Any path used for the transfer of data and control information between storage devices and a storage controller or I/O adapter. A channel consists of cables, connectors, and all associated drivers, receivers, transducers, and other electronics required to make it function. The term channel has several meanings in other branches of computer technology. The definition given here is specific to the purposes of RAID Advisory Board publications.

A disk array whose Array Management Function executes in the disk system’s controller or host I/O bus adapter. The member disks of a controller-based array are necessarily part of the same disk system. cf. host-based array.