meta_server/meta_http_service.cpp
+++ b/src/dist/replication/meta_server/meta_http_service.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <dsn/dist/replication/replication_types.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/config_api.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/output_utils.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 #include "meta_http_service.h"
 #include "meta_server_failure_detector.h"
diff --git a/src/dist/replication/meta_server/server_load_balancer.cpp b/src/dist/replication/meta_server/server_load_balancer.cpp
index 5af0641c4d..3193502eec 100644
--- a/src/dist/replication/meta_server/server_load_balancer.cpp
+++ b/src/dist/replication/meta_server/server_load_balancer.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <dsn/utility/string_conv.h>
 #include <dsn/tool-api/command_manager.h>
 #include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 namespace dsn {
 namespace replication {
diff --git a/src/dist/replication/test/meta_test/unit_test/backup_test.cpp b/src/dist/replication/test/meta_test/unit_test/backup_test.cpp
index 5a1197a53b..1f84dd7e21 100644
--- a/src/dist/replication/test/meta_test/unit_test/backup_test.cpp
+++ b/src/dist/replication/test/meta_test/unit_test/backup_test.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 #include <dsn/service_api_cpp.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 
 #include "dist/replication/meta_server/meta_backup_service.h"
 #include "dist/replication/meta_server/meta_service.h"