Physical layer device having a serdes pass through mode

A physical layer device (PLD) for interconnecting first, second and third devices capable of communicating over respective first, second and third serial interfaces, comprising:

• a first Serializer-Deserializer (SERDES) device having a first serial port coupled to the first serial interface, and a first parallel port;
• a second SERDES device having a second serial port coupled to the second serial interface, and a second parallel port;
• a third SERDES device having a third serial port coupled to the third serial interface, and a third parallel port;
• a controller for generating a path selector control signal;
• and
• a path selector being selectively configurable, responsive to the path selector control signal, to provide either:
• (i) a first signal path configured to route between the first and second parallel ports
• first bi-directional deserialized data signals, and
• a data clock, synchronized with at least one of the first bi-directional deserialized data signals;
• or
• (ii) a second signal path configured to route between the first and third parallel ports
• second bi-directional deserialized data signals.