Primary channel
Updated: 04/26/2017 by Computer Hope
The primary data channel is the main channel when more than one channel is available. With IDE (integrated drive electronics)/ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) hard drive, the primary channel is what the first and second drives connect to the motherboard or interface card. If the connections are color-coded, the secondary channel is usually black, and the primary is blue. If the connectors are not color-coded, they are labeled as "IDE0" and "IDE1," IDE0 (IDE<zero>) is the primary channel.
