The invention includes a method and apparatus for aligning a plurality of
data channels using a deskew bitstream. The method includes receiving the
deskew bitstream, identifying an aligned deskew frame by processing the
deskew bitstream, identifying a data channel alignment position
associated with each of the plurality of data channels by comparing a
deskew channel comparison bit from the aligned deskew frame to a data
channel comparison bit from each of the plurality of data channels, and
selecting the plurality of data channel alignment positions associated
with the respective plurality of data channels for aligning the plurality
of data channels. The plurality of data channels are aligned in a manner
for substantially reducing skew associated with the data channels. The
deskew bitstream comprises a plurality of data bits associated with the
data channels and a plurality of parity bits generated using at least a
portion of the data bits.