The port multiplier function is used when one active host has to communicate with multiple SATA drives. The XRS10L120 supports up to 2 SATA drives and utilizes the full bandwidth of the host connection. The XRS10L120 includes enhanced features such as staggered HDD spin-up, power management control, hot plug capability and support for legacy software. The XRS10L120 acts as a retimer, maintaining independent signaling domains between the drives, hosts and the external interconnect.