Patent ID: 6993610

Claim:
A data storage apparatus comprising: a serial ATA disk drive having a first serial data path for the input of serial data and a second serial data path for the output of serial data, a first serial ATA disk drive controller having a first serial data path for the input of serial data and a second serial data path for the output of serial data, a second serial ATA disk drive controller having a first serial data path for the input of serial data and a second serial data path for the output of serial data, a first serial multiplexer with first and second inputs and an output; a second serial multiplexer with first and second inputs and an output; the output of the first serial multiplexer connectively coupled with the first serial data path of the serial ATA disk drive; the second serial data path of the first serial ATA disk drive controller connectively coupled with the first input of the first serial multiplexer; the second serial data path of the second serial ATA disk drive controller connectively coupled with the first input of the second serial multiplexer; the second serial data path of the serial ATA disk drive connectively coupled with the second input of the second serial multiplexer and with the first serial data path of the second serial ATA disk drive controller; and the output of the second serial multiplexer connectively coupled with the first aerial data path of the second serial ATA disk drive controller and with the second input of the first serial multiplexer.